Speech - Language Pathology for Children

Children’s Speech-Language Pathology Services

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Speech-language pathology services help children or adults with communication or feeding difficulties. A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is trained to identify, assess, and treat communication and/or swallowing disorders. This can include difficulty producing certain sounds (articulation), understanding and using words (language), reading, participating in conversations appropriately (social language), organizing information and thinking (cognition) and feeding and swallowing.
While all children develop at different rates, there are some milestones that can indicate a child may need to be seen by a speech-language pathologist. If you have concerns, see your health practitioner, or contact our office for more information. Read our Speech and Language Milestones for a checklist of average developmental milestones that may indicate whether or not your child has a communication delay or disorder.

Our Services:

Our therapy team includes Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) who are experienced assessing speech and language disorders using standardized tests, observation, language samples, and feedback from parents and teachers so that they are able to gain a full understanding of your child's communication abilities. They collaborate with your family and other professionals involved to develop an appropriate treatment plan to help your child reach their milestones and goals. A Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) may also work under the supervision of the SLP to provide therapy using the treatment plan created.
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Speech

Children who have trouble producing speech sounds (articulation), hesitate or stutter when talking or have a chronically hoarse voice may have a speech disorder. A child with speech sound production difficulties could have difficulty saying letters such as “s”, or difficulty with learning and using sound sequences, such as leaving off the final “t” in “cat”. Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to put sounds and syllables together in the correct order to form words, and a child may often be inconsistent with the way they say the same word.
Learn more about Speech Disorders.

Language

When a child has difficulty understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings (expressive language), then he or she may have a language disorder. Concerns with receptive language can make following directions, and answering questions, challenging. A language disorder can also make it hard for a child to find the right words and put together clear sentences when speaking. They may have difficulty understanding what others say, may struggle to put thoughts into words, or both.

A young child with a language disorder may also mostly use gestures for communication or use a very limited number of words or short or incomplete sentences that don’t follow grammar rules.
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Auditory and Language Processing

Auditory processing is how the brain becomes aware of sounds and makes sense of what is heard. Language processing is how the brain becomes aware of and makes sense of language. Children who have an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), or a Language Processing Disorder may hear normally and can often express themselves quite well, but find it difficult to understand what is being said.
Children with auditory or language processing difficulties may not understand multi-step directions, and have difficulty organizing their thoughts and finding words. They may mix up similar sounding words or sounds in words.  

Emergent Literacy

Emergent literacy includes the skills children need to be able to learn to read and write. This includes being associating sounds with printed letters and words. Many of the same basic skills needed for oral language are also needed for written language.
Learn more about Emergent Literacy.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is a complex developmental brain disorder that can cause communication difficulties, social and behavioural issues, and repetitive behaviours. The signs of autism usually appear in early childhood, typically within the first three years of life. At Creative Therapy Associates, we believe in working alongside parents where our multidisciplinary team, including both Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists, can provide support and advice.
Learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder.
If you have concerns about your child’s communication, contact our office to arrange an assessment. Early diagnosis and treatment will go a long way towards helping your child resolve or manage difficulties with communication.
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