Question 1

What is the difference between pediatric and adult speech therapy?

Accepted Answer

Pediatric speech therapy focuses on helping children who are still developing communication skills, using play-based and interactive activities to make learning engaging. Adult speech therapy typically addresses issues resulting from illness, injury, or aging, using more structured approaches to help individuals regain or maintain communication abilities. Additionally, adults are often more self-motivated and independent in their therapy participation than children, who usually require parental support and encouragement.

Question 2

How do I know if a child or an adult in my family needs speech therapy?

Accepted Answer

Initial signs that speech therapy may be beneficial include difficulty pronouncing sounds clearly, challenges understanding or expressing language, stuttering or fluency problems, feeding difficulties, voice concerns, or social communication challenges. An evaluation by a Speech-Language Pathologist can determine whether therapy is recommended. We provide a comprehensive initial assessment that identifies specific areas of concern and establishes a baseline for treatment.

Question 3

What happens during a speech therapy evaluation?

Accepted Answer

A comprehensive speech therapy evaluation typically includes:

• Case History: Discussion of developmental history, medical background, and specific concerns with parents or caregivers
 • Observation: Assessment of communication skills during play, conversation, or structured activities
 • Formal Testing: Standardized assessments targeting specific areas such as articulation, language comprehension, language expression, voice, fluency, and swallowing
 • Recommendations: Detailed feedback regarding findings and treatment recommendations if therapy is indicated

Evaluations usually take up to 90 minutes, and you'll receive preliminary findings and a plan of care during or shortly after the appointment.

Question 4

What should I expect after the evaluation?

Accepted Answer

After the evaluation, the Speech-Language Pathologist will review findings with you, discuss whether therapy is recommended, and explain the reasoning behind recommendations. If therapy is needed, the clinician will outline:

• Specific goals for treatment
 • Recommended frequency and duration of sessions
 • Strategies to support progress at home
 • Expected timeline for improvements

If therapy is not recommended, alternative resources and options will be discussed.

Question 5

What types of speech and language disorders do you treat?

Accepted Answer

We provide treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including:

• Articulation and phonological disorders (unclear speech)
 • Language delays and disorders (receptive and expressive language difficulties)
 •  Stuttering and fluency disorders
 • Voice disorders (hoarseness, vocal strain)
 • Apraxia of speech (motor speech planning difficulties)
 • Swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
 • Speech difficulties following stroke or brain injury
 • Communication disorders related to autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions

Question 6

How often will a child/an adult need speech therapy sessions?

Accepted Answer

Session frequency varies based on individual needs, disorder severity, and therapeutic goals. Common frequency patterns include:

• Once weekly: Typical for mild to moderate disorders
 • Twice weekly: Often recommended for more complex conditions
 • Three or more times weekly: May be appropriate for severe disorders 
               or intensive programs like LSVT LOUD or PROMPT therapy

Session length is 30 minutes. Your Speech-Language Pathologist will recommend the most appropriate frequency and duration for your specific situation.

Question 7

How does occupational therapy help improve independence in daily activities?

Accepted Answer

Occupational therapy helps individuals regain independence by addressing physical, cognitive, and emotional barriers to daily functioning. Therapists use task breakdown (simplifying complex activities into manageable steps), skill development through targeted exercises, adaptive strategies and assistive devices, environmental modifications (such as adding grab bars or improving accessibility), and cognitive rehabilitation. The goal is to empower clients to perform self-care, work, school, hobbies, and community activities with greater ease and confidence.

Question 8

What types of conditions and situations benefit from occupational therapy?

Accepted Answer

Occupational therapists work with individuals of all ages who need support with daily activities. Common conditions include injuries and trauma (fractures, burns, spinal cord injury, stroke), chronic neurological conditions (Parkinson's disease, MS, cerebral palsy, autism), cognitive conditions (dementia, Alzheimer's, brain injury), physical conditions (arthritis, muscle weakness), post-surgical recovery, mental health challenges, age-related changes, and developmental delays. Treatment is always individualized and client-centered, focusing on meaningful life activities.

Question 9

How does occupational therapy address sensory processing challenges?

