*Voted Best Speech Therapy in the Basin* Readers' Choice Awards 2024
Social language deficits can significantly impact a child's ability to make and keep friends, as well as their academic and communication skills. Does your child have difficulty using communication effectively in social settings, adjusting their style to match different listeners and contexts, following conversational and storytelling norms, or understanding implicit meanings in language? If you have concerns, a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist can help determine if your child has a communication disorder that could benefit from targeted therapy. Our center offers these evaluations to help you take the first step towards addressing your child's communication needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
Language disorders can take two forms: receptive language disorder, where a child has difficulty understanding language, and expressive language disorder, where they struggle with verbal communication. These difficulties can significantly affect a child's social and academic performance, potentially leading to behavioral issues at home, school, and in the community. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), language delays or disorders affect almost 8% of children in the United States, with boys being nearly twice as likely to be affected. Children between ages 3-6 are most commonly affected, making early intervention crucial. If you have questions or concerns about your child's language development, a comprehensive evaluation with a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist can help you determine the best course of action to support your child.
Articulation and phonological disorders refer to difficulties with producing speech sounds or sound groups that persist beyond the typical developmental period and result in reduced speech intelligibility. Articulation disorders usually involve one or two speech sound errors, such as lisps or distortions of 's' and 'z', substitutions for 'r' and 'er', or for sounds like 'th', 'I', 'sh', or 'ch'. Phonological disorders involve multiple sound errors that affect speech clarity, such as omitting final consonants from words (e.g., "bye" instead of "bite") or reducing consonant clusters (e.g., "top" instead of "stop").
Do you struggle to understand your child's speech, or do others find it less clear than other children of the same age and gender? If so, a speech evaluation with a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist can help you identify any potential articulation or phonological disorders and determine the best approach to address them.
Children with fluency (stuttering) disorders may experience difficulty speaking in a smooth and flowing manner, characterized by repetitions of words or parts of words, or awkward pauses between words. These disfluencies may cause frustration, anxiety, and shame, leading to negative beliefs about speaking. In some cases, children may also exhibit cluttering, which involves speaking too quickly and merging words together or saying "uh" frequently. While it's common to experience some disfluencies in speech, if your child struggles with speaking and being understood on a daily basis, it may be time to seek the help of a Speech-Language Pathologist. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and to learn more about how we can help your child.
Every child deserves to have their communication needs met, regardless of their abilities. For children who struggle with speech, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can be a valuable tool to help them express themselves effectively. AAC should be considered for any child whose speech output is not sufficient to communicate everything they want or need. Studies have shown that using AAC can actually encourage further speech and language development in non-speaking children. Our experienced therapists can work with your child to learn how to use AAC methods to communicate their wants and needs, leading to more successful exchanges and increased social interaction with family, friends, and the community. AAC can reduce frustration and boost your child's confidence as they become more adept at expressing themselves. Don't hesitate to reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help your child with AAC.
We are proud to provide high-quality, in-person speech therapy services to children in the Permian Basin through our partnership with school districts and schools in the area. Our clinic contracts with public, private, and charter schools to offer on-campus therapy, ensuring that children receive the support they need without the disruption of leaving school.
In an area facing a critical shortage of speech pathologists, many schools have turned to virtual therapy options. While virtual therapy can be helpful, it isn’t always the best fit for every child. Our in-person services bridge this gap by offering personalized, face-to-face therapy right at the school, allowing children to receive the care they need while keeping their school day largely uninterrupted. Parents no longer have to worry about taking time out of their busy schedules to transport their children to therapy, as we bring the therapy directly to them.
Our team is dedicated to helping children overcome communication challenges and succeed academically and socially. By collaborating closely with schools and families, we create a nurturing, results-driven environment where every child can thrive.
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