Speech & Language Difficulties

Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety offers speech and language therapy for those both with and without anxiety-related disorders that can impact communication. Licensed speech-language pathologists have expertise in many areas of communication and other specialties. Please see the below which further delineates the various components of speech and language, and further explains how a speech-language pathologist can help. 

Expressive and Receptive Language: Expressive language refers to verbal (e.g., speaking) and nonverbal (e.g., signing) communication. Receptive language refers to comprehension of spoken or signed language. Difficulties in expressing oneself and/or understanding others can impact social and academic success. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful if difficulty understanding directions or a limited repertoire of words is observed.

Stuttering: Stuttering is when typical speech patterns are disrupted with hesitations or repetitions, often referred to as disfluencies. At times, normal stages of development may result in temporary disfluencies that differ from the disfluencies observed in people who stutter. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful if repetition of the same words or sounds or a fast rate of speech is observed. 

Apraxia: Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that results in difficulties with the motor planning process of speech. The necessary articulators for speech do not receive messages properly from the brain in order to produce intelligible speech. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful if difficulties producing intentional speech but increased ease with more automatic speech (e.g., Happy Birthday) and/or difficulties with longer words is observed. 

Pragmatic Language: Communication not only involves understanding others and expressing oneself through language, there are also many social aspects to successful communication. The pragmatic components of communication allow us to express ourselves through both verbally and nonverbally. There are many aspects to social communication such as gestures, facial expression, interpreting and applying peer appropriate social rules, and conversation skills. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful if difficulties staying on topic, engaging in appropriate turn taking during play, and/or interpreting and applying social rules for communication. 

Articulation: As children develop spoken language, errors in speech sound production are to be expected. At various points in development, specific errors in articulation should resolve. In instances when these errors are not resolved by the time most peers are no longer demonstrating these errors, an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful. 

Executive Function: Academic success is often impacted by executive function. This refers to concept such as impulse control, time management, attention, working memory, self regulation, and organization. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful when difficulties with the aforementioned skills are observed.

Reading and Writing: Reading and writing have their foundations in expressive language and auditory comprehension, and have a reciprocal relationship. Those with difficulties with expressive language and auditory comprehension, may also have difficulties in reading and writing. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful when difficulties in reading and writing are observed. Note, further collaboration with a reading specialist, outside of ATSA, may also be warranted 

Voice: Atypical vocal qualities can be secondary to a variety of diagnoses including infections, viruses, lack of vocal hygiene, allergies, neurological disorders, and voice misuse.  Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful when difficulties with the aforementioned skills are observed.  ATSA does not currently offer services for voice therapy, however, please see our outside referral list for recommendations. 

Aural Rehabilitation: When a person has hearing loss, they may choose to be a member of the hearing community. During these instances, a speech-language pathologist may assist in the assessment and management of hearing loss on communication. ATSA does not currently offer services for aural rehabilitation, however, please see our outside referral list for recommendations. 

Feeding: Meal times can be difficult for developing children. Feeding therapy can assist children who face difficulties with eating and/or drinking. Many components can impact one’s ability to eat and drink including behavioral, sensory, and oral motor difficulties. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful if meal times are often stressful and rigid, there is a limited repertoire of foods consumed, and specific textures are avoided.  ATSA does not currently offer services for AAC, however, please see our outside referral list for recommendations. 

Alternative Augmentative Communication: When someone cannot communicate verbally, an alternative to this can be using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). There are a variety of types of AAC systems, from picture boards to iPads. Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist may be helpful when verbal output is limited. ATSA does not currently offer services for AAC, however, please see our outside referral list for recommendations.

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Interesting Fact: 33% of patients who are diagnosed with selective mutism are also in need of speech & language services!

How our speech and language services differ for those with selective mutism: Our speech-language pathologists have specialized training in the PCIT-SM protocol we utilize at ATSA to bolster verbal communication for those with selective mutism. When work on speech and language skills begins, these techniques will continue to be emplored to continue to foster verbal communication.

Clinical Procedures for Speech & Language Difficulties Evaluation and Outpatient Treatment