Learn More about Speech Language Pathology
Websites with Parent Information
Reading Rockets – Suggestions for age specific activities to encourage speech and language development
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/activities-encourage-speech-and-language-development
Bright by Text – Receive weekly text messages that contain helpful tips, information, and resources geared toward the ages of your children.
Get more information and sign up for free by visiting www.brightbytext.org or by texting BRIGHT to 274448
On-Screen Activities:
Storyline Online – Videos featuring celebrities reading children’s story books (has AR reading levels for each book). www.storybookonline.net
Libby – Provides access to thousands of books from your public library. www.libbyapp.com/welcome
Into the Book – Play games that practice reading strategies. Available in English and Spanish. www.reading.ecb.org/
Seussville – Read, play educational games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss and his friends. www.seussville.com/
Highlights Kids – Read, play educational games, and conduct cool science experiments. www.highlightskids.com/
Non-Screen Activities:
Start a Nature Journal: Look out the window or venture outside. Keep notes of what you hear, smell, and see: birds, flowers, changes in the weather, what else?
Letter of the Day/Week: Each day or week pick a letter. Go around your house and find items that begin with that letter. Older Kids – Practice spelling and using the words in a sentence.
I Spy: Playing this fun and simple game with your children can help improve their vocabulary as well as practice asking and answering wh questions.
Gutentor Simple Text
Coming Soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does having frequent ear infections affect my child’s speech/language development?It may. Children who have frequent ear infections may experience times of decreased hearing levels. Decreased ability to hear can impact a child’s ability to naturally develop their speech and language skills.
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What do speech/language skills have to do with reading and writing?
Speech and language abilities, both the ability to understand language and to use language to share with others, are directly tied to reading and writing abilities. Children with speech difficulties may have trouble sounding out words for reading and writing. Children with language difficulties may have trouble processing sounds (phonology), understanding and using vocabulary, or creating sentences with correct grammar.
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What is the difference between speech and language?
Speech refers to the ability to make sounds and to sequence those sounds to make words, sentences, and conversational speech. Children with speech difficulties have trouble pronouncing words or producing speech that others can understand. Also under the speech area are fluency, which involves the ability to produce speech of normal rate and flow, and voice, which refers to the quality, pitch, loudness and resonance of the voice.
Language refers to the ability to understand things that other say (receptive language) and to use words to communicate with others (expressive language). Language covers many areas including vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to use language to interact socially.
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Will my insurance cover speech/language services?
Insurance plans vary widely in their coverage for speech/language evaluations and therapy. Some plans only cover services following an injury or for certain medical diagnoses. It is important that you research what type of coverage your insurance plan offers with regard to speech/language services. Our patient services staff will be happy to assist you in determining coverage available for your insurance plan.
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How long will this take?
The length of time a child or adult is in need of speech language therapy services varies widely by the individual. Many factors contribute to progress including completion of home recommendations, regular attendance at therapy sessions, patient motivation, and the severity of the speech/language problem. Testing is completed on scheduled intervals to keep all involved aware of progress.