May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month

Speech Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Speech Teacher…call us what you will, but we all hold the same degree and work on more than just speech sounds. You heard right, way more than just speech sounds. Here is a snapshot of what our Speech Therapists at Mobile Therapy Centers can help with:

Articulation: Production of specific phonemes (speech sounds). Phonemes develop at various ages so if your two-year-old is saying “tate” for “cake” that is a developmentally appropriate speech sound error for that age. Our Speech Therapists offer free screenings so contact MTC to see if your child’s speech sound errors are developmentally appropriate.

Expressive Language: Use of verbal or non-verbal (sign language/picture exchange system) language to communicate wants, needs, feelings and ideas with others.

Receptive Language: The ability to understand language. This can include understanding routines (after dinner we go upstairs and take a bath), visual information (when mom has her purse and keys in hand, we are ready to leave), sounds (a siren means an emergency vehicle), written information (a red stop sign means stop), concepts (shapes, sizes, colors, textures, time), or grammar (“cats” mean more than one).

Pragmatic Language: Communication in social situations (what to say, when to say it and how to say it).

Literacy: Encoding (writing) and decoding (reading) with a focus on blending and segmenting speech sounds along with the “rules” that go along with language (if there is an “e” at the end of a word then the vowel says its name as in the word “cake”).

Stuttering: Speech interrupted in its forward flow by repetitions (s-s-sometimes we stay home), prolongations (mmmmmmy name is…), or blocks (silent pauses while trying to say something). Stuttering can be very appropriate and developmental, or it can be a “true stutter” that will not be outgrown.

Oral Motor Skills: Difficulty controlling articulators (lips, tongue, jaw) due to muscle tone, movement, or sensation. You may notice drooling, food spilling out of mouth, pocketing of food while eating or sensitivity to textures/temperatures.

Voice Disorders: Noticeable differences in pitch, quality, and volume (hoarse vocal quality, breathy vocal quality, etc.).
Did you know Speech Therapists work on all this?! Our professional title is actually “Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)” because we work on Speech AND Language AND diagnose these delays.

May is designated as Better Hearing & Speech Month! For 2021, the theme is “Building Connections.” This campaign not only creates awareness, it also helps to create acceptance. Being accepted is very important to school-aged children since school is where they spend most of their time and tend to meet friends. Feeling confident about yourself is also the key to making friends and by starting Speech Therapy early on, this will help with both communication and confidence.

To learn more about Speech Therapy Services, please do not hesitate to contact Mobile Therapy Centers to speak with one of our therapists. We provide FREE screenings/consultations so why not take advantage of the opportunity to have your child seen by a professional and then answer any questions you may have?

Mobile Therapy Centers services include ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Feeding Therapy and Counseling. We see children at our clinic, at your home or at your child’s school/daycare making it convenient for you and your family.

Contact us for a free screening/consultation at 847-816-7200, asktheteam@mtcus.com or at https://mtcus.com. We also provide Telehealth services.