Speech-language therapy refers to the techniques, strategies, and interventions designed to improve or correct communication disorders. Early intervention for speech and language disorders is essential to prevent further difficulties in school and family time. Our licensed speech-language pathologists can help children improve their communication abilities and therefore set the stage for academic achievement.
More than just words, there are many FACES…
- Fluency
This is more commonly known as stuttering. There are many types of fluency errors such as repetition of sounds/words and prolongations. Stuttering can also include secondary characteristics such as eye-blinking, foot stomping and clapping
- Articulation
Articulation refers to the ability to coordinate the movements of the mouth to correctly produce speech sounds. There are many different types of errors.
- Communication
Communication can be verbal and/or non-verbal. It is how we understand and exchange ideas within our environment.
- Eating
Difficulties with feeding can be caused by abnormalities or the inability to coordinate the movements necessary for feeding. Feeding difficulties can also be attributed to how the child responds to food with their senses.
- Social Skills
Social skills are the skills need to appropriately interact with others around you. These skills include but are not limited to taking turns, eye contact, gestures, initiating and maintaining conversations.
What conditions can benefit from speech therapy?
Kids might need speech-language therapy for a variety of reasons, including:
- Articulation
- Expressive and receptive language disorders
- Hearing impairments
- Cognitive or other developmental delays
- Down’s syndrome
- Weak oral muscles
- Cleft lip/ palate
- Excessive drooling
- Aspiration and respiratory problems
- Feeding and swallowing disorders
- Motor planning problems
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cerebral palsy
- Tongue thrust
Red Flags
- Fluency: difficulty speaking in front of others, family history, onset later than preschool years, lasting more than 6-12 months for preschool children
- Articulation: less than 80% of speech comprehensible by the age of 3, parents become an interpreter, child throws a fit when trying to tell you something, difficulty with spelling or phonics, difficulty speaking with other children
- Communication: cannot follow directions or answer questions, cannot identify objects, no phrases or word connection, no words by 1, no two-word phrases by 2, <1,000 words by 3
- Eating: aspiration (blue face, red eyes, gagging, coughing), acid reflux, poor weight gain, limited diet/picky eater, problems with taste, texture, and/or temperature
- Social Skills: poor peer relations, solitary play, cannot play games, shy, peculiar, loner, no friends, aggressive
