Is My Child on Track? 10 Communication Milestones to Look for

Watching your child grow and learn to communicate with the world around them is one of the greatest joys as a parent. But what do you do if you think your child is lagging behind? Last week, we talked about how a speech-language pathologist can help if you suspect your child is delayed in developing language. Today, we talk about a few specific milestones to look out for to help determine if your child is a late bloomer, or a risk for a communication disorder.

When to See a Speech Therapist: Language Delays

 

A child’s first words are a source of excitement for parents everywhere. But what if those first words don’t come when you expect them too? It’s normal to be concerned about your child’s language development, but if your child doesn’t begin talking at the exact same time as other children, it isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. However, it’s important to keep an eye out for any potential issues so if there is a problem, your child can get help as early as possible.

Childhood Hearing Loss? A Speech Therapist Can Help!

Childhood hearing loss can have a significant impact on speech and language development. However, detecting the loss early and seeking speech and language therapy can head problems off before they start. Studies have found that infants who are identified with a hearing loss by 6 months old can be expected to attain language development on a par with hearing peers. Last week, we talked about three of the ways a child with hearing loss can benefit from speech therapy. Today, we wrap up Part 2 with three more ways a speech-language pathologist can help a child with hearing loss communicate to the best of their ability.

Three Ways a Speech Therapist Can Help a Child with Hearing Loss

Did you know that speech-language pathologists help children with hearing impairment? Difficulty hearing can create a range of communication issues, including disruptions to learning speech and language. However, a combination of early detection, use of amplification (i.e., a hearing aid), and speech therapy can make a huge difference in a child’s ability to develop effective communication. Take a look at a few of the ways a speech-language pathologist can help a child with hearing loss:

3 Tips to Keep Lines of Communication Open with a Non-Verbal Child

Did you know that nearly twenty-five percent of people with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are non-verbal? A person who is non-verbal doesn’t use speech to communicate at all.  However, talking isn’t the only route for meaningful communication! Take a look at our three tips below and learn how to keep the lines of communication open with your non-verbal child:

Do You Have a “Twice Exceptional” Child?

In school settings, “exceptional” can have two very different meanings. On one hand, an “exceptional student” might refer to a child who has above average abilities or demonstrates a mastery of academic material beyond what is expected for their age. On the other hand, “exceptional” is also used in academic settings to refer to children who have a learning disability or other challenge which requires special consideration for academic success. Typically we think of children as falling into either one or these two categories or somewhere in between. However, there’s another group of children that actually fit both definitions of “exceptional” and are referred to as “twice-exceptional.”

More Ways a Speech-Language Pathologist Can Help You in 2017!

 

When you hear “speech therapist”, what comes to mind? If you’re like many people, you associate speech therapists with things like stuttering or helping a child with a lisp. But over the past few decades, a speech-language pathologist’s role has expanded significantly. Last week, we talked about just a few of the ways a speech-language pathologist can make a difference that you might not be aware of. Today, we’ll discuss two more ways that a speech-language pathologist can help you or your loved ones:

How Can a Speech-Language Pathologist Help You in 2017?

 

Happy new year! Somehow we blinked, and an entire year has passed and 2017 is here. As we start out the new year, we wanted to take a moment and reflect on some of the ways a speech-language pathologist can help you and your loved ones.

In the past, speech therapists were mostly known for helping individuals with speech impediments, like stuttering or a lisp. But over the years speech-language pathologists have come to play many more roles than most people realize. Here are just a few of the ways a speech-language pathologist can help make a difference for you and your family:

The Unexpected Consequence of Winter Sports: Three Tips to Stay Safe

 

As the temperature drops and the days grow shorter, people tend to find themselves spending increasing amounts of time indoors. The answer for many people? Winter sports! Activities like skiing, sledding, ice skating and snowboarding offer a great opportunity to go outside and get active, even when the weather is subzero. Unfortunately, winter sports also come with a high risk of head injury. To raise awareness of this risk, each January several organizations recognize National Winter Sports Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. Any type of head injury can put a person at risk for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including those that may seem relatively mild. TBI can cause a range of disabilities, including difficulties with language and cognition, so it is important to be as cautious as possible when dealing with possible head injuries. What can you do to stay safe? Take a look at our three basic steps: prevention, recognition, action!

Auditory Processing Disorder: How a Speech-Language Pathologist Can Help

The ability to process auditory information is a crucial part of communication. Individuals with auditory processing disorder, (APD; also called central auditory processing disorder—CAPD) have unimpaired hearing, but have difficulty processing sound through the central nervous system. This difficulty processing and understanding sound can cause a range of problems, particularly in children, since they do so much learning and growing through listening. Last week, we talked about the signs and symptoms of APD and how to get an official diagnosis. Today we’ll talk about a few of the ways that a speech-language pathologist can help a child with APD: