PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology or Pediatric Speech Therapy (ST) is the profession that helps children with their speech and/or language. A speech disorder is when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently. A language disorder is when a child has trouble understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language). Speech Therapy addresses speech and language disorders, voice production, social communication, cognitive communication, oral motor disorders, and swallowing disorders.

Children may benefit from ST if they:

• have difficulty formulating sounds or words

• incorrect substitutions of sounds (i.e. “F” for “TH,” or “W” for “L”)

• have difficulty answering where, when, why, or how questions

• struggle understanding or comprehending age-appropriate language

• frequently omit sounds from words (i.e. the word, “HAT” is produced “HA”)

• difficulty with social situations (taking turns, making eye contact, introductions, etc.)

• struggle with feeding, eating, or swallowing

• produce sound, word, or phrase repetitions prior to sentence completion (stutter)

• have poor vocal quality (i.e. hoarse or weak voice)

SEE Speech Therapy Milestones