Speech & Language Therapy
What is Speech & Language Therapy
Speech therapy is a specialized field of healthcare that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders. Speech
therapy aims to help individuals of all ages, even young children from the age of 12 months and
up, who face challenges in various aspects of communication.
Is my child having difficulty communicating?
There are a number of key signs that indicate your child may be experiencing difficulty
communication. These include, but are not limited to:
Expressive language
Ψ Have difficulties with vocabulary
Ψ Cannot convey thoughts or write
Ψ Frequently use made-up words (jargon)
Ψ Echo language (repeating back rather than answering a question)
Ψ Frustrated when attempting to communicate
Receptive language
Ψ Struggle to listen to and follow instructions
Ψ Difficulty reading (skipping words, mispronouncing, guessing words)
Ψ Cannot understand questions
Ψ Poor comprehension
Ψ Do not enjoy reading
Pragmatic language
Ψ Social communication difficulties (eye contact, joint attention)
Ψ Unable to adapt language to meet the needs of listener
Ψ Withdraw from social situations
Feeding
Ψ Have problems with swallowing liquids and/ or solids (dysphagia), as seen with frequent
coughing or choking
Ψ Exhibits picky eating (avoid food of certain texture)
Voice
Ψ Demonstrate vocal misuse (inappropriate volume and pitch)
Ψ Vocal strains (hoarse voice; muscle tension disorder/dysphonia)
Hearing
Ψ Hearing impairment
Medical conditions
Ψ Specific diagnoses that include speech difficulties or are accompanied by a weakened muscle
tone (e.g., cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism)
Common Speech & Language Related Concerns
ARTICULATION DISORDER (SPEECH SOUNDS)
Articulation refers to how we produce speech sounds. Articulation disorders are broadly referred to as speech sound disorders where we cannot produce individual speech sounds correctly
PHONOLOGICAL DELAY
A phonological delay is observed when a child follows normal speech development but demonstrates speech sound errors that typically should have been eliminated.
RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE (COMPREHENSION)
Receptive language relates to how we understand information, which can be presented in various forms. It can be in the form of words, sounds, gestures, and symbols.
EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE
Expressive language refers to our ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings through various mediums. While we mainly express ourselves in words – written and spoken – we communicate using gestures, signs, and/or symbols too.
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY
A developmental delay happens when a child does not meet the developmental milestones expected of
a child of that age. It can present in areas like speech and language, thinking, social, or motor skills.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition that impacts how a person perceives and interacts with others, communicates, and behaves. Individuals with ASD typically experience challenges in social communication and daily activities
STUTTERING
Stuttering refers to a speech disorder where the flow of speech is interrupted. It may look like a repetition of sounds or words (e.g., ma-ma-ma-mummy), stretching a sound out (e.g.,
mmmummy), or a struggle to produce a word.
PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE (SOCIAL COMMUNICATION)
Pragmatic language refers to the way we communicate in social situations. It can be through verbal means (speaking, vocalizing) or non-verbal means (facial expression, postures, gestures). It also involves taking turns, staying on topic, and giving appropriate responses.