Speech/language therapy can be an integral part of treatment for many children with special needs. Any speech, language, or feeding impairment can have far-reaching consequences, affecting every aspect of a child's life, including learning, play, and interactions with family and friends. At The Therapy Place, speech therapists treat a variety of communication and feeding issues.

Speech
Children may have difficulty pronouncing words. There may be a variety of reasons, including:

• Articulation Disorder: The child has a problem pronouncing a particular sound or a few sounds.
• Phonological Disorder: The child has difficulty understanding the sound system itself and the speech rules.
• Oral-Motor Deficits: The child shows deficits in strength and movement of the jaw, lips, tongue, and cheeks.
• Apraxia: The child has difficulty coordinating oral muscles to make a sound or string of sounds.
• Stuttering: Disruptions or breaks in the smooth flow of speech.

Language
Language refers to the content of what is spoken, written, read, or understood. It is categorized into two areas: receptive and expressive language. Receptive language is the ability to comprehend someone else's speech or gestures. Problems with receptive language may include difficulty understanding vocabulary, concepts, sequences, directions, and conversations. Expressive language is the ability to create a message that others will understand. A child who has difficulty expressing him or herself may be taught to utilize a variety of communication modes such as speech, manual sign, gestures, pictures, facial expressions, or communication devices. The speech therapist will evaluate which mode is most effective for the child.

Pragmatic Language
Pragmatic language refers to how an individual socially uses language to communicate with others. Breakdowns in pragmatic language may include issues with the following skills: verbal turn-taking, maintaining a topic, listening to a conversational partner, using eye contact and facial expressions, taking the perspective of others, and expressing feelings in a socially appropriate manner.