Speech & Language Therapy Services
What is speech therapy?
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) - also known as Speech Therapists - are highly trained professionals who diagnose and treat speech, language, and related disorders in children. Speech-language pathology can be an effective complimentary therapy to a child's services or, in some cases, may be the only therapy needed to achieve the desired outcome.
Click below to view information on the some of the most common areas affecting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities that speech-language pathologists address.
Speech Disorders
Speech Disorders occur when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice or resonance.
Language Disorders
Language disorders occur when a child has trouble understanding others (receptive language) or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language). Language disorders may be spoken or written and may involve the form, content, and/or use of language in functional and socially appropriate ways.
Feeding and Swallowing Difficulties
Feeding and swallowing difficulities can also be treated by SLPs. Signs and symptoms of feeding and swallowing disorders may include sensitivity to the texture, temperature, and/or smell of foods as well as irritability or lack of alertness during feeding. Such issues are somewhat common among children on the autism spectrum.
Social Communication Disorders
Social communication disorders occur when a child has difficulty with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. These disorders may include difficulty communicating for social purposes (e.g., greeting, commenting, asking questions) and marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain conversation with others.
What are the benefits of speech therapy?
By strengthening a student’s speech and/or language skills, he or she can benefit in the following ways:
Improved intelligibility by communication partners
Increased awareness of sounds for early literacy development
Development of comprehension and listening skills
Clearer expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings
Improved ability to initiate, maintain, and participate in conversation and play
Reduced frustration due to difficulties understanding language and speaking
Increased confidence as a result of improved communication abilities
Success in the academic environment
What types of speech services can an SLP perform?
Our Speech-Language Pathologists use a collaborative approach to intervention. By seeking input from parents and family, teachers, and other specialists, the most effective treatment plan for the client is collectively designed. Services can consist of a variety of components, depending on the needs of the client
Individualized Assessment
School or Center-Based Services
Direct 1:1 Therapy
Small Group Therapy
Consultation & Training for Families & Professionals
What are all the areas that SLPs can help with?
Primary Areas Include:
Speech Sound Disorders/Articulation
Apraxia of Speech
Receptive Language
Expressive Language
Social Communication
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Additional Areas Include:
Stuttering (dysfluency)
Voice
Feeding and Swallowing
Phonological Awareness
Reading Comprehension
Written Language Expression