Accepted Answer

Occupational therapy helps individuals manage their responses to sensory input, such as sound, touch, movement, and light. Therapists use sensory integration techniques to improve regulation, attention, and everyday functioning.

Common challenges include:

• Hypersensitivity: Feeling overwhelmed by sounds, textures, or touch.
 • Hyposensitivity: Seeking strong sensory input or not noticing certain sensations.
 • Difficulty distinguishing sensations: Trouble telling textures, movements, or objects apart.

How OT helps:

• Sensory integration activities that use movement, touch, and body-awareness tasks to support better processing.
 • Sensory diets with daily activities that help maintain calm, focus, and regulation.
 • Environmental adjustments, such as reducing noise or modifying lighting, can help reduce sensory overload.
 • Play-based skill-building to improve tolerance and coping with challenging sensations.

Benefits: Better self-regulation, improved focus, reduced anxiety, and more confidence and independence in daily routines.

Question 10

Do you offer teletherapy (online speech therapy)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer teletherapy sessions; however, your clinician will determine if teletherapy is the most appropriate option based on your or your child’s individual needs.

Question 11

What is neurodiversity affirming therapy?

Accepted Answer

Neurodiversity affirming therapy celebrates the differences that make each person unique rather than focusing on how one person differs from what is considered "normal." This approach recognizes that neurodivergent ways of being (such as autism, ADHD, and other neurological variations) are a natural human variation, not a pathology to be corrected.

Key principles include:

• Strengths-based approach: Focusing on unique strengths rather than deficits
 • Self-advocacy: Encouraging individuals to advocate for their needs
 • Acceptance: Recognizing that everyone's brain works differently
 • Inclusivity: Addressing societal barriers and discrimination
 • Mental health support: Building self-esteem and reducing internalized shame

Question 12

How does neurodiversity affirming therapy differ from traditional therapy?

Accepted Answer

Traditional therapy often focused on "fixing" or correcting differences, viewing neurodivergence as something to overcome. Neurodiversity affirming therapy instead:

• Celebrates neurodivergent traits as valuable aspects of identity
 • Focuses on helping individuals thrive rather than conform to neurotypical standards
 • Addresses challenges while affirming strengths and unique abilities
 • Reduces internalized ableism and shame
 • Supports better mental health by fostering self-acceptance and belonging
 • Recognizes that well-being is more dependent on support and acceptance

Question 13

What is social skills therapy, and who benefits from it?

Accepted Answer

Social Skills Training (SST) is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals improve their ability to communicate thoughts and emotions, initiate and maintain conversations, navigate social interactions, and regulate emotions effectively.
Benefits those who struggle with:

• Social anxiety and fear of rejection
 • Initiating or maintaining friendships
 • Understanding body language and facial expressions
 • Turn-taking and active listening
 • Empathy and perspective-taking
 • Managing self-consciousness in groups

Social skills therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, developmental disabilities, ADHD, and other conditions affecting social communication.

Question 14

What techniques are used in social skills therapy?

Accepted Answer

Social skills therapy employs several evidence-based techniques:
 • Role-playing and behavioral rehearsal: Practicing real-life social scenarios in a safe environment
 •  Modeling and direct instruction: Therapist demonstrates desired social behaviors
 • Positive reinforcement: Praising progress and effort
 • Video feedback: Recording interactions to help clients observe their own behavior
 • Social stories: Using narratives to teach social concepts
 • Real-life practice (in vivo exposure): Practicing skills in actual social settings
 • Group social skills training: Learning from peers in structured group settings

Treatment is tailored to the individual's age, developmental stage, interests, and specific social challenges.

Question 15

What is included in an occupational therapy evaluation?

Accepted Answer

An occupational therapy evaluation assesses your ability to perform daily activities and identifies barriers to independence. The evaluation includes:

• Occupational Profile: Gathering information about your history, interests, values, goals, and daily routines
 • Motor Skills Assessment: Evaluating strength, mobility, coordination, gross motor skills, and fine motor control
 • Sensory Assessment: Understanding how you process sensory information
 • Cognitive and Emotional Regulation: Assessing thinking, processing, and emotional control
 • Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Testing ability to perform self-care tasks like dressing, grooming, and eating
 • Functional Performance: Observing you perform relevant daily tasks
 • Clinical Observations and Standardized Assessments: Using both informal and formal testing methods

Evaluations can take up to 90 minutes and include discussion of findings, recommendations, and treatment planning.

