Speech-Language Therapy

WHAT IS SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY?

Generally speaking, pediatric Speech-Language Therapy is the evaluation/assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of children with communication difficulties. Speech Disorders refer to difficulty with the actual production of sounds where as Language Disorders refer to difficulty understanding what others are communicating or difficulty putting words together and/or expressing ones own thoughts/ideas/wants/needs, etc.

Examples of delays and/or disorders that may be treated by our Speech-Language Pathologists include:

  • Articulation

  • Verbal Apraxia/Dyspraxia

  • Phonological Disorders

  • Oral-Motor Disorders

  • Autism Spectrum/ Pragmatic Language (social use of language and social skills)

  • Receptive/Expressive Language Delay/Disorder

  • Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) Use (i.e. PECS, dynamic or static display devices, etc.)

  • Dysfluency/Stuttering

  • Feeding/Swallowing

  • and others

Children
A child may need a Speech-Language screening, evaluation, and/or ongoing treatment if they are having difficulty with one or more of the following:

  • Producing or leaving out sounds in words

  • Being understood by others

  • Following directions

  • Communicating wants/needs/thoughts/ideas effectively

  • Frequently repeating words/phrases or perseverating on ideas

  • Initiating interactions or conversation

  • Responding to others

  • Eating a variety of foods (eats only 4-5 foods may gag on certain textures, etc.)

  • Frequent Drooling

  • Difficulty interpreting social cues/gestures/facial expressions/etc.

  • (*these are just a few areas in which a child needing speech-language therapy may have difficulty)