Speech

Speech-Language Pathology Services are provided to address the needs of children with language and articulation difficulties.  Speech delays and disorders range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and feeding.  Speech services may include:

     screening and/or assessment regarding the identification of children with possible speech and/or language impairments

     identify and appraise specific speech or language impairments

     therapy may include, but is not limited to, articulation, vocabulary development, oral motor exercises

     consult with the child's teacher about the most effective ways to facilitate the child's communication in the class setting

     consult with the family regarding techniques for effective intervention and strategies to use in the home and community setting

     utilize electronic communication devices for non-verbal children

Normal language development for children involve a range as follows:

1 to 2 years old:  says one to two words, starts putting two words together (e.g., more juice, go bye-bye)

2 to 3 years old:  says two to three word sentences to talk about and ask for things; speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time; often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming objects

3 to 4 years old:  talks about activities; individuals outside of family usually understand child's speech

4 to 5 years old:  voice sound is clear; uses sentences that give details; tells stories; communicates easily with other children and adults; says most sounds correctly--except for a few that might be difficult at this age (l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, th)

For more developmental milestones go to the following links:

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart.htm

www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/speech-language/lda_milestones.html