Question 16

How does feeding therapy work, and what can I expect?

Accepted Answer

Feeding therapy addresses both the physical and behavioral aspects of eating difficulties. The process includes:

Initial Evaluation: Assessment of feeding history, oral motor skills, and observation of eating various foods and drinking from different cups. The therapist may trial different techniques during the evaluation.

Individualized Treatment Plan: Based on diagnosis, therapy may focus on:

• Oral motor exercises to improve strength and coordination
 • Sensory desensitization for food refusal or selectivity
 • Compensatory feeding strategies
 • Gradual diet expansion through small, positive changes
 • Building confidence and positive associations with eating

Home Program: Immediately after evaluation, you'll receive strategies to use at home. After each session, the home program is adjusted as skills improve and needs change.

Progress Timeline: Every child progresses at their own pace. Progress is not always consistent, but with regular therapy and home practice, most children show improvement in their feeding skills and diet variety.

Question 17

What does PROMPT therapy work?

Accepted Answer

PROMPT stands for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is a tactile-kinesthetic (touch and movement) approach to speech therapy in which the clinician manually guides accurate movements during speech production by placing hands on the client's lips, jaw, tongue, and chin.

How it works:

• The therapist uses specific touch cues to help the client understand the correct placement and movement of speech articulators
 • Tactile-kinesthetic input enhances sensory feedback and facilitates motor planning
 • Treatment focuses on developing motor control and eliminating unnecessary muscle movements
 • Goals are chosen to reflect complex interactions among physical-sensory, cognitive-linguistic, and social-emotional domains.

Question 18

What can I expect during PROMPT therapy sessions?

Accepted Answer

A typical PROMPT therapy program involves:

Initial Assessment (Week 1): Comprehensive evaluation of oral motor skills, speech patterns, and communication goals. The therapist assesses articulation, oral structure, spontaneous speech, language abilities, and jaw/lip/tongue movements.

Treatment Planning (Week 2): Based on assessment results, individualized therapy goals are developed. Parents receive detailed explanations of target sounds and home practice strategies.

Active Therapy Phase (Weeks 3+): Typical programs involve twice-weekly 45-minute sessions. Sessions include:

• Motor phoneme warm-up exercises
 • Tactile-kinesthetic cueing for target sounds, words, and phrases
 • Progressive difficulty increase (duration, amplitude, complexity)
 • Multisensory integration activities

Progress Reviews: Every 3 months, progress is evaluated and treatment plans are adjusted as abilities advance. Children ages 2-8 often show the most dramatic results due to neuroplasticity during these developmental years.

Question 19

What is LSVT LOUD therapy, and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

LSVT LOUD (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) is an intensive, evidence-based speech therapy program specifically designed for individuals with Parkinson's disease. However, it can also benefit people with other neurological conditions affecting voice and speech.

How it works:

• Targets increased vocal loudness through structured, high-effort voice exercises
Focuses on helping the brain recognize what a "normal" loud voice feels like
Uses principles of motor learning with repetitive vocal tasks
Improves not only voice volume but also speech clarity and intelligibility

Program Structure:

• Duration: 4 weeks
 • Frequency: 4 days per week
 • Session Length: One hour per session
 • Total Commitment: 16 one-hour sessions

Who benefits most:

• Individuals in the early stages of Parkinson's disease diagnosis
 • Those with higher cognitive ability
 • People are motivated to complete daily home exercises
 • Those reporting being frequently asked to repeat statements

Results and Benefits:

• Increased voice volume and speech clarity
 • Improved facial expression and overall communication confidenc
 •  Better breath support and respiratory controlSecondary improvements in swallowing function, reducing aspiration pneumonia risk
 • Enhanced quality of life and social engagement
 • Improved cognitive engagement through focused, high-effort practice
 • Carryover benefits into daily movement and overall communication

Participants typically report significant improvements in communication 
confidence and quality of life following program completion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)