Speech & Language Therapy
Our Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) address all areas of speech and language development including receptive and expressive language, pragmatics, articulation, respiration, and fluency. Other aspects of therapy include utilizing alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) and improving oral motor abilities, swallowing, and feeding skills (oral & pharyngeal feeding & swallowing problems). Our SLPs are skilled in working with children with cerebral palsy, autisum, language delays, dysphagia, and articulation disorders.
Speech-language therapy is the treatment for most kids with speech and/or language disorders.
A speech disorder refers to a problem with making sounds. Speech disorders include:
- Articulation disorders: These are problems with making sounds in syllables, or saying words incorrectly to the point that listeners can’t understand what’s being said.
- Fluency disorders: These include problems such as stuttering, in which the flow of speech is interrupted by unusual stops, partial-word repetitions (“b-b-boy”), or prolonging sounds and syllables (sssssnake).
- Resonance or voice disorders: These are problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what’s being said. These types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for a child when speaking.
A language disorder refers to a problem understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas. Language disorders can be either receptive or expressive:
- Receptive disorders are problems with understanding or processing language.
- Expressive disorders are problems with putting words together, having a limited vocabulary, or being unable to use language in a socially appropriate way.
- Cognitive-communication disorders are problems with communication skills that involve memory, attention, perception, organization, regulation, and problem solving.