Childhood Apraxia of Speech, also known as CAS, is a motor speech disorder that makes it challenging for a child to communicate. There are messages that go from the brain to the mouth, these messages then tell the muscles how and when to make the sounds. A child with a CAS diagnosis might have challenges...

What is Sensory Bin?  Sensory bins are a fun way to explore the senses and incorporate tactile exploration. They are typically a large bin filled with different types of wet or dry materials that vary in texture. In the bins with wet or dry materials, you can hide some preferred items or toys. The child...

What are Joint Compressions? Joint compression is providing input into one’s joints (mainly at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers) for proprioceptive input. Proprioception refers to the physical input on the body’s joints, muscles, and bones that then elicit chemical, physiological, and physical changes in the body. Our bodies need proprioceptive input to improve our...

It has been said that being a parent is a full time job. Between school and extracurriculars, it can be hard to practice speech therapy skills at home. We know that carryover and practice helps bridge the gap between the therapy room and the outside world. 10 minutes a day of practice can make a...

Play and Language Development  Play is often stated to be “the work of children.” Through play, children learn to discover, create and interact with their world in a safe environment. It is important to understand the types of play and its role in language development.  What are the different types of play?  Functional Play:  Begins...

Reading is often described as a great way to help children develop language. It is important to understand how to select the appropriate books for your child, based on their age and to support their language development.  Things to Consider:  Find books with bright, colorful, and engaging illustrations.  Buy books based on your child’s interest...

Is your child not saying as many words as their same-aged peers? Are they having difficulty following directions and answering simple questions? Your child may have a language disorder that can be evaluated by a certified speech-language pathologist. It is important to understand the difference between expressive and receptive language so you are able to...

Pre-writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they learn to write. These skills add to the child’s ability to hold and use a pencil, and the ability to draw, write, copy, and color. An important component of prewriting skills are the pre-writing shapes. These are the pencil strokes that most letters,...

Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one,” quoted Hans Selye, a pioneer of stress theory. There is no doubt that COVID-19 has increased the stress levels within our community – it has led to an upheaval around the world. Though it is impossible to ignore the challenges this pandemic...

Burning Questions Answered As a speech-language pathologist, one of my biggest areas of focus is functional communication. It is not surprising for my families or colleagues to see my evaluations with goals targeting the use of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). The use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is beneficial not only for the...