Super Talkers is a language and occupational therapy clinic for kids. Our mission is to help every child we can reach in Oakland and Macomb County! We make sure families never have to face these challenges alone and set our patients up for long-term success.
Our on-staff Speech-Language Pathologist and Registered Occupational Therapist work with children in early intervention (0-3 years old) up to teenagers (14-17 years old).
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Speech-Language Therapy Services Include:
- Late Talkers
- Speech Delays
- Articulation/Phonology
- Receptive/Expressive Language
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Down Syndrome and Other Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Developmental Delays
- Cognitive Skills
- Learning Disability and Other Learning Problems
- School Performance
- Sensory Processing Disorder
More About Speech Therapy In Utica
It is perfectly normal for some kids to encounter challenges in their speech development. Although this could severely impact the way they communicate, it is something that they can overcome with the help of a reputable speech therapist. Thankfully, if you live in Utica or neighboring Michigan cities, you can easily engage their services.
In What Situations Are Speech Therapists Helpful?
Speech therapists use their training, knowledge, and experience, to help people—kids especially—to overcome difficulties in speech and communication. The most common problems they tackle are:
- Resonance Issues: Sound quality is the primary issue of children who have problems with resonance. This is caused by the way their breath flows through their nose and mouth. Some children sound like they have a cold and some also mumble.
- Articulation Issues: Lisps and other articulation problems make it difficult for kids to enunciate certain words. For example, instead of “yes” they might end up saying “yeth,” which makes them quite difficult to understand.
- Language Issues: Some children find it hard to understand others as well as to express themselves through words. Very often, this is a result of a hearing disorder.
- Fluency Issues: Stuttering is a common speech impediment and is among the most common fluency issues. Children that suffer from this often get stuck repeating sounds and so have difficulty completing words. For instance, when trying to say the word “flower,” a child with a stutter might repeat the “f” sound several times before completing the entire word.
When is Speech Therapy Most Beneficial?
People go to speech therapy to overcome certain speech impediments that keep them from engaging meaningfully with others. This is most beneficial at a young age. Often, children’s difficulties with speech are caused by physical problems that make them unable to speak clearly. Among the most common physical issues that speech therapists address are:
- Abnormal vocal cord function
- Improper movement of lips and mouth
- Difficulty hearing
- Having breathing problems
- Developmental disorders including Autism
- Inability to swallow normally
What to Expect From Speech Therapy for Kids
Once you’ve decided on a speech therapist that’s accessible from Troy, your child will likely undergo a speech test. They will be prompted to speak certain words so the therapist can determine what their issues are. This test will also be the basis for what interventions should be used to improve their speech.
What happens during your child’s speech therapy sessions will depend on their specific challenges. If their issues mostly involve fluency or articulation, therapy sessions will focus on enunciating tough sentences, learning expressions, and overcoming communication barriers. For children with problems related to language, speech therapists will provide guidance for thinking and, consequently, speaking more clearly.
Does Speech Therapy Take a Long Time?
How long your child will be in speech therapy will depend on the gravity of their impediments and how quickly they progress given the techniques taught to them by their speech pathologist. Generally, it is recommended for kids to attend sessions at least once a week and make sure to get plenty of practice in between. Getting to a point where the speech difficulties no longer exist can take anywhere from several weeks to a couple of years.
Practicing the methods taught by the speech-language pathologist can cut down on the time spent in therapy. Your child should be able to resolve any speech impediment they have with some diligence and the help of a reputable speech therapist around Utica.