What is Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Many people naturally assume helping a child use more words is a key focus of what pediatric speech-language pathologists set out to accomplish with ongoing therapy, but they also do so much more than just that! There are many skills that need to be achieved prior to acquiring speech! Through Blossom Pediatric Speech Therapy in Chicago, Pediatric speech-language pathologists address the functional language, receptive language, auditory processing, articulation, gesture use, reciprocal interactions, oral motor skills, and feeding challenges.
Pediatric speech-language pathologists collaborate with families to achieve goals. Treatment strategies are unique to each child’s strength and needs. Goals are typically addressed through play opportunities.
Functional language
Functional language to develop conversations requires a lot of multitasking. Just knowing where your tongue is in relation to your mouth and how to isolate very specific movements to elicit a sound/word is a rather amazing feat for young children. Conversations are an open ended circle of accessing words, processing auditory information, and responding using words, while simultaneously reading gestures, intonation and facial effect. At times, children may have an expansive vocabulary, but the words are used more so to label items versus engage. Sometimes, we see children who can say ABCs, count, identify shapes, and label colors, but don’t have the ability to say “mama” or request food if hungry. The quality of words children possess in his/her expressive vocabulary matters.
Blossom Therapy Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists in Chicago
Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists at Blossom Therapy in Chicago, must have a master degree specializing in communication disorders. They then require close mentorship to become fully credentialed therapists. All of Blossom Therapy’s speech-language pathologists have specialized in pediatrics and are also Early Intervention specialists. Being a CCC-SLP involves years of schooling, internships, and licensure.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Blossom Therapy for more information regarding speech therapy services. For more information on Pediatric Speech Therapy, visit our WHAT IS PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY PAGE, or CONTACT us for a consultation today!