Speech Therapy

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech-Language Pathology (often called Speech Therapy) is a healthcare profession that works to prevent, assess and treat disorders of speech, spoken language, literacy, social communication, voice, and swallowing in order to increase participation in daily activities and improve quality of life. SLPs help patients optimize their functioning through Prevention, Diagnosis, Habilitation, Enhancement, and Rehabilitation.

 

Why Speech Therapy?

Speech-Language Pathologists approach treatment from an integrated perspective. We see the patient as a whole person with skills, experiences, relationships, and environments which make them special! Using this model, SLPs identify the barriers to a patient’s independence by assessing body structures, activities, participation, and contexts. Using evidenced-based practice and culturally-competent techniques, SLPs can help patients overcome barriers and turn weaknesses into strengths!

 

 

 

Is Speech Therapy Right for My Child? 

Your child may benefit from Speech Therapy to support the following:

  • Finding the right words to verbally express one’s needs, interests and personal experiences.
  • Understanding spoken language in order to follow directions, enjoy conversation and build cognitive skills via listening.
  • Relating to peers and adults through social communication –  taking turns talking about a shared topic, making verbal connections that lead to friendship and function in our society.
  • Developing literacy skills such as letter-sound relationships (phonics), word to meaning relationships (semantics) and understanding ideas presented in written form (reading comprehension.)
  • Creating sentences or retelling experiences with age-expected grammar (the use of pronouns, verbs, adjectives, articles.)
  • Developing the cognitive aspects of language such as attending to important words in a connected message and remembering language.
  • Eating and drinking with mature motor function and an efficient swallow.
  • Speaking fluently, without the hesitations, repetitions or other speech interruptions caused by stuttering.
  • Using a vocal pattern that is prosodic and age-appropriate for pitch and volume level.
  • Using augmentative communication (such as sign language or language from a computerized  device) when spoken language cannot be developed.
  • Developing speech sounds and clarity of speech that are age-appropriate. 

 

How do I Get Started?

Speech Therapy is a specialty and therefore requires a physician referral or prescription in order for insurance to be billed for services. Speak with your child’s pediatrician today about whether Speech Therapy is the right choice for your family! Prescriptions must specify 7 Senses Therapy Center, Inc. and can be faxed to: 540-451-7008.

 

TIP: SLPs generally expect 2-year-old children to be at least 50% intelligible, 3-year-old children to be at least 75% intelligible and 4-year-old children to be at least 85% intelligible.