Pediatric Speech Language Therapy Services

The Speech Language Pathologists at TOP Rehab provide comprehensive evaluations in the areas of speech, language, and feeding development for children of all ages. We utilize a variety of standardized tests, parent input, informal measures, and clinical judgement to assess a child's ability.

We treat a variety of disorders that include but are not limited to the following:

• Articulation and Phonological Delays/Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Expressive and Receptive Language Delays/Disorders
• Auditory Processing Disorders
• Feeding and other Oral Motor Delays/Disorders
• Stuttering and other Fluency Disorders
• Social Communication Disorders
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Your child may benefit from speech-language therapy if they exhibit any of the following:

• Speech that is difficult to understand
• Difficulty responding to questions
• Late babbling or talking
• Lack of appropriate play skills
• Difficulty engaging in conversation
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Limited vocabulary for his/her age
• Stuttering
• Difficulty following directions or understanding what is said to them
• Limited functional communication

How Speech Language Pathologists Help Children

After an initial evaluation is performed, the SLP will develop an appropriate plan of action. Interventions will vary depending on what speech, language, or feeding goals will be targeted. The SLPs will tailor each session to the way each individual child learns and responds best. SLPs give both children and their parents the necessary tools to improve their speech and language skills. Practicing what is learned at each therapy appointment is just as important as the appointment itself.

Speech-Language Therapy Treatments:

• Articulation Therapy: Articulation focuses on the proper production of speech sounds. The SLP will help the child coordinate movements of the lips, tongue, jaw, and teeth to improve speech sounds.
• Language Therapy: Language Therapy addresses children's difficulty expressing themselves and/or understanding others. The SLP teaches children how to process language and how to use language for a variety of functions such as commenting, requesting, labeling, protesting, etc.
• Feeding: Feeding therapy focuses on a child's ability to chew, swallow, and drink safely without coughing, choking, or gagging. Feeding therapy also addresses behavioral and/or sensory issues causing feeding aversions when there are no apparent medical causes.
• Social Skills: Social skills therapy addresses children's ability to interact with their peers. SLPs will teach skills of turn taking, conversation, appropriate play, etc. in order to better help children develop and maintain relationships with peers.
• Stuttering/Fluency Therapy: Stuttering therapy aims to help a child produce smooth speech through direct and indirect treatments. The SLP will teach the child strategies such as slow speech, controlled breathing, easy onsets, etc.