SERVICES
ARTICULATION AND PHONOLOGY
Speech sound distortions can be due to motor planning or production difficulties, structural abnormalities, and/or perceptual impairments (e.g., hearing impairment). Articulation difficulties manifest as errors in the speech production of individual sounds. Whereas phonological error patterns are predictable, rule-based errors that affect multiple sounds. Based on each child's individual needs, speech therapy will support them.
AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a method of communication that can be used to supplement, support (augmentative) or replace (alternative) speech. AAC can be a reliable and effective method of communication for those who have difficulty communicating via speech due to congenital (present from birth) or acquired (developed) disorders. Use can be temporary or permanent, and methods include unaided AAC (no physical aid or tool) or aided AAC (use of an aid or tool). Unaided AAC are non-spoken means of communication, such as: body language, facial expression(s), gesture(s), and manual signs). Aided AAC is a method that uses external aids or tools, such as: symbol boards, pictures, objects, letter charts, speech-generating devices or AAC applications.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
Executive function is a set of cognitive skills that we use every day to manage our daily lives, learning, and work.They are the skills that enable us to remember what we need to do, plan, set priorities (self-control), focus our attention, allow us to have mental flexibility, and juggle multiple tasks effectively. Executive function skill therapy will provide the level of support each child needs in order to build these skills by providing modeling, scaffolding, and strategies. In addition, it allows each child to practice these necessary skills in a controlled setting, while moving towards generalization and independence.
EXPRESSIVE & RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE
Language delays can impact a child's ability to comprehend and use language.Â
Expressive language is the language used. It is the ability to express one's wants, needs, thoughts and feelings through spoken words, gestures, signs, or symbols. Expressive language therapy will focus on giving children the foundation or strategies they need to effectively communicate with those around them.
Receptive language is language comprehension. It is the ability to understand spoken or written language. Receptive language therapy will focus on strengthening and developing a child's ability to gain information and meaning from spoken and/or written language.
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
Social communication is what helps a child build social relationships with others as well as supports their ability to work with others. Social communication therapy focuses on language use (e.g., greetings, requesting, reporting); being able to adapt to the situation or our target listener (e.g., speaking differently to a peer versus an adult; inhibiting a thought when a teacher is speaking); and adhering to unwritten conversational "rules," such as: turning one's body towards the speaker, use and understanding of gestures, allowing others to share their thoughts and ideas, topic initiation and maintenance, allowing others an appropriate amount of personal space, understanding the implied meaning behind figurative language or tone of voice, and more. Following social "rules" and being able to adapt to a situation requires so much more than just understanding and using verbal and non-verbal language. Social communication therapy will target these objectives in individual sessions, dyads, or small group sessions.
TELETHERAPY
Teletherapy (or telepractice) is the online delivery of speech and language services. There are numerous advantages to this delivery model, including: greater convenience (i.e., less time spent driving to and from therapy, in the comfort of one's own home, scheduling flexibility), increased safety during the pandemic, improved communication between family and therapist, parent coaching and active involvement, increased time with child, and generalization and carry-over of skills into the home environment. Teletherapy is being offered as individual sessions (1:1 with a child), parent-coaching sessions, and dyad sessions (sessions with a peer).