A speech-language pathologist (SLP), sometimes referred to as a speech therapist, is a professional healthcare provider who has at least a Master level degree in Speech-Language Pathology. SLP’s have a lot of training and experience in diagnosing and treating speech sound disorders, developmental language disorders, stuttering, voice disorders, feeding and swallowing disorders, and cognitive-linguistic disorders.
Research indicates that early intervention is key; the sooner we can intervene the better! The younger your child is the better! This allows the therapeutic process to make positive changes with your child’s speech, language, and overall development. Often times, parents suspect a potential problem or have concerns about their child’s development but may be told by other professionals to “wait and see.”
Speech-language treatment plans and goals are created and implemented based on the child's individual needs. Individual therapy may address the following:
*Opportunities to develop more appropriate play skills
*Social skills (i.e., imitation, theory of mind, joint attention) and foster more appropriate social interaction skills
*Language comprehension and expression
*Development of augmentative communication skills
*Literacy skills
*Readiness to learn skills
Speech is the physical act of moving the articulators (jaw, tongue, and lips) to make sounds. Language is a multi-faceted process that encompasses understanding; including spoken conversation, using words to express thoughts and feelings, and following the unspoken social “rules” of conversation. Both speech and language affect our ability to effectively communicate with the people around us.
