Speech Therapist

Conditions Treated

• •Speech Sound Disorders in Children — Children who cannot produce certain sounds correctly for their age — substituting, omitting, or distorting sounds.
• •Stuttering (Stammering) — Disruption in the normal flow of speech — repetitions, prolongations, and blocks. Affects 1% of the population.
• •Language Delay in Children — Children not reaching language milestones — late talkers, limited vocabulary, or difficulty forming sentences for their age.
• •Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) — Difficulty swallowing safely — common after stroke, head/neck cancer treatment, or neurological conditions.
• •Voice Disorders — Abnormal voice quality, pitch, or loudness — from vocal cord nodules, paralysis, or misuse patterns.

Health Tips

• •Talk to your baby from birth — narrate daily activities
• •Read to your child daily
• •Don't correct a stuttering child — let them finish
• •Limit screen time for children under 5
• •Seek help if your child is behind speech milestones

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •Get a hearing test done if not already completed — hearing affects speech development
• •Bring any developmental assessments, school reports, or previous therapy records
• •Note specific concerns — which sounds are unclear, situations where speech is difficult, feeding problems
• •If possible, bring a video showing the speech or swallowing difficulty in natural settings
• •Let the therapist interact with your child without intervening — natural communication is assessed
• •Share observations about your child's communication at home versus school or with strangers
• •For swallowing assessment — bring the foods and liquids the person usually eats
• •Ask the therapist to demonstrate techniques you can practice at home
• •Practice recommended exercises daily — 10-15 minutes of consistent practice is better than sporadic long sessions
• •Create opportunities for communication — don't anticipate your child's needs before they try to express them
• •Be patient and avoid correcting your child constantly — positive reinforcement works better
• •Track progress with the therapist — celebrate improvements to keep motivation high

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •Is my child's speech development within the normal range?
• •How long will therapy take?
• •What can I do at home to help my child's speech?
• •Should my child be evaluated for autism or hearing loss?
• •Is it safe for my parent to eat regular food after stroke?
• •Will my child outgrow this or is therapy necessary?

When to See a Specialist

A Speech-Language Pathologist helps with communication disorders (speech, language, voice) and swallowing difficulties in children and adults.

• •Child not speaking by age 2 or speaking unclearly
• •Stuttering (stammering) affecting communication
• •Voice problems — hoarseness, loss of voice
• •Swallowing difficulties after stroke or surgery
• •Autism spectrum — communication support
• •Speech problems after brain injury or stroke
• •Hearing loss affecting speech development in children

Early intervention in children is critical — speech therapy is most effective when started before age 5.