SPEECH SOUND DISORDERS
Articulation
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Articulation errors mean you have difficulty producing sounds or are saying words incorrectly. Articulation is the sounds you hear when someone speaks: like ‘wabbit’ for ‘rabbit’ or ‘wike’ for ‘like.’
Phonological Processing Patterns
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Phonological patterns are techniques used by children to simplify adult speech & often results in highly unintelligible speech. For example: ‘soup’ becomes ‘dup’ or ‘cat’ becomes ‘tat.’
Apraxia of Speech
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Apraxia is the inability to carryout purposeful movements used for speech & often results in unintelligible speech.
Treatment of Speech Sound Disorders
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Speech sound disorder treatment may include exercises that involve having the therapist model correct sounds for a child & demonstrate how to move the tongue. The Hodson approach is used for highly unintelligible children, which focuses on patterns of errors rather than each sound.
LANGUAGE DISORDERS
Receptive Language
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Receptive language is the ability to understand or comprehend what others say. For example: following directions, understanding basic concepts, or difficulty with reading comprehension. Receptive language skills are vital for school success.
Pragmatic Language
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Pragmatics are the social rules of language. Social skills therapy includes both the verbal & non-verbal (body language) form of communication.
Expressive Language
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Expressive language is the ability to speak in a meaningful manner or difficulty communicating effectively. Children that have a limited vocabulary, errors in sentence structure, &/or inability to answer questions might have an expressive language disorder.
Treatment of Language Disorders
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Language therapy focuses on the understanding, organizing & production of thoughts. Language intervention activities may include interacting with a child by playing & talking, using pictures, books, objects or ongoing events to stimulate language development. Social skills therapy may include playing with others or learning & practicing appropriate social rules in conversation
SPEECH DISORDERS
STUTTERING
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Stuttering is a fluency disorder where there is an interruption in the flow & ease of speech. Stuttering can include uncontrolled repetitions (st-st-stutters), prolongations (lllliiiike this), blocks or unusual breathing patterns while speaking.
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Use
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Use of total communication systems are designed to support, enhance or supplement the current communication skills of children who are not able to be understood by using their voice.
Dysarthria
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Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder in which the muscles of the mouth, face and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury. Children may also have difficulty with feeding skills due to weakness or rate of movement.
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Speech disorder treatments focus on improving communication abilities by utilizing a variety of strategies & techniques that works for the child & their family.