Services
Motor speech
Several kinds of speech sound disorders can affect how clearly a child speaks. An assessment comes first, because each one needs its own treatment.
Dysarthria
Dysarthria comes from weakness in the muscles used for breathing, voicing, resonance, and articulation. Neurological injury affects the areas that move those muscles.
Paediatric dysarthria is uncommon in the general population and much more common among the medically complex children we see. Many of these children have more to say than their speech system can produce, and an AAC system or speech-generating device can carry that language. Recommending AAC does not mean we stop working on speech. Functional words are often the most useful place to start.
Some children develop full speech by strengthening breathing, voicing, resonance, and articulation.
Childhood apraxia of speech
Childhood apraxia of speech makes it hard to coordinate speech movements. Longer words and phrases are often harder. The same word may sound different each time, and you may see groping. Sometimes the cause is known. Often it is not.
Our speech-language pathologists are trained in Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing. We choose functional targets that challenge coordination of the lips, jaw, and tongue at the right level for your child.
While speech is developing, many children with childhood apraxia of speech also benefit from AAC, which can lower frustration.
Babble Boot Camp
Some families learn early that a diagnosis puts their child at high risk for speech and language delays, and they ask when to start. The brain is most plastic early on.
Babble Boot Camp is an evidence-based program for children whose diagnosis is likely to affect speech and language. It starts between 4 and 6 months of age. It is a proactive parent-training program: routines and activities at home that give a child a strong start.
Passy Muir Valve
A Passy Muir speaking valve lets air in through a tracheostomy tube on inhalation, then sends exhaled air over the vocal folds so a child with a tracheostomy can voice. There is also evidence that it can help strengthen a swallow.
Learning to speak with a Passy Muir Valve takes time. Children who have not had speech before often have weak muscles and benefit from dysarthria treatment.