Expressive and receptive language are two important parts of communication that our SLP’s specialize in. Some children may have strengths in one area and differences in another, while others may require support in both, to reach optimal engagement and confidence.

Oral motor and the small muscles of our mouth, lips, tongue, jaw, and soft palette not only impact our communication, but also our independence with feeding. Oral motor intervention and feeding interventions often go hand in hand when working with an SLP. Our SLP’s also focus on chewing, drinking, and managing different food textures.

Speech production and articulation refer to how clearly a child can form sounds and words. Articulation focuses more closely on the movement of the lips, tongue, and jaw to make specific sounds, while speech production is the overall ability to put those sounds together into words and sentences.

Social and pragmatic language refers to the way we use language in everyday interactions. This includes knowing how to start and maintain conversations, take turns while talking, using and understanding various social cues, and ability to adjust communication depending on the situation. These skills are important for social engagement and interactions, and children being able to express themselves with independence.

Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning and coordinating the precise movements needed for clear speech. A child with apraxia may know what they want to say but struggle to get the words out correctly.

An AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) evaluation looks at the best ways to support a child’s communication when speaking is difficult. This can include picture systems, communication boards, and devices. Our SLP’s utilize total communication when evaluating for and implementing an AAC device, in order to help the child in finding the most independence and best ways to express their wants and needs.