What is speech and language therapy?
Speech and language therapy helps to improve your child's communication skills in his or her every day living environments. Therapy targets to improve your child's skills in the following areas and benefits children with learning and behavior disorders, congenital defects, or genetic disorders.
Areas Targeted:
- articulation (pronunciation)
- auditory processing skills
- fluency/stuttering
- language delays
- oral motor difficulties
- reading/spelling difficulties
- social language skills
- swallowing/feeding concerns
- voice disorders
Benefits children with:
- Apraxia
- Autism Spectrum Disorders/ Pervasive Developmental Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Downs Syndrome
- Dysphagia
- Hearing Impairments/ Cochlear Implants
- Learning Disabilities
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injury
What is a speech-language screening?
A speech-language screening comprises of assessing a child's articulation, fluency, voice,
and language and hearing skills to determine if there is a need for further evaluation. Your child may need a speech-language screening if you have concerns regarding the above mentioned areas or is not meeting age excepted speech and language developmental milestones.
Download our screening brochure. The screening will take place at your child's school or daycare. Please ask your school's director to contact us to set up screenings at your school!
What is a speech-language evaluation?
An evaluation is a comprehensive assessment using standardized testing measures, informal assessments, observations, and parent/ caregiver report to address your child's speech, language,
and/or feeding/swallowing skills depending on your concerns.
A speech evaluation is the assessment of your child's functioning with age appropriate articulation skills, phonological disorders, fluency/stuttering, voice skills, and oral motor functioning.
A language evaluation is the assessment of your child's understanding and usage of age appropriate vocabulary and concepts, ability to follow directions, formation of sentences, usage of grammar structures and social language skills. Reading/spelling skills, as well as, auditory processing skills may be assessed.
A feeding evaluation is the assessment of your child's feeding and swallowing skills conducted through an interview process, an assessment of their oral motor structures, and an observation of feeding to determine their current skill and need for interventions.
How do I get started?
Call our office to schedule an appointment. We take many insurances and private pay options. A referral from you Primary Care Physician/Pediatrician may be needed for your child's evaluation to be completed. Bilingual evaluations in Spanish and English are available upon request.
If seeking a Speech-Language Evaluation please download our pediatric case history form or bilingual pediatric case history form and bring it with you to your evaluation appointment.
If seeking a Feeding Evaluation please download our pediatric feeding case history form and bring with you to your evaluation appointment.
The Speech-Language Evaluation or Feeding Evaluation will take approximately one hour to complete. Assessments will be administered to determine your child's current level of functioning. Results from the assessment will be reviewed at the end of the evaluation with recommendations for treatment.
The Speech Language Pathologist will write the evaluation and submit to your insurance company for authorization. A copy of the evaluation will be mailed or emailed to you directly. Once insurance authorization has been obtained, you will be contacted by one of our Speech-Language Pathologists to schedule your first appointment.
Our Speech-Language Therapy Services
Our speech-language therapy services are provided by a Speech-Language Pathologist who is licensed and certified in the State of Florida with a Master's degree in Communication Disorders. Our therapists use the latest cutting edge therapy techniques. Each therapist keeps abreast of current treatment techniques through a variety of continuing education courses.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists are trained in the following specialized programs which include but are not limited to:
- It Takes Two to Talk
- More than Words
- Fast Forward
- Early Steps
- Tongue Thrust Swallowing Program
- Ready, Set, Go
- Language Enrichment Program
- Sound Success
Therapy sessions are designed around an individualized plan of care to address your child's specific needs to provide them with the greatest quality of life. Individual and group therapy sessions are available. Group sessions are tailored to the needs of the children. Therapy will be conducted based on the frequency determined during your child's evaluation. Therapy can be conducted in one of our area clinics, in your home or your child's daycare through our involvement in the Early Steps Program, and/or at your child's preschool or school. (Determination of therapy location may be made based on your insurance and availability in therapists schedule.)
Speech Language Milestones
12-18 months
- Attempts to copy your sounds
- Uses vocabulary of at least 10 spoken words
- Understands "No"
- Points or reaches to a desired object while producing sounds
- Understands simple directions
- Understands simple questions
- Uses vocabulary of at least 10 spoken words
18-24 months
- Attempts to copy your words
- Uses a variety of words
- Has vocabulary of 50 words or more
- Combines 2 words
- Follows novel commands
- Follows more complex directions
- Takes turns in conversations
- Uses a variety of words
2-3 years old
- Responds to simple questions
- Understands location words
- Identifies objects by function
- Jargons (unintelligible adult-like speech)
- Uses 2 and 3 word phrases
- Uses 200 or more words
- Asks questions
- Understands location words
3-4 years old
- Talks about daily events
- Uses 4 word sentences
- Answers questions logically
- Explains how objects are used
- Uses these sounds in words: k, g, f, s, sh, j, ch, z
- Uses 4 word sentences
4-5 years old
- Talks easily with adults
- Follows multiple step directions
- Understands descriptive and time concepts
- Understands and uses prepositions
- Explains and describes words
- Associates letters with a sounds
- Uses these sounds in words: v, l, r
- Follows multiple step directions
5-6 years old
- Retells stories
- Recognizes and produces rhyme
- Recalls information
- Clearly says these sounds in words: th, st, kr