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Referrals are indicated for:
- Speech Development Delay – learning to say specific sounds such as l, r, s, th (Example - 111KB)
- Apraxia - problems saying appropriate sounds correctly and consistently (Example - 126KB)
- Dysarthria – muscle weakness or lack of coordination, slurring (Example - 113KB)
- Cluttering – interruptions in the rhythm of speech as sounds and syllables are omitted or inappropriately changed
(Example - 168KB)
- Accent Reduction – for speakers who have learned English as a second language
Adults
- may acquire articulation difficulties as a result of a stroke, disease or injury.
- may have suffered long-term problems that have increased in severity or limit occupational performance / competency,
such as hearing impairment.
- may wish to correct an accent that is felt to be a hindrance either personally or professionally.
Children
- may need therapeutic intervention to learn to develop speech sounds correctly.
- may have a medical problem such as cleft palate or apraxia.
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Services:
Evaluation
- Medical history
- Oral examination
- Perceptual evaluation of respiration, phonation and resonance
- Objective testing such as nasometry
- Individualized articulation testing
- Other testing to rule out conflicting diagnoses
Recommendations
- Speech therapy / home program
- Audiological evaluation
- Medical evaluation / intervention
- Monitor specific patterns and functions such as health, breathing, sleeping
Therapy
- Specific objective goals
- Individual exercise program for oral awareness, coordination, strength and endurance
- Building new muscle response patterns
- Visual / Auditory feedback to teach and reinforce new skills
- Audio-visual feedback (a motokinesthetic approach)
- Play therapy
- Direct or indirect parent participation
Communication / coordination
Diagnosis and treatment may include any or all of the above. For additional information, see Long-Term Speech Therapy for Children.
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