What is speech-language therapy?
What is speech-language therapy? I’m so glad you asked…
The goal of speech-language therapy (traditionally called speech therapy) is to improve communication skills. Communication is complicated and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) specialize in assessing and treating communication disorders.
Okay, but what’s a communication disorder?
Communication is the fundamental way that humans connect with others. Communication is vital for academic skills and for developing relationships with families and friends.
Communication disorders include…
Speech sound disorders: Difficulty saying sounds correctly, which may include a phonological disorder (letter-based disorder) or childhood apraxia of speech (motor planning or execution disorder).
Language disorders: Difficulty understanding or using vocabulary, grammar, or social language.
Stuttering: Repetition, prolongation, or blocking of sounds, words, or phrases which is neurological in nature.
Autism: Really, autism is a cause of communication disorders. A large majority of autistic children experience language disorder.
How does speech-language therapy improve communication disorders in children?
Speech-language therapy starts with a qualified speech-language therapist. In order to become a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP), the provider needs a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, I received my Master of Arts from University of Colorado, Boulder in 2011. A very small subset of providers go on to receive doctorate degrees. I received my Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) from Northwestern University in 2020.
A qualified SLP assesses your child and develops a treatment plan, which includes goals and strategies that can be used to improve your child’s communication skills. The treatment plan should always be based on the research evidence for what science suggests works. As a parent, it’s important to ask your child’s SLP about the research that informs their treatment and recommendations.
With children, speech-language therapy usually looks like play! The SLP targets a child’s goals during play, so that the child’s skills improve while they have fun!
As a parent or caregiver, if your child has received speech-language therapy before, you’re probably familiar with the “traditional model.” You drop your child off, they spend their session individually with the therapist, and at the end of the session, the SLP chats with you for a few minutes and gives you some home practice activities. My therapy is different.
How is your speech-language therapy different?
I use parent coaching (also called parent training or parent-mediated intervention) to include you as an active participants in your child’s therapy. There is extensive research that indicates that parent training is more effective than the “traditional model.” At North Star, I know you want your child to make as much progress as possible as quickly as possible. Therapy based on research allows me to offer high-quality treatment to maximize your child’s skills.
Parent coaching during in-home speech-language therapy takes place in your child’s natural environment, with their toys during their routines. Online or virtual speech-language therapy is also a great way to get support for your child’s communication skills without the disruption of having a new person in your space.
I offer in-home speech-language therapy in San Diego in:
Point Loma
Ocean Beach
Mission Hills
Mission Beach
Pacific Beach
Clairemont
La Jolla
Do you live nearby one of these areas? Contact me to see if I offer in-home therapy near you.
Online or virtual speech-language therapy is available anywhere in California and is a great option if you live outside of my service area or want to start or continue speech-language therapy safely during COVID-19.
