Speech Therapy is a health profession that falls under the area of Human Communication Sciences. Speech therapy, is the diagnosis, management and treatment of individuals who are unable to communicate effectively or who have difficulty with feeding and swallowing. Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral/ feeding/ swallowing skills to identify types of communication problems (articulation, fluency, voice, receptive and expressive language disorders) and the best way to treat them.

Screenings are abbreviated evaluations to determine if a child could benefit from further evaluation or if a child’s level of performance is age appropriate and no further evaluation is needed. If your child is found to have mild difficulties yet a full evaluation is not recommended, home programming ideas will be discussed so parents can facilitate these skills at home. If an area of concern is identified, a full evaluation will be recommended.

Parents are often invited into the treatment rooms to observe therapy if the situation is appropriate, and parent education is an integral part of every therapy session. Each session is designed to allow time for the parent and therapist to discuss progress and what was done during the therapy session. Home programs are provided to the parent to increase carryover in all settings and help the child be more successful in reaching their goals.

An evaluation allows a speech therapist the opportunity to assess your child’s development. This assessment may include a standardized test, observation through play, medical history information, and/or parent report. In most cases, it includes all four. Through the evaluation, it will be determined if treatment is necessary. Treatment at Kid’s Creek Therapy cannot be initiated unless an evaluation has been completed.