Speech and Language Therapy

Pediatric speech therapy is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on helping children improve their communication abilities. This therapy can help children express themselves more clearly, understand and respond to verbal and nonverbal cues, and improve their vocal and nonverbal communication skills.

Children who may benefit from speech therapy include those who have difficulty producing speech sounds accurately (articulation disorders), those who stutter, those who have voice disorders, and those with language difficulties that affect their ability to understand spoken language (receptive language) or use words and sentences to communicate effectively (expressive language).

Speech therapy can also benefit children with nonverbal communication difficulties, such as understanding and using body language and facial expressions. Children with social communication difficulties, such as problems taking turns in conversation, interpreting social cues, or following social conventions of conversation, may also benefit from speech therapy.

Pediatric speech therapists use various techniques and tools to improve a child’s communication. They may use play and interactive activities to make the therapy more enjoyable and effective for the child. They also work with the child’s family and other professionals to provide advice and strategies to support their communication development at home and in different settings.

Additionally, pediatric speech therapists can also provide feeding therapy for children who have difficulties eating or swallowing due to a condition known as dysphagia. This can involve exercises to strengthen the muscles of the mouth, strategies to make eating safer or less difficult, and advice on mealtime behaviors and diet modifications.

Pediatric speech therapy plays a crucial role in helping children overcome communication challenges, which can significantly improve their overall quality of life and success in school and social situations.

If your child has difficulty communicating effectively, they may benefit from pediatric speech therapy. Here are some common signs, symptoms, and conditions you should look out for:

• Speech delays: This broad category includes not saying any words by the age of 15 months or two-word phrases by two years, having an unclear speech that strangers can’t understand by age 2, or lagging behind the developmental norms for their age in their speech abilities.
• Stuttering: Stuttering, or dysfluency, includes difficulty starting a word or sentence, repeating or prolonging a word or sounds, or tension or stress in the voice.
• Articulation disorders: Articulation disorders include difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly so people can’t understand what’s being said.
• Voice disorders: These disorders include problems with pitch, volume, tone, and the quality of the voice that distract listeners from what’s being said. These types of problems may also cause pain or discomfort.
• Oral feeding disorders: This includes difficulties with eating, swallowing, drooling, or moving the mouth to talk or eat.
• Receptive (Understanding) Language Disorder: Difficulty understanding or processing language. This can include issues following directions or answering questions appropriately.
• Expressive (Using) Language Disorder: Difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way.
• Auditory processing disorder: Difficulty understanding spoken language despite normal hearing capabilities.
• Autism spectrum disorder: Communication challenges are common in children with autism, including delayed speech, nonverbal communication, difficulty maintaining a conversation, or repetitive language.
• Apraxia of speech: Difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to make speech sounds.
• Phonological disorders: Substituting all sounds made in the back of the mouth (like “k” and “g”) or for those in the front of the mouth (like “t” and “d”).
• Cleft lip or palate: These physical deformities can cause difficulties with speech, feeding, and swallowing.

If you notice your child needs help with any of these areas or needs to catch up to the norms for their age, reach out to our The Pediatric Place speech therapists!

Speech therapy can be a significant asset to children who have difficulties with communication for various reasons. It’s not only beneficial for children with identified speech or language disorders, but it can also support those who struggle with the social aspects of communication, those with cognitive delays, or even children with physical disabilities that affect their speech. 

• Speech Sound Disorders: Speech sound disorders involve difficulty correctly producing specific sounds. A child may substitute, add, omit, or distort sounds, making it difficult to understand them. In this case, speech therapy can help by practicing the sounds the child finds challenging. Techniques may involve showing the child how to move their mouth to produce specific sounds and giving feedback as they attempt these sounds. They may also work on building awareness and recognition of the sounds in different words.

• Stuttering: Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects the flow of speech. Children who stutter may repeat sounds, syllables, or words or experience involuntary pauses or blocks in speech. Speech therapy can help by teaching techniques to control this stuttering. This could include breathing exercises, pacing their speech, or gradually working on producing longer words and sentences without stuttering.

• Articulation Disorders: Articulation disorders involve problems with the physical production of sounds. Children with these disorders may have difficulties forming certain sounds, resulting in unclear or distorted speech. Speech therapy can help by identifying problematic sounds and practicing their correct production through exercises and real-life applications.

• Receptive-Expressive Language Disorders: These disorders involve difficulties understanding language (receptive language) and expressing thoughts, feelings, and ideas (expressive language). In therapy, the child may work on understanding and using new vocabulary, forming sentences, following instructions, and responding to questions. Therapy can also help with non-verbal communication, such as interpreting body language and social cues.

As for identifying if your child has these conditions, it is best to consult our speech therapists (SLP). However, some signs to look out for include:

• Speech that is not easily understood by people outside of the family or by peers.

• Difficulty following instructions or answering questions appropriately.

• Frustration or difficulty when trying to express thoughts and ideas.

• Repeating sounds, syllables, and words frequently, or hesitations/blockages in speech.

• Difficulty producing certain sounds correctly or substituting one sound for another.

Remember, children develop at different rates, and some speech and language development variation is normal. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech or language development, call The Pediatric Place today and schedule an appointment!

Your child will work with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist during speech therapy to improve their speech and communication skills. Therapy sessions are structured differently depending on the child’s needs, age, and communication challenges.

The first few sessions are usually dedicated to assessments. The SLP will evaluate your child’s speech, language, cognitive communication, and oral/feeding/swallowing skills. This can involve interactive activities and games, structured observations, and formal standardized tests.

Based on the assessment, the SLP will set specific, measurable goals for your child. These include improving vocabulary, learning to articulate certain sounds, enhancing social communication skills, or addressing stuttering.

During each session, the SLP will engage your child in a variety of activities designed to help them meet their goals. This might involve play-based activities, picture cards, books, language drills, or physical exercises for mouth and tongue muscles.

Our speech therapists will regularly assess your child’s progress toward their goals. They may revise the goals of therapy strategies as needed depending on the progress made.

As for parent involvement, it’s not only allowed but also actively encouraged in most cases. Parents can often be involved in the following ways:

• Observing sessions: Depending on the therapy center’s policy and the child’s comfort level, parents may be able to observe sessions. This can help you understand the techniques being used and how your child is progressing.
• At-home activities: The SLP will likely provide activities for you and your child to do at home. Regular practice can significantly improve the effectiveness of therapy.
• Feedback and communication: Regular communication with the SLP is important. They can provide updates on your child’s progress and give you tips on supporting your child’s communication development at home.
• Parent training: Some programs include sessions where parents are trained on techniques to use at home to facilitate their child’s speech and language development.

Always remember that each child’s therapy will be tailored to their specific needs, and progress may look different for each child. Patience and consistency are key during this process.

The frequency and duration of speech therapy sessions can vary greatly depending on the child’s individual needs. Here are some general guidelines, but remember that these can vary:

• Frequency: Speech therapy sessions occur one to three times per week. For children with more severe or complex issues, sessions may occur more frequently, even daily. 
• Duration: Each session typically lasts between 30 minutes. 
• Length of Therapy: The length of therapy can also vary widely. Some children may only need a few months of therapy to address a specific issue. In contrast, others may require ongoing therapy for several years to manage more complex or persistent challenges.

Remember, these are just averages and may not apply to your situation. Working closely with a speech therapist/speech-language pathologist (SLP) is crucial to develop a therapy plan tailored to your child’s unique needs. Also, consistency is key in speech therapy, so it’s important to stick with the therapy plan and practice the exercises at home as the speech therapist recommends.

Remember that speech therapy progress can sometimes be slow or not linear. Celebrate small victories and remember that every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. It’s also important to communicate openly and frequently with the SLP to understand your child’s progress and any adjustments needed in the therapy plan.

Some children attend speech therapy for a few months, some for a few years, and others visit a speech therapist throughout their childhood. Your The Pediatric Place therapist will work with parents, educators, and physicians to decide how long your child should stay in speech therapy.