Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy Services

Speech-language pathologists are trained to provide speech therapy for kids in many areas. When people hear “speech therapist” they often think of kids who can’t say the “r” sound. While it is true that speech therapists work on articulation, we also do so much more! 

Moving Forward Speech Therapy provides the following speech therapy for kids of all ages. 

Speech Therapy for Kids with Speech Sound Disorders

There are several types of speech sound disorders. Articulation disorders, phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, and dysarthria can all affect your child’s communication. 

Your child may have a speech sound disorder if they experience any of the following: 

  • Difficulty being understood by family, friends, teachers, or unfamiliar listeners.
  • Speech sound substitutions such as saying “w” instead of “r” or “t” instead of “k”.
  • Omission of certain sounds or syllables.
  • Struggles to get their mouth to make the right sounds

If this sounds like your child, we can help! The Moving Forward Speech Therapy team are experts in speech therapy for kids. Some speech errors are developmental and others are not. Our trained speech therapists can help determine whether intervention is needed. 

If your child needs speech therapy, our clinicians will complete an evaluation to determine the next steps. Your child’s speech therapist will work with you to develop a personalized plan including home exercise program if desired. 

Reading and Literacy Disorders

Reading disorders impact people of all ages. However, childhood is an excellent time to address these difficulties. Speech-language pathologists are trained in the underlying skills needed to develop literacy.

In order to read, children need to develop the following skills:

  • Phonemic awareness (understanding of sounds)
  • Phonics (understanding of letters/sounds)
  • Fluency (reading smoothly)
  • Vocabulary
  • Comprehension

Speech-language pathologists are uniquely trained to address all these areas! By working on all the skills needed for reading, your child will be more successful.

Some reading specialists focus only on decoding. This may lead to short-term gains, but ongoing comprehension difficulties are likely to persist. Speech therapists focus on every aspect of reading that your child needs to be successful. 

Your child’s speech therapist can also work with them to develop the skills needed for spelling and forming sentences. 

Social and Pragmatic Language Disorders

Individuals with social-pragmatic language disorders struggle to use communication in social situations. These difficulties are a characteristic of individuals with autism. However people without autism can also struggle with social communication. 

Kids with social and pragmatic language disorders may struggle with:

  • Reading social cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
  • Figurative language including idioms, exaggerations, similes, or oxymorons.
  • Carrying on a conversation with peers.
  • Following expected rules for conversations.
  • Rigid or one dimensional thinking/difficulty handling change.
  • Perspective taking and understanding others’ points of view.
  • Self-advocacy. 

At Moving Forward Speech Therapy, we believe all identities are valid. Our pediatric speech therapy providers work with you to determine an intervention plan best suited for your child.

This may look different for each individual, depending on what is most important to them. We can assist clients in understanding neurotypical viewpoints and norms while validating their own style of communication. 

Speech Therapy for Kids who Stutter

Stuttering affects people of all ages. Some children stutter and “grow out of it” while others will continue to stutter.

There are certain risk factors that make an individual more likely to have persistent stuttering.

That is why, if your child stutters, we recommend getting an evaluation as soon as possible. Our therapists can determine whether a “wait and observe” or more direct method is best. Our recommendations will vary depending on a variety of factors. 

Your child may stutter or have a fluency disorder if they have the following difficulties: 

  • Getting “stuck” on certain sounds.
  • Repeating sounds, syllables, or one-syllable words. 
  • Showing physical changes such as eye blinking or facial grimacing when speaking or saying certain sounds.
  • Has negative feelings or attitudes about their speech

Working with a speech therapist can help your child to improve speech fluency and attitudes and beliefs about stuttering. Speech therapy for kids who stutter will help boost your child’s self-esteem and help them communicate more effectively. 

Language Disorders/Late Talkers

If you are concerned about your child’s language development, we are here to help! Some children need additional support to develop their communication skills beginning at a young age. 

Your child may benefit from speech-language therapy if they:

  • Aren’t talking or learning new words at the same rate as their peers. 
  • Aren’t babbling, playing, or engaging with caregivers or other children. 
  • Get frustrated when they can’t express their ideas, wants, or needs. 
  • Haven’t begun combining 2-3 words by age 2-3.
  • Aren’t using sentences by age  3-4.
  • Can’t engage in an ongoing conversation by age 5. 
  • Have difficulty understanding what people say to them or following directions. 

For young children, beginning language therapy as early as possible is critical. The sooner we begin therapy, the sooner we can implement strategies to maximize communication success.

Your speech-language pathologist will work with your child and with you to support language development. You can use the strategies you learn from your speech therapist outside of therapy to see even faster progress.

Even if your pediatrician has recommended a “wait and see” approach, we highly recommend a language evaluation. Speech-language pathologist are experts in communication development and can offer the best advice to help your child succeed.  

Still Have Questions About Speech Therapy for Kids?

If you have questions about speech therapy for kids, the best way to get answers is to schedule a free consultation. 

Otherwise, for general questions, please see our frequently asked questions our about page for more information about Moving Forward Speech Therapy. 

If you’re ready to help your child improve their communication, click below to connect with us!

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