Services
Articulation
Articulation therapy addresses how we produce speech sounds. Common articulation errors include lisps, difficulty with saying the “r” sound, or sound substitutions such as “bof” for “both”. Articulation errors can be simple or they can be more complex, with multiple errors and or phonological patterns making speech highly unintelligible.
Kidzspeech takes a unique look at the oral mechanism (jaw, lips, tongue) during assessments to determine the structure and function of the oral mechanism. School-based articulation therapy frequently does not assess the function of the articulators. Often, there are underlying issues with how a child holds their mouth or tongue at rest and during speech that can affect how sounds are produced. Kidzspeech can help address any underlying issues to make therapy more successful.
Early Intervention
Early intervention services support the speech, language, and/or feeding skills of the young child (aged 0-3). County Birth-Three programs offer services to children up to age 3, however they have strict qualification guidelines and your child may not qualify to receive services. Providing services for the toddler can help a “late talker” catch up by the time they reach school-age. Children with early speech and language delays are more at risk for reading and writing difficulties once they reach school, especially if early intervention is not provided. If you have a child under the age of three, who does not qualify for Birth-Three services, Kidzspeech can help.
Language-Literacy Skills
If your child is struggling with reading and spelling/writing skills in school, a Language-Literacy Evaluation will help to determine the underlying difficulties your child may be having. Many children may appear to be reading fluently, however they may lack strong decoding skills necessary to advance their reading to higher levels with unfamiliar words and text. A comprehensive evaluation is necessary to develop a treatment plan and appropriate classroom accommodations to help your child be successful in school.
If treatment is indicated, recommendations may include an Orton-Gillingham approach. Other recommendations may include Structured Word Inquiry. Supplemental services, including the Fast ForWord Family of Products, may also be utilized to maximize progress. With reading and writing, the earlier intervention is provided, the better.
Language Disorders
Language involves vocabulary (semantics), how we organize and put together sentences (syntax), use of word parts like “-ing” (morphology), and how we use language to communicate our needs (pragmatic skills). A breakdown in language skills can look different with every child. Examples of disordered language include a child who appears to have difficulty organizing their thoughts into a cohesive sentence or story, a child who overuses general words such as “thing” and “that one” versus using specific vocabulary, or a child who makes errors with pronouns, plurals, or makes other grammatical errors.
Social Skills/Pragmatic Language
The primary goal of communication is social, as children are very social beings. Being able to use language appropriately can be very difficult. Specific teaching in social language is sometimes necessary to learn and practice these skills. At Kidzspeech, we incorporate social and pragmatic language skills into every session.