JOURNEY BEYOND SPEECH
Pathology Services, LLC
FAQs
My child is not talking yet. How do I know if they need help or if they are just a late talker?
Generally, children use single words at age one, two-word combinations at age two, and three-word phrases at age three. There can be a number of reasons why children don't talk. If your child is not on track with these general guidelines, it may be worth seeking the input of a speech-language pathologist.
If there is more than one language spoken in my home, will my child's speech and language development be affected?
Researchers agree that children who are exposed to two or more languages at once will learn to use all of them naturally. When this occurs, speech-language problems are less likely to occur. Bilingual or ploylingual children may mix the languages and borrow vocabulary to express ideas, however, this does not necessarily mean their speech development is impaired.
How do I know if my child has a speech/language delay?
Here are some early signs of communication problems. At eighteen months: does not use at least eight to ten words or is not talking at all, does not wave, relys on gestures instead of words. At two years old: does not form simple phrases, does not follow simple directions, is not easily understood at least half the time by adults and peers. At three years old: is not using three and four word sentences, cannot answer simple questions, does not accurately andswer yes/no questions, cannot be understood by 75 percent of adults and peers.
How do I know if my loved one needs speech therapy?
Your loved one may need speech therapy if they are having trouble expressing themselves, understanding information, and/or swallowing. They may also need therapy if they have experienced any of the following: stroke, Parkinsons Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, traumatic brain injury.
What happens in speech therapy for adults?
After identifying the client's specific needs, treatment plans are customized to the individual. They may include breathing exercises, strengthening oral muscles, developing conversational strategies, and improving cognitive communication skills like organization, memory, and problem solving.
What do you treat in adult speech therapy?
While children typically receive speech therapy for articulation disorders, treatment for adults is much broader, including fluency disorders, resonance disorders, receptive disorders, expressive disorders, and cognitive communication disorders.
What happens during an evaluation?
Evaluations are an opportunity to meet your speech-language pathologist and share your communication concerns. Together, you'll develop a customized treatment plan based on your self-reported experiences and clinical testing (if testing is necessary).
Is a family member allowed to come with me to therapy?
If you give permission, and your speech-language pathologist considers it beneficial to treatment, family members can observe a therapy session.
What happens in speech therapy for adults?
After identifying the client's specific needs, treatment plans are customized to the individual. They may include breathing exercises, strengthening oral muscles, developing conversational strategies, and improving cognitive communication skills like organization, memory, and problem solving.
How long will it take for therapy to help me?
Although it varies based on degree of impairment, persons with conditions like aphasia typically make the mot improvement within the first year of speech therapy.
THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH THE FIRST STEP!
-Lao Tzu