PEDIATRIC SPEECH
THERAPY
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy ?
Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of verbal and non-verbal communication problems and speech disorders. It is performed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), which are often referred to as speech therapists. Speech therapy techniques are used to improve communication. These include articulation therapy, language intervention activities, play therapy and others, depending on the type of speech or language disorder.
Speech therapy covers much more than most people realize. It is common to listen to a child and think they are in need of a speech-language pathologist if the sounds they make are not correct. This is especially true when a child can not be understood. Although sound production (articulation) is one of the main tasks for a speech language pathologist, it is not the only task.
Common disorders treated by Speech Language Pathologists:
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Articulation – Difficulty creating or forming speech sounds needed to communicate with others, making speech difficult to understand.
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Receptive language disorder – Difficulty understanding and processing what others say, including difficulty following directions and understanding/learning new concepts and ideas.
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Expressive language disorder – Difficulty using language, including vocabulary and grammar to express wants, needs, and thoughts.
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Social communication – Difficulty communicating in ways that are socially appropriate, which may include turn taking, understanding and using rules for verbal and nonverbal communication, etc.
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Fluency disorder – Difficulty getting out a sound, blocked or interrupted speech, or repetition of part or whole word.
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Feeding disorders – Difficulty with any of the following: sucking, eating solid foods, drinking from a cup, taking a long time to eat, or only eating certain foods.
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Swallowing disorders – Difficulty with sucking, chewing, moving food or liquid into the throat, closing off airway to keep food or liquid out, or food getting stuck in esophagus.
*All these issues are screened relative to the age group of the child.
Additional Services We Provide
Occupational therapists promote independence in functional and meaningful activities such as playing, learning, interacting with family and friends, getting dressed, eating, going to the bathroom, emotional regulation, processing sensory information.
Physical therapists help children interact with their environments and make everyday activities easier by improving a variety of skills such as strength, range of motion, flexibility, endurance, and movement patterns.
