Swallowing and communication begin before birth, starting within the mother’s womb and continuing with the first interactions between mother and child in the form of simple cries and eye contact. Dozens of medical issues and conditions can cause speech-language delays or disorders and interrupt the ability to:
- make the right sounds to say words
- understand spoken language
- use non-verbal communication/gestures
- use verbal speech
- use/understand social communication
- eat and drink
Gaps in the ability to communicate can frustrate the child and everyone in the child’s life – siblings, parents, friends, and classmates.
Early intervention by pediatric speech and language pathologists makes a huge difference in the lives of children by improving their ability to communicate and eat.
Which children benefit from pediatric Speech Therapy?
Communication challenges can cause children to avoid situations, withdraw from friends and family, or gain unwanted attention. Feeding and swallowing problems can affect a child’s ability to grow and develop. Speech Therapy can help.
A wide range of conditions may call for pediatric Speech Therapy including:
- Developmental Delay
- Down Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Craniofacial differences/Cleft Lip/Palate
- Genetic disorders/syndromes
- Autism/PDD
- ADHD
- Hearing Impairment
- Premature Birth
- Head/Neck Cancer
- Stroke
- Oral Apraxia
- Dysphagia
How will pediatric speech therapists work with my child?
From the first assessment, our trained team develops and implements treatment plans to improve communication and swallowing/feeding problems.
Our speech pathologists can work with children who have difficulty with:
- Using/understanding language
- Speech sound production
- using appropriate voice when speaking
- stuttering
- swallowing
- food aversions
- non-verbal communication
Sage Care employs experienced and certified Speech-Language Pathologists who are endorsed by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and licensed by the Texas State Board of Speech-Language Pathology. In addition, many of our speech-language pathologists have received advanced certifications/training including:
- VitalStim® Therapy
- Beckman Oral-Motor Training
- Picture Exchange Communication (PECS) training
- Sign Language
The ability to communicate is vital – it is the foundation for successful relationships of all kinds and at all ages. Communication, whether verbal or nonverbal, is how children as well as adults express their feelings and needs. Communication skills support learning and social interaction.
Across the Dallas-Fort Worth region, thousands of children with speech and feeding/swallowing problems have benefited from our multidisciplinary, family involved approach at Sage Care Therapy.