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Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy

“Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults” – definition taken from www.asha.org

Evaluation and therapy may include:

Articulation
• Pronunciation of speech sounds; errors in the way children say sounds
Auditory Processing
• Disruptions in the way children process information they hear
Apraxia
• Disruptions in the signal from the brain to the muscles that coordinate speech
Assistive Technology
• Using pictures, written word, or technology in order to improve both the comprehension and   production of spoken language
Cognitive Impairments
• Supporting the way children think, organize, reason, and remember information
Expressive Language
• Supporting the length, complexity, and use of spoken language
Fluency Disorders
• Stuttering
Feeding Disorders
• Treatment in the physical difficulties of managing food and liquids, may include severe picky eating
Hearing Impairments
• Supporting speaking and listening skills based on hearing severity
Pragmatic Language
• Breakdown of social language use in relationships with peers and adults; manners, turn taking, conversational skills
Receptive Language
• Understanding spoken language

  speech-brochure
Signs your child may benefit from speech therapy:

  • ANY loss of speech or babbling or social skills at ANY age
  • Never points, gestures or imitates
  • Does not appear to understand speech, seems unable to hear
  • Never develops words beyond repeating others over and over
  • No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by 6 months
  • Does not imitate gross motor movements like clapping or stomping feet
  • Has no meaningful words by 15 months
  • Does not follow simple commands like “come here,” or “stop,” by 18 months
  • Does not play close by other children
  • Cannot point to pictures of items in books when asked by 2 years
  • Speech is less than 75% understandable by 3 years
  • Child is leaving the beginnings or ends off of most words
  • Cannot accurately answer yes/no questions by 3 years
  • Is experiencing stuttering behavior for more than 6 months
  • Is not asking a variety of questions to gain information by 5 years
  • Is having difficulty with grammar or pronouns at 5 years
  • Cannot follow simple two step directions by 5 years
 Conditions which may impact development and lead to an infant/child being referred to occupational therapy include but are not limited to:

  • Auditory Processing Disorders
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Cognitive Impairments
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Developmental Delay
  • Downs Syndrome
  • Genetic Disorders/Birth Defects
  • Hearing Impairments
  • Language Delay
  • Neurological Disorders
  • Selective Mutism
  • Speech Delay
  • Traumatic Brain Injury