Apraxia of Speech in Children – What You Need to Know

by Courtenay M. Language Development News Parents' Corner School Speech delay Speech Disorders Speech Therapist Speech Therapy Techniques
Apraxia of Speech in Children

What is Apraxia of Speech in Children?

What is Apraxia of Speech in Children? With apraxia of speech, a person finds it difficult or impossible to move his or her mouth and tongue to speak. This happens, even though the person has the desire to speak and the mouth and tongue muscles are physically able to form words. Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder, where the child has a problem saying sounds, syllables and words. She knows what she wants to say, but her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.

Continue reading →

S is for Spring, not Lisp! Speech Sheets for the ‘S’ Sound

by Courtenay M. Articulation Disorders At Home Ideas Language Development Lisp Parents' Corner Pronunciation & Lisps Speech Disorders Speech Therapy Techniques

 

Sound of S

Six Simple Worksheets for The Sound of “S”

Spring has sprung, and what better time to practice those “s” sounds! Did you know that the “s” sound is one of the most mispronounced sounds in the English language? According to Pronunciation Workshop, approximately half of all “s” sounds in English are pronounced as a letter “z” or “th.”  For a child with a speech impediment, the “s” sound proves particularly challenging. Common in articulation disorders, a child drops the “s” sound all together such as “and,” instead of “sand”. Or a child may mispronounce the “s” sound at the beginning or end of a word, giving him a lisp.

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading →

7 Inexpensive Resources: Speech Therapy for Kids

by Courtenay M. At Home Ideas Language Development Parents' Corner Speech Disorders Speech Therapy Techniques

 

Inexpensive Speech Therapy Resources

7 Inexpensive Resources: Speech Therapy for Kids

This week, on Speech Therapy for Kids, we offer you a “Top Seven” list of inexpensive speech therapy resources for your kids. There are many reasons why having a handful of speech therapy resources are valuable for parents. Often, parents are unsure if their child needs to see a speech therapist and would like to try some exercises with them at home first. Also, sometimes it’s not possible to schedule a visit to a speech therapist because of financial reasons or because there are no therapists nearby. Or, parents with kids in speech therapy want to supplement the lessons with activities at home. The following list provides supplemental and alternative resources for parents and kids.

Continue reading →

Speech Therapy for Kids: 4 Topics to Discuss With Your Speech Therapist

by Courtenay M. At Home Ideas Language Development News Parents' Corner School Speech Disorders Speech Therapist Speech Therapy for Kids Speech Therapy Techniques State Resources

 

Speech Therapy for Kids

Speech Therapy for Kids: 4 Crucial Topics to Cover After Your First Visit

Our series this week talks about your child’s first visit to a speech therapist. Once your child has been diagnosed with a speech impediment or a speech disorder and your appointment is set, you want to make sure to be as knowledgeable and organized as possible in order to get the best out of the first visit. We have given you a handful of tips on what to expect from your first visit to the speech therapist. After the visit is complete, you can expect your SLP to review the results of your child’s evaluation and recommend a treatment plan. But there should be more to it. The results aren’t always cut and dry. You will want to make sure to cover the following topics so you are well informed about your child’s treatment going forward.

Continue reading →

What to Expect: First Speech Therapy Lesson

by Courtenay M. Articulation Disorders Language Development News Parents' Corner Pronunciation & Lisps School Speech delay Speech Disorders Speech Impediment Speech Therapist Speech Therapy Techniques
Speech Therapy for Speech Impediment

What to Expect: First Speech Therapy Visit for a Speech Impediment

Your child has been diagnosed with a speech impediment or speech disorder.  Whether she suffers from the common types of speech impediments such as stuttering, apraxia of speech, a speech sound disorder, cluttering or a lisp, early speech therapy intervention is crucial to successful treatment. But what happens in your first speech therapy visit? What can you expect? Here is a brief run-down of your first visit with a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Planning ahead and being prepared will help you make the most out of your first visit with a speech pathologist and set you on a successful course of speech therapy treatment.

Continue reading →

Our 6 Favorite Apps for Kids with Speech Impediments

Our 6 Favorite Apps for Kids with Speech Impediments

by Courtenay M. Apps At Home Ideas Language Development Pronunciation & Lisps

 

Boys playing apps for speech impediments


Technology has a place in all facets of our lives, and in terms of speech therapy, we thought we’d cover some ofour favorite types of technology in the form of apps. Apps for a mobile device or tablet are excellent tools to help develop a child’s speech, language and cognitive skills. Technology continues to take on an increasingly important part of our daily lives. While there are seemingly endless applications available, we’ve narrowed down a few of our favorites that can be used to improve and/or maintain vocabulary, articulation, speech and language skills. These are some of our favorite apps designed to help kids with speech impediments.

Continue reading →

Famous People With Speech Impediments

by Courtenay M. Language Development News Parents' Corner Pronunciation & Lisps Speech Disorders Speech Therapist
Famous people with speech impediment

Did you know these famous people suffered from speech impediments?

And the Oscar goes to…. Even before the award show begins, the Oscar telecast is full of celebrities dressed to the nines and giving interviews up and down the red carpet. Everyone seems so perfect, right? Wrong! Did you know that some of your favorite celebrities and high profile people have overcome speech impediments as children? Many business executives, actors, actresses, professional athletes and even politicians have struggled with speech problems from lisping to stuttering. King George VI was so embarrassed by his stutter that he hired speech-language pathologist and greatly improved his public speaking. This training and its results are the featured in the 2010 film, The King’s Speech.

In celebration of the Academy Awards, here is a Bonus Trivia Question for you:

Which Oscar-winning actress suffered from stuttering as a child? Hint: she currently stars in a movie where the lead actress has been nominated for an Oscar this year. (See answer below)

Continue reading →

Will My Child Outgrow Her Speech Impediment?

by Courtenay M. Articulation Disorders Language Development News Parents' Corner Pronunciation & Lisps School Speech delay Speech Disorders Speech Therapist Speech Therapy Techniques
Speech Impediment?

Will My Child Outgrow Her Speech Impediment?

Your child hasn’t reached the speech and language milestones as quickly as her buddies. And, she says “thoup” instead of “soup”. Does this mean she has a speech impediment? Does she need speech therapy? Will she outgrow it on her own? Parents whose children are at the beginning stages of speech and language development ask these questions and more as their children’s speech patterns emerge. There are no real clinical “tests” to determine whether or not your child is a late talker, has a real speech impediment, or if it will indeed resolve itself on its own. Many children with early speech impairments do eventually outgrow them by the time they are ready for kindergarten. It  is important to discuss your concerns with your child’s healthcare provider for any developmental challenges as there are also many other causes and types of speech disorders.
Continue reading →

Four Questions To Help Identify a Speech Impediment

by Courtenay M. Articulation Disorders Language Development Parents' Corner Speech Disorders Speech Impediment Speech Therapy Techniques

 

Speech Impediment

How Important Are Communication Milestones in Diagnosing Speech Impediment?

Are you concerned that there may be something wrong with your toddler’s communication and language skills? Is it possible that your child may have a speech impediment or disorder? Of course you don’t expect him to speak clearly in the first few months or even years of life, but are you seeing signs that perhaps something is just not quite right? Has your child’s daycare or preschool teacher mentioned that he isn’t reaching typical communication milestones? How important are these milestones? Maybe you’ve heard that it is “just a phase” or that your child will “catch up” with the other kids her age. While every child learns at his or her own pace, it’s important to ask for help if you feel like her language development skills may not be normal. Communication Milestones are actually crucial stages during the first three years of life when the brain is developing and maturing, and is the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills. If the critical periods or milestones are are not met in a timely manner, it will be more difficult for your child to learn to properly communicate in the future.

Continue reading →

4 Easy Tricks for Speech Therapy at Home

by Courtenay M. Articulation Disorders At Home Ideas Language Development News Parents' Corner Speech Disorders Speech Therapy Techniques

 

Speech therapy at homeThis week we’ve been discussing ways to tell if your child has a speech disorder, and evaluating if the recommended Communication Milestones are a good indicator of a possible speech impediment. Whether or not your child has been diagnosed with any speech challenges, there are many tips and tricks for speech therapy at home that you can do to help build your child’s communication skills, especially as a toddler. Language building is essential during the first years of a child’s life, as this is when most of the pathways for developing speech, language and cognitive skills are formed.

Continue reading →