a play-based approach to speech and language therapy

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What is Speech Therapy

Speech therapy assesses and treats speech, language and communication disorders or delays. Speech therapy can help children with comprehension of language, speech sound production, fluency, voice, use/expression of language, and social skills. The goal of speech therapy is to support children in becoming connected to their voice and to the world around them.

Speech therapists use a variety of techniques to help children improve their speech.

Techniques Used by Speech Therapists

practicing speech sounds

using pictures or other visual aids to help with communication

using sign language or gestures to supplement speech

working on speech rhythm and fluency

teaching breathing exercises to help with speech production

practicing word combinations to expand sentence length

teaching vocabulary to build receptive and expressive language skills

Speech therapy can be beneficial for all children, but it is especially important for those who have difficulty communicating or being understood by others. Speech therapy can help children express themselves, interact and connect with others, share their thoughts and feelings, and has even helped support academic development.

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How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?

Parents are often the first to notice when their child is not meeting speech and language milestones. If your child is not making speech sounds, is not using words by 18 months, or is not putting words together by 2 years, he or she may benefit from speech therapy. Other signs that your child may need speech therapy include difficulty understanding what others are saying, trouble following directions, and difficulty expressing needs. If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development, talk to your child’s doctor or a speech-language pathologist. They can help you determine whether speech therapy is necessary and develop a plan to meet your child’s needs.

What are the signs of a child who can benefit from speech therapy services?

Avoiding eye contact and social interaction

Difficulty with joint attention. Shared attention involves a common focus on something such as people, objects, events or concepts

Difficulty understanding and using nonverbal and verbal communication skills

Difficulty with social reciprocity, such as engaging in back and forth interactions

Difficulties with changes in routine or transitions

Delays in social cognition, including challenges with social interactions

Delays in acquisition of language

Delays in play skills

Difficulty with emotional regulation and behavioral issues

Difficulty producing speech sounds, which results in difficulty being understood by others

Difficulty expressing to get basic needs and wants met

Difficulty using words or combining words together to serve a variety of pragmatic functions (i.e. request, greet, protest, comment, describe, ask/answer questions, etc.)

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How does Speech Therapy help?

Develops and increases the understanding and use of nonverbal and verbal communication skills

Improves how your child is using words to communicate thoughts, needs, wants, feelings and ideas

Provides multiple modalities for communication and expression so that your child feels heard and understood in the world

Provides opportunities for generalization of skills with peers and in a variety of settings

Increases focus and attention to tasks

Develops and increases play skills

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What age should my child go to speech therapy?

It’s not always easy to tell when a child might benefit from speech therapy. Some children start therapy early, around age 18 months or 2 years of age, while others don’t begin until they’re school-aged. Many factors can influence the decision of when to start speech therapy, including the severity of the child’s speech delay, the presence of other developmental delays, and family preferences. Ultimately, the decision of when to begin speech therapy should be made by a speech-language pathologist in consultation with parents and other professionals. Early intervention is often ideal, the sooner you and your team are able to support your child, the better. Working with a qualified speech therapist can help you make the best decision for your child.
What does my child do in speech therapy?

Valued Voices mission is to help every child find their voice. Together, we raise children’s voices up in the world through inspiring self-expression.Your child’s speech therapy session will aim to help your child improve their speech and communication skills. The therapist will assess your child’s speech and language skills using formal and/or informal assessment tools and then design a therapy program specifically for your child. The therapy program may include activities such as increasing vocabulary, practicing target speech sounds, combining words together, and telling stories. Your therapist will also provide you with advice on how to support your child’s speech and language development at home. Ultimately, the goal of speech therapy is to help your child improve their communication skills so that they can interact more confidently and effectively with others. Learn more about how you can support your child getting started in therapy.
Can speech therapy help my child talk?

When most people think of speech therapy, they picture a therapist working with a young child on their pronunciation. While this is one way that speech therapy can help a child talk, it is not the only way. Speech therapy can also help children who have difficulty with the volume or pitch of their voice, as well as children who have difficulty combining words together. In addition, speech therapy can help children who have difficulty in understanding and using language, as well as children who have difficulty using language in social interactions. Ultimately, speech therapy can be an extremely effective way to help your child connect to their voice. By working with a speech therapist, children can overcome the challenges that are preventing them from communicating and connecting in their day to day lives.
Does speech therapy mean autism?

Your child’s speech therapy session will aim to help your child improve their speech and communication skills. The therapist will assess your child’s speech and language skills using formal and/or informal assessment tools and then design a therapy program specifically for your child. The therapy program may include activities such as increasing vocabulary, practicing target speech sounds, combining words together, and telling stories. Your therapist will also provide you with advice on how to support your child’s speech and language development at home. Ultimately, the goal of speech therapy is to help your child improve their communication skills so that they can interact more confidently and effectively with others. Learn more about how you can support your child getting started in therapy.
What are common causes of speech disorders in kids?

There are many common causes of speech disorders in kids. One of the most common is speech delay, which can be caused by a variety of factors, including hearing loss, developmental delays, and autism spectrum disorder. Another common cause of speech disorders is articulation disorders, which can make it difficult for kids to produce certain sounds correctly. This can be caused by physical abnormalities, such as cleft palate, or by motor-speech disorders. Many kids with speech disorders benefit from speech therapy, which can help them to improve their speech production and communication skills.
What are Speech Language Pathologists?

A speech language pathologist is a professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders. Your speech therapist will create a customized treatment plan and focus on progressing towards your child’s goals. At Valued Voices, our team is made up of Speech Language Pathologists, Child Communication Specialists, Social Skills Specialists, Early Intervention Specialists, Occupational Therapists, Certified Sensory Integration Therapists, and more! We work together to tailor a speech language therapy protocol suited to your child. We are here to support your child, which means supporting you too!

Treating your child, not their label

Labels themselves are not bad, it’s all in how you see it. We believe children who are on the Autism spectrum simply see the world from a particularly rich sensory perspective. We see that unique outlook as a gift. If you are noticing this, let’s have a chat.

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Creating a treatment plan that draws on your child’s strengths

Before starting treatment, we conduct a comprehensive assessment so that we can deeply understand your child’s strengths and what areas require some more love, support, guidance and empowerment from us. Then we create functional and meaningful goals with you in order to help you and your child connect and communicate in ways that feel just right.

Speech-for-autism-creating-a-treatment-plan

Supporting the whole family, because you are your child’s greatest teacher.

Our treatment is designed to not only treat your little one’s Autism but to also support your whole family. If you’re the type of parent that wants to be involved in the creation of developmental opportunities at home, we’re here to provide you with the information, skills and tools to do so.

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Sholeh and the team at Valued Voices have been amazing. Kind, compassionate, supportive and incredibly organized. We have seen immense growth in our daughter’s speech and conversational abilities in the last six months with Valued Voices and would recommend the program to anyone and everyone.

– Katie O