Speech therapy can help children with a wide range of communication and feeding challenges. “Speech therapy” is so much more than speech, but is the general term that encompasses the scope of practice for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs).
Speech and motor speech disorders- trouble pronouncing sounds, putting sounds together, and difficulty with oral-motor planning that affects how well a child is understood by others.
Fluency disorders like stuttering also make expressing ideas and being understood by others difficult.
Voice disorders that impact volume, pitch, or the quality of speech.
Expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language delays and disorders have lasting effects on how a child expresses themselves, how they understand the language around them, and how others communicate with them.
Challenges with social skills that are needed to make friendships, maintain relationships with others, and interact with the world around them.
Feeding and swallowing challenges like refusing foods, coughing, and nutritional concerns that affect meals.
Cognitive skills like attention, memory, and planning impacts overall learning and communication.
Pediatricians and teachers often refer for speech therapy if they notice a child’s skills are not matching the average of same-aged peers. There are many reasons why a child may need speech therapy. Benefits of speech therapy:Speech therapy can target any of the above skill areas to:
Improve communication and understanding
Prepare for school/improved academic success
Increase nutritional variety and eating safety
Confidence and independence
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