Articulation is how speech sounds are made. If someone is having difficulty producing these sounds correctly, it can be difficult to understand them. 

If you or your child can identify with one or more of the following characteristics explained below then a consult with a speech language therapist may be beneficial:

• Distorted "s"
• Distorted “r”
• Substituting Sounds
• Omitting Sounds

The integration of AAC into therapy often benefits individuals who cannot rely on speech alone to effectively communicate.  Clinicians are experienced and familiar with customization and programming of dedicated language programs including Prentke Romich's "Unity" Program as well as experienced with available applications on mainstream technology and devices, such as  "LAMP: Words for Life (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning)". 

 Expressive language is the ability to verbally communicate your thoughts, ideas and feelings for a variety of communicative functions.  Difficulties in the area of expressive language can impact; 

• Telling a story
• Giving directions
• Asking questions
• Communicating daily needs

Receptive language is the ability to understand language. Difficulties in the area of receptive language can impact:

• Following Directions
• Answering questions
• Understanding vocabulary 
• Higher Order Thinking Skills (i.e. inferencing, using abstract or idiomatic language)

PROMPT©  is an acronym for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. This technique uses touch cues to one’s articulators (jaw, tongue, lips) to guide them when producing a sound, word, phrase or sentence.  

 Social skills and pragmatics are the rules of language we use in everyday social situations. These include the ability to use language for different purposes, such as to greetings, requesting, commenting as well as the ability to  understand the rules of conversation. Using non-verbal communication appropriately, including eye contact, body position, and facial expression, during social interactions is another critical aspect of social language.  

Pragmatic disorders often coexist with other speech and language disorders.  Speech therapy can provide instruction and strategies on how to function and be successful in various social environments.

Stuttering affects the fluency or natural flow of speech. Disruptions in one’s fluency, also called “disfluencies”, are a natural part of speech. However, too many disfluencies can compromise overall speech intelligibility.