Pediatric Speech Therapy
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Pediatric speech therapy is a form of therapy specifically for children and adolescents under the age of 18.
The goal is to improve communication problems and learn the skills needed for successful communication.
This includes:
- Improve their capacity to understand and produce language
- Express their needs and wants, interact appropriately with others
- Engage in meaningful conversations
What are the Benefits of Pediatric Speech Therapy?
Children with communication difficulties benefit in several different areas and learn to take control of their communication skills:
- Improve language
- Articulation
- Voice Fluency
- Pragmatics
- Confidence in social interactions
- Foster better relationships with peers and family members
- Increase academic performance
- Reduce behavioral issues
- Boost self-esteem
What can a Child Expect Going to Pediatric Speech Therapy?
A pediatric speech-language pathologist will guide the child along in their speech and language development journey.
The following speech techniques are taught:
- Language development activities
- Articulation therapy (pronunciation of sounds)
- Reading and writing skills
- Social Skills
- Problem-solving strategies
- Identify speech sounds (phonology)
- Using appropriate grammar structures (morphology)
- Develop conversational skills (pragmatics)
- Increase their ability to reach and spell (orthography)
What Conditions are Treated in Pediatric Therapy?
Pediatric therapy can treat a variety of conditions including:
- Physical and developmental delays
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Speech and language impairments
- Learning disabilities (dyslexia or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Down syndrome
- Sensory disorders
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Genetic disorders
- Orthopedic injuries
CHRISTUS Genetics Clinic
CHRISTUS Children's has a monthly Prader-Willi syndrome multidisciplinary clinic based in San Antonio, Texas. If you or your child has a confirmed diagnosis of Prader-Willi, you can be referred to the clinic to receive coordinated care from our experienced specialists, including geneticists, ENT doctors, endocrinologists, pulmonologists, sleep medicine specialists, psychologists, dietitians, social workers, and speech pathologists.
Visit CHRISTUS Genetics Clinic
