Speech-language therapy is a profession that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of disorders and delays that limit a child’s ability to communicate with others and/or participate in safe and age appropriate feeding. Speech-language therapy might be needed when a child’s communication or feeding skills limit his/her ability to function in daily activities. The team of speech-language therapists at Pediatrics Plus specialize in remediating and developing a child’s ability to understand what he/she hears, to let people know what he/she wants, to interact with others, to produce sounds correctly, to speak fluently, and to safely consume age appropriate foods and liquids. We begin this process with a comprehensive evaluation.
A child's ability to successfully communicate in a variety of environments may be negatively impacted due to deficits in any or a combination of the following areas.
Language - A child with a language disorder may have difficulty attaching meaning to auditory information and understanding what is said to him or her (receptive language) or may be late in using words to communicate or have difficulty putting words together to communicate (expressive language).
Pragmatics - A child who has not mastered the rules for social language, known as pragmatics, may have difficulty using language for different purposes, changing language according to the needs of a listener or situation, or following rules for conversations and storytelling.
Auditory Processing - A child with an auditory processing disorder will have trouble processing and interpreting auditory information in the absence of a hearing loss. These children may have trouble hearing the differences between similar-sounding speech sounds or understanding speech in noisy environments.
Speech - A child with a speech disorder will have difficulty with the actual production of sound. The most common types of speech disorders include the following:
- Articulation disorders- Articulation disorders occur when a child has trouble producing specific sounds. Sounds may be substituted, left off, added, or changed making it hard for the child to be understood.
- Phonological Delays- Phonological delays occur when a child uses inappropriate patterns in his or her speech to make speech easier to produce.
- Apraxia- Apraxia is a brain-based condition that disrupts the ability to make speech sounds. A child with apraxia will have trouble planning and coordinating the motor movements necessary for speech.
- Dysarthria- A child with dysarthria will exhibit slow, inaccurate, and/or slurred speech due to paralysis, weakness, or generally poor coordination of the muscles of the mouth.
- Fluency- A child with a fluency disorder will have an abnormal amount of involuntary repetitions, hesitations, prolongations, blocks, or disruptions in the natural flow or rhythm of speech. They may also exhibit secondary characteristics which accompany the disfluencies.
- Voice- A child with a voice disorder may have difficulty with phonation or resonance. A child with a phonation disorder may have a harsh, hoarse, or raspy vocal quality or have a voice that is too high or too low for the child’s age or sex. A child with resonance disorder may have speech that sounds “nasal”.
- Oral Motor/Feeding/Swallowing- A child with an oral motor, feeding, and/or swallowing disorder may drool excessively, refuse foods, have trouble eating age appropriate foods, or cough and choke often while eating or drinking.
Children who do not have the prerequisites for speech and language may require training to use an augmentative communication device. At Pediatrics Plus, our Speech Language Pathologist are trained to assist your child in using a variety of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems including but not limited to the following:
- High tech electronic devices
- Low tech systems such as signing
- Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS)
Some children require the use of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication System for a short period of time as speech and language skills are developing. Other children may require the use of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication system for a lifetime.
Therapy Interventions
Our speech-language therapists provide a comprehensive evaluation focused on key components of communication including receptive language, expressive language, articulation, pragmatics, voice, fluency, oral-motor, feeding, swallowing, and hearing. Results of standardized assessments provide valuable information regarding communication skills. At Pediatrics Plus, we recognize that standardized tests are only one component of a comprehensive assessment process; therefore, we combine information obtained from standardized assessments with thorough observation, information obtained through play based interaction, and parent’s concerns and goals for their child to develop a personalized speech-language therapy intervention plan to address the child’s individual needs. Our knowledgeable and skilled therapists utilize both play based and clinician directed activities in order to help each child reach his/her greatest potential. In addition, our highly trained therapists will implement each plan with selected interventions that may include, but are not limited to, the following treatment techniques:
- Receptive and expressive language development
- Social language development
- Traditional articulation therapy
- Cycles/Patterns Phonological Intervention
- Kaufman Speech Praxis Treatment
- Oral motor strengthening programs
- Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
- Fluency shaping techniques
- Stuttering modification
- Vocal hygiene training
- SOS Approach to Feeding
- iLs – Integrated Listening Systems
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
At Pediatrics Plus, we strive to educate and train our speech-language therapists in innovative, evidenced-based treatment strategies that will propel your child to achieve his/her greatest potential. Our team of therapists has individuals certified in the above mentioned areas to ensure that your child receives excellence in their therapeutic services.
Additional Resources
Our experienced staff of speech language pathologists is committed to helping your child succeed!
The American Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA)
The ACPA is an international non-profit medical society of healthcare professionals who treat and/or perform research on birth defects of the head and face.
The American Speech Language Hearing Association
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 182,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students.
Arkansas Speech-Language Hearing Association (ArkSHA)
The mission of the Arkansas Speech-Language Hearing Association is to provide leadership, professional development, and quality membership services for audiologists and speech-language pathologists; to serve as the catalyst for innovative practices in prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication, hearing, balance, and swallowing disorders; and to advocate for the provision of quality programs and services and for the rights of people with communication hearing, balance, and swallowing disorders.
The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA)
The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America is a nonprofit publicly funded charity whose mission is to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia so that each child is afforded their best opportunity to develop speech and communication.
Cleft Palate Foundation (CPF)
The mission of the CPF is to serve individuals and families affected by cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial conditions by connecting them to team care, providing education, and offering personal support. CPF is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 to be the public service arm of the American Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Association.
The National Stuttering Association (NSA)
The NSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing hope and empowerment to children and adults who stutter; their families, and professionals, through support, education, advocacy, and research.
The Stuttering Foundation of America
The Stuttering Foundation provides free online resources, services, and support to those who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.
The staff have become like family to us and we love being a part of Pediatrics Plus!!
- Brooke S.