Although many parents think child speech therapy is for stutters and vocal tics, it’s a fluid and variable treatment that covers a broad spectrum of disorders. Problems with speech and language can’t be fixed immediately; however, accurate diagnosis and regular, long-term help will place your child on the path to improvement. Consider seeking a speech pathologist if your child experiences any of the following conditions.

Different Disorