Therapy for Children and Adolescents
Philosophy
Asking a child to learn and practice something that’s difficult for them needs to be fun. So, whether it’s articulation difficulties, language-based problems, stuttering or reading challenges, therapy should be enjoyable and kids should feel good about what they are learning and how well they are doing. Therapy typically employs games, appropriate to the age of the child, that target specific goals. Parents are encouraged to participate in the individual sessions in order to carryover the goals more easily and effectively at home. In this way, parents becomes partners in their child’s therapy and learn about the process along with the child. By practicing take-home games outside of the therapy sessions, learning and acquisition of therapy goals are reinforced.
Therapy Provided
Communication Works provides treatment for children with delays or disorders in the following areas:
Articulation/phonology: A child may have difficulty pronouncing and/or combining certain sounds or learning sound patterns for a variety of reasons. Speech therapy helps a child to produce sounds that are developmentally appropriate for their age. For information on whether your child should be making certain sounds at their age, see Resources.
Language: Children may not start talking/using language at the same time as their peers for many reasons. Their grammar or vocabulary may be weak and their use of language may not be appropriate, e.g., commenting on events or objects, asking questions. Language therapy can help children improve their receptive and expressive language skills. For information on whether your child’s language is within the normal limits see Resources.
Reading and Writing: Many children and adolescents have difficulty learning to read and write, which is a language-based problem. While children learn to read at different rates, a Speech-Language Pathologist can determine whether your child presents with risk factors that indicate more explicit instruction would help your child read sooner and more fluently. For more information see Resources.
Selective Mutism: Selective Mutism is characterized by the inability to speak in select social situations, e.g., school, however, these children or adolescents are able to speak normally in other social situations, e.g., with family at home. Therapy can help the child to use their speech and language skills in other social settings. See Resources for more information on whether you should be concerned.
Stuttering: With a fluency disorder, a child struggles with the flow or rhythm of speech. Their speech can be interrupted in a number of ways, e.g., through repetition of sounds, syllables or words and phrases or prolonging sounds or getting stuck on certain sounds or words. While many children go through a period of dysfluency, a Speech-Language Pathologist can determine whether there are risk factors present which suggest a need for direct therapy. See Resources for more information on whether you should be concerned.
Tongue Thrust: Infants exhibit a tongue thrust swallow pattern that changes with growth and maturity. However, when this pattern is continued, a tongue-thrust swallow can have an impact on the dentition. Orthodontists usually notice that the child’s swallow exerts force on the teeth and moves them from their normal position (malocclusion). Myofunctional or tongue-thrust therapy can help a child correct the resting position of their tongue and adopt a more normal swallowing pattern that can minimize the impact on the dentition. Parents typically consider myofunctional therapy for their child upon the recommendation of their orthodontist.
Articulation/phonology: A child may have difficulty pronouncing and/or combining certain sounds or learning sound patterns for a variety of reasons. Speech therapy helps a child to produce sounds that are developmentally appropriate for their age. For information on whether your child should be making certain sounds at their age, see Resources.
Language: Children may not start talking/using language at the same time as their peers for many reasons. Their grammar or vocabulary may be weak and their use of language may not be appropriate, e.g., commenting on events or objects, asking questions. Language therapy can help children improve their receptive and expressive language skills. For information on whether your child’s language is within the normal limits see Resources.
Reading and Writing: Many children and adolescents have difficulty learning to read and write, which is a language-based problem. While children learn to read at different rates, a Speech-Language Pathologist can determine whether your child presents with risk factors that indicate more explicit instruction would help your child read sooner and more fluently. For more information see Resources.
Selective Mutism: Selective Mutism is characterized by the inability to speak in select social situations, e.g., school, however, these children or adolescents are able to speak normally in other social situations, e.g., with family at home. Therapy can help the child to use their speech and language skills in other social settings. See Resources for more information on whether you should be concerned.
Stuttering: With a fluency disorder, a child struggles with the flow or rhythm of speech. Their speech can be interrupted in a number of ways, e.g., through repetition of sounds, syllables or words and phrases or prolonging sounds or getting stuck on certain sounds or words. While many children go through a period of dysfluency, a Speech-Language Pathologist can determine whether there are risk factors present which suggest a need for direct therapy. See Resources for more information on whether you should be concerned.
Tongue Thrust: Infants exhibit a tongue thrust swallow pattern that changes with growth and maturity. However, when this pattern is continued, a tongue-thrust swallow can have an impact on the dentition. Orthodontists usually notice that the child’s swallow exerts force on the teeth and moves them from their normal position (malocclusion). Myofunctional or tongue-thrust therapy can help a child correct the resting position of their tongue and adopt a more normal swallowing pattern that can minimize the impact on the dentition. Parents typically consider myofunctional therapy for their child upon the recommendation of their orthodontist.