Pediatric Speech Therapy is a form of therapy that is designed to help children with communication and language disorders. These disorders can range from mild to severe, and may include difficulties with speaking or being understood, understanding language, or using language to communicate effectively.
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Pediatric Speech Therapy is a form of therapy that is designed to help children with communication and language disorders. These disorders can range from mild to severe, and may include difficulties with speaking or being understood, understanding language, or using language to communicate effectively. Language skills vary based on children’s age and development. Trained professionals can determine which skills children have that are appropriate. Also, what can be done to assist in developing skills which may be delayed.
Play Video
Speech Therapy for Children
Develop Skills to Communicate Effectively with Others
Speech therapy for children usually involves working with a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). The SLP will assess the child’s communication skills using standardized tests to compare the child’s development to a normative sample, evaluating an inventory of skills, observing the child, and receiving the parent’s report. Once it is determined that the child qualifies for therapy, the SLP will develop a treatment plan that is tailored to their specific needs. Treatment may include exercises to improve the child’s speech, language, and communication skills. As well as activities to help the child understand and use language more effectively.
Therapy activities will vary based on what is age-appropriate for each child. An example of therapy for younger children (1-3 years old) will include elementary play skills and simple toys. Another example often incorporates identification and naming of basic vocabulary (e.g., mom, doll, ball, boy, car, colors, animals, etc.). Treatment for older children often incorporates targeting goals into motivating activities such as games.
One of the main goals of pediatric speech therapy is to help children develop the skills they need to communicate effectively with others. This includes helping them to develop age-appropriate speech and language skills. These skills include being able to use words to express their thoughts and feelings, ask and answer questions, and follow directions. Also, it includes helping children to develop the skills they need to understand and use language in a variety of social situations. Examples include having conversations with others, participating in group activities, and following rules and expectations.
Speech Therapy for Younger Children
An example of therapy for younger children (1-3 years old) will include :
- Elementary Play Skills
- Simple Toys to Improve Speech
- Identification And Naming Of Basic Vocabulary
- Example: Mom, Doll, Dad, Ball, Boy, Head, Nose, Ears
Speech Therapy Takes Time & Patience
Pediatric speech therapy may also focus on helping children with specific communication disorders, such as stuttering, speech sound disorders, or voice disorders. Stuttering presents as repetitions or prolongations of sounds, words, or phrases in continuous speech. SLPs provide skills for children to manage their stutters as well as educate the caregivers of these children on how to best assist their child who stutters. Speech sound disorders present as either incorrect production of a sound (incorrect production of /r/) or patterns of errors in words (dropping the final consonant sound off the end of simple words). Voice disorders are associated with the sound, pitch, volume, and quality of a child’s voice. In these cases, the SLP will use specific techniques and exercises to help the child improve their communication skills and overcome their specific disorder.
In addition to working with the child directly, pediatric speech therapy may also involve working with the child’s parents and caregivers. Involving parents is important to teach them strategies and techniques they can use at home to support the child’s communication development. This may include providing guidance on how to engage the child in language-rich activities, how to model appropriate language use, and how to provide positive reinforcement for the child’s progress. One key factor for parents to remember is that therapy often takes time.
Cooperation and implementation of techniques at home will likely increase the speed of recovery or development of new skills similar to the way that practice of any discipline increases skill levels. It is important to remember not to push children too hard and ask them to do things above their skill level as this can increase frustration and lower self-confidence. Following recommendations provided by the speech pathologist is the best way to ensure success for your child.
Pediatric Speech Therapy is an important form of treatment for children with communication and language disorders!
When parents or caregivers have concerns about their child’s communication, the first step to getting in contact with a speech therapist is to talk to the child’s pediatrician. The pediatrician will determine if the child’s development is generally within the limits of typical development or if they present with possible delays. Once it has been determined that intervention may be necessary, a referral will be made to a speech pathologist. A speech pathologist can perform the evaluation and determine the necessary goals to increase the child’s communication skills. Speech therapy services are also provided in the school setting.
Overall, pediatric speech therapy is an important form of treatment for children with communication and language disorders. It can help children develop the skills they need to communicate effectively with others and participate fully in their daily lives. If you are concerned about your child’s communication skills, it is important to speak with a doctor. A doctor will refer to an SLP to determine if speech therapy is appropriate for your child.
