Children with trouble producing speech sounds may be difficult to understand in conversation. They may also have concurrent language and literacy concerns that affect academic progress and social relationships. Speech sound difficulties may be a product of a motor speech disorder (i.e. childhood apraxia of speech), phonological disorder (i.e. difficulty with mental organization of speech sounds), or articulation (i.e. trouble pronouncing specific sounds like R and S). Our clinic is equipped to address a range of concerns regarding speech production.

Literacy skills such as reading and writing form a foundational component of social, academic and occupational success. Speech-language pathologists have long understood the importance of oral language as a precursor to literacy, offering a more holistic approach to the treatment of literacy disorders including dyslexia. Difficulties in reading and writing are often due to a combination of deficits in a range of language, phonological, and decoding skills. We can help!

Children with language delays/disorders may have trouble acquiring vocabulary, forming sentences, answering questions, telling stories, and expressing their ideas. When thinking about language concerns, it’s important to go beyond verbal speech to consider skills such as turn-taking, joint attention/interaction, and gestures, which if absent, may also be indicative of a language delay. If left untreated, language concerns can have cascading effects on a children’s social and academic success. Early intervention is suggested by scientific literature to set children up for the best possible long-term language outcomes.

Stuttering/stammering can prevent children from expressing themselves in day to day conversations and activities. For some children, stuttering is developmental in nature and may be associated with other language/literacy concerns. Some children will grow out of their stutter whereas others do not. For those children with persistent stuttering, speech-language therapy may help with reducing frequency and increasing acceptance of stutters.

Voice disorders are among the most common communication disorders in pediatric populations. Chronic hoarseness can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as vocal nodules, that can prevent children from participation in meaningful activities. As part of an individualized treatment plan, speech-pathologists provide explicit teaching on voice care and speaking techniques to bring the voice back to a healthy state.