Receptive Language Difficulties/Delays
Receptive language refers to the way in which we process and understand or comprehend language. Examples of this include following directions, recognizing vocabulary, and understanding statements and questions presented. At Looking Ahead, we value early intervention as an extremely effective way to treat these difficulties or delays associated with early receptive language development. We utilize play-based activities and interventions in our treatment to meet your child where they are and target their individual needs. We collaborate closely with parents and other related health professionals to ensure that your child progresses and thrives in and outside of the therapy environment.
Expressive Language Difficulties/Delays & "Late Talkers"
Expressive language refers to the way in which we communicate our thoughts, ideas, opinions, and needs. It involves both verbal and nonverbal means, vocabulary development, and a child's ability to engage successfully with others. A "late talker," refers to a toddler or child who has developed a good understanding of language, is meeting other developmental milestones, but is not verbalizing at an expected age. At Looking Ahead, we value early intervention as an extremely effective way to treat these difficulties or delays associated with early expressive language development. We utilize play-based activities and interventions in our treatment to meet your child where they are and target their individual needs. We collaborate closely with parents and other related health professionals to ensure that your child progresses and thrives in and outside of the therapy environment.
Impaired Speech-Sound Development
Information to include under this drop down: Difficulties with speech-sound production or specific phoneme production can emerge with the development of verbal language. Some children may be difficult for others to understand, impacting their ability to successfully engage and meet daily needs. At Looking Ahead, we value early intervention as an extremely effective way to treat the difficulties associated with speech-sound impairment. We utilize play-based activities and repetitious, reinforcing interventions in our treatment to meet your child where they are and target their individual needs. We collaborate closely with parents and other related health professionals to ensure that your child progresses and thrives in and outside of the therapy environment.
Phonological Impairment
Phonological impairment is a type of speech-sound disorder involving patterns of speech-sound production. Some patterns can be typical and will eliminate with age, while others persist beyond expected elimination or are atypical at any age. These patterns can make your child's speech difficult to understand, and can impact their ability to engage and meet daily needs. At Looking Ahead, we value early intervention as an extremely effective way to treat the difficulties associated with phonological impairment. We utilize play-based activities and repetitious, reinforcing interventions in our treatment to meet your child where they are and target their individual needs. We collaborate closely with parents and other related health professionals to ensure that your child progresses and thrives in and outside of the therapy environment.
Speech Dysfluencies & Stuttering
Dysfluent speech, often referred to as Stuttering, can emerge with the development of verbal language. The majority of children who stutter first do so before 4 years of age. However, not all disfluencies are atypical. Signs or symptoms of stuttering can include:
- Repeating sounds, groups of sounds, or syllables ("I w-w-want milk" or "I ne-ne-ne-need help")
- Prolonged production of a single sound or group of sounds ("Go to sssssssleep")
- Long, uncontrolled pausing when speaking ("I want __________ a cookie")
- Frequent use of interjections or changing words
- Presence of secondary behaviors (facial grimacing, tapping, rocking, blinking, tightening)
These symptoms can be very distressing to a child and may cause them to develop negative connotations with themselves and speaking to others. At Looking Ahead, we value early intervention as an extremely effective way to treat the difficulties associated with stuttering and increase the child's confidence and positive connotations with their speech. We utilize play-based activities to target individual needs and determine each child's preferred and most effective technique(s) in promoting more fluent, comfortable speech. We collaborate closely with parents and other related health professionals to ensure that your child progresses and thrives in and outside of the therapy environment.
