Evaluation & Treatment Services
There are many reasons why a child may need evaluation and treatment by a Speech-Language Pathologist. A child may be quite talkative but have difficulty producing one or more sounds. Another child may be difficult to understand, or they may not produce sounds and/or words in line with developmental milestones. Another child may have communication delays or difficulties related to a medical diagnosis such as an Autism Spectrum Disorder, hearing loss, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, among others.
My services address each child’s unique needs to help them find the voice that gives them the confidence to be heard.
I am currently servicing the greater Raleigh area via in-home or in-school visits.
Articulation
Articulation is how we make speech sounds using our mouth. Common articulation disorders include substitutions of a sound such as “R” with another such as “W.” For example, when a child says “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.” Sometimes these sound substitutions are developmentally appropriate, and other times there is an articulation disorder that needs to be treated.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that impacts the motor planning of the sequence of movements needed for speaking. Children with CAS may make inconsistent speech errors and may have difficulty speaking and being understood.
Expressive & Receptive Language
Expressive Language includes the words and sentences we use to communicate when speaking, including grammar. Receptive Language is our comprehension or understanding of spoken language.
Late Talkers
Babies and toddlers may be delayed in reaching their milestones for making sounds and saying words. This could be due to delayed articulation skills, delayed expressive language skills, or both.
Dysarthia
Dysarthria is a speech disorder caused by muscle weakness. Dysarthria can make speech difficult to produce and for others to understand.
Social Communication (Social Skills)
Social Communication is how we use verbal and nonverbal language skills to interact with others in an appropriate and meaningful way. All language is social, but some kids may have difficulty interpreting others’ social cues and language. Children with weak or delayed pragmatic language skills, and/or children on the Autism Spectrum, among others, may need social communication support.
Stuttering / Fluency
Fluency is the smooth, and forward flowing movement of speech. A disruption in this forward flowing movement such as the repetition of a speech sound (“B-b-but”) is considered a dysfluency. Dysfluency that is not developmentally appropriate, also known as stuttering, may require treatment. Stuttering also includes sound blocks and prolongations.
Reading & Spelling Intervention
Dyslexia is a commonly known reading disorder; however, there are other reasons why a child may have difficulty learning to read or spell. Weak phonological awareness and/or phonological processing skills may lead to these issues. Children who have articulation disorders are sometimes at risk for reading and spelling issues.
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
AAC includes any manner of communication that is not verbal speech. This may include gestures, picture communication, and speech generating devices, among others. For some children, AAC serves as a stepping stone or a bridge to accessing verbal communication. Some children may use Total Communication approaches, which combine the use of AAC with verbal speech, or, they may use AAC as their sole method to communicate.
Speech Generating Devices (SGDs)
A speech generating device (SGD) is a device that produces speech either digitally or by using a pre-recorded voice. Acquiring an SGD may involve evaluation, trialing different devices, applying for funding, programming of the device, and child and parent training.