Speech / Language / Social Skills Therapy
Speech encompasses the use of speech production such as
expressive language (speaking), receptive language (understanding), fluency (stuttering), articulation (producing
specific sounds & syllables), resonance or voice disorders (high / low pitch, loud / soft volume, or quality of speech),
hearing & information processing (Can the child hear what is being said? If so, can they process and interpret the information? It also includes literacy / writing output skills, and the use of oral narratives for telling stories in an organized sequential way), swallowing / feeding (eating, appropriate gag reflex, preventing drooling over age 2, desensitizing to various textures, and increasing food variety), social skills (understanding and using non-verbal cues such as gestures, head nods for yes/no, using an “I’m listening look”, understanding facial expressions, tone of voice, body posture, and eye contact. By putting all of these skills together creates fluid interpersonal interactions with both peers and adults.)
General Indicators for a Speech evaluation or treatment:
- Does not make sounds, doesn’t speak yet, or difficulty with eye contact
- Doesn’t respond or is slow to respond when someone is speaking
- Easily frustrated or unable to effectively communicate needs or desires
- Has an unusual voice (such as high or low pitched, hoarse voice, or
unusual rhythm)
- Difficulty with following directions or frequently asks, “What did you
say?”, or doesn’t seem to understand what is being said
- Speech is not clear or others have trouble understanding your child
- Is over the age of 3 and has trouble or does not produce the sounds"m,n,
ng, p, f, h, w"
- Has trouble understanding other’s perspectives or doesn’t take other’s
opinions into consideration / world revolves around the child
- Trouble just “going with the flow” or adjusting to new situations
- Has difficulty telling cohesive stories – either gives too little or too many
details or story doesn’t flow (relative to age)
- Stumbles when talking or uses fillers (such as repeating sounds “b-b-b-basketball”, inserting fillers such as “uh,
uh, basketball” or “um… it’s a.. um…”)
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, your child may benefit from a Speech evaluation or treatment. You may want to discuss this with your pediatrician’s office or one of our clinical treatment staff.
Types of Speech Therapy We Provide:
- Language Therapy: For children who have difficulty with developing language or language production|
- Articulation or Fluency Therapy: For children who have difficulty pronouncing certain words or struggle with stuttering or other types of dysfluency
- Social Skills Therapy: For children who require intensive social skills training. In generally, social skills training is more useful in small groups where children can practice social skills they are learning with peers. However, for some children, individual social coaching can be a great precursor or adjunct to social groups.
- Feeding Center: Our feeding center provides expertise in helping children overcome difficulties of feeding and eating, including tolerating textures, smells, and tastes or swallowing difficulties.
- Listening Therapy / Auditory Integration: For children who have normal hearing, but struggle to always comprehend information, listening therapy or auditory integration therapy can be very useful. Click here for our link to Central Auditory Processing Disorders (link to CAPD article).
- Sign Language Classes: A parent / child class to teach sign language in a fun and exciting way. Our instructors can provide individual or group classes. Sign Language is useful for children who are hard of hearing/deaf and is also commonly used for children who are language delayed.
Diagnostic Evaluations & Testing
We provide Developmental, Psychological, Speech & Motor Development, Behavioral, and Educational diagnostic evaluations and testing.
Diagnostic evaluations can assist when families notice a symptom or cluster of symptoms and are interested in determining if these symptoms are a variant of normal development or need diagnostic clarification. Our team of expert Psychologists can evaluate children and assist with intervention, if necessary.
