How to Identify & Treat Speech Disorders
If you have reason to believe that your child is having difficulty communicating, it’s important to seek an evaluation from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Identifying issues early can make a significant difference in their development as they grow into capable adults.
An SLP will assess your child’s speech patterns, identify specific challenges, and create a personalized treatment plan to help improve their speech clarity and communication skills. Early intervention can lead to better outcomes in both social and academic settings, which will give your child the tools they need to express themselves confidently in the future.
Some areas we can help with include:
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
CAS is a motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to plan and coordinate the precise movements needed for speech. Children with CAS may have difficulty producing sounds accurately, experience inconsistent speech errors, and struggle with prosody (rhythm and melody of speech). Identification: A thorough assessment, including speech sound production, motor planning tasks, and oral-motor skills evaluation. Treatment: Intensive, individualized therapy using multisensory cueing, repetition, and motor-based approaches like dynamic temporal and tactile cueing (DTTC) to build speech coordination and consistency.
Phonological Disorders
Articulation Disorders
Speech Services for Fluency Disorders
Fluency disorders affect the natural flow of speech and can impact communication in daily life. Our specialized services focus on identifying and treating:
Stuttering
Stuttering is characterized by disruptions in speech flow, such as repetitions (“I-I-I want”), prolongations (“ssssssunny day”), or blocks (a pause where no sound comes out). Stuttering can also be accompanied by physical tension, anxiety, or avoidance of speaking situations. Identification: A comprehensive assessment includes evaluating the frequency and types of speech disruptions, as well as analyzing emotional and situational factors that may influence stuttering. Treatment:Therapy focuses on fluency-shaping techniques (e.g., slow, controlled speech), stuttering modification strategies (e.g., reducing tension, easing into words), and building confidence through desensitization exercises and self-advocacy skills.
Cluttering
Appointment & Scheduling
How long are the therapy sessions?
Sessions vary with each individual and are dependent on the findings of the evaluation. If, for example, your child’s evaluation indicates a severe need, sessions could be recommended 30 minutes 2 times per week (or 90 minutes 1 time per week). If the evaluation indicates a mild need, then sessions are typically recommended at 30 minutes per week.
What are your hours?
How long will my child need therapy?
General timeline for phonological and/or articulation disorders
General Timeline for Stuttering
General Timeline for Tongue Thrust
General Questions
How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?
If you notice that your child struggles with speaking clearly, understanding words, or communicating effectively, they might benefit from speech therapy. Some signs to look for include difficulty pronouncing words, trouble forming sentences, challenges following directions, or a noticeable delay in speech compared to peers. If your child is becoming frustrated when trying to express themselves or if you notice that their speech is impacting their social interactions or school performance, it could be time to seek a professional evaluation. A speech-language pathologist can assess your child’s speech and language development and determine if therapy is needed to help them improve their communication skills.
Who will be working with my child?
You mention SLPAs. What are SLPA’s and how do they compare to an SLP?
Do you accept insurance?
How does your private practice speech therapy differ from school based speech therapy?
Do you offer group sessions?
Services
Do you work with adults?
Our SLP specializes in working with children between the ages of 3 and 14.
What types of speech and language challenges do you treat?
My orthodontist has recommended speech therapy for my child. What are they talking about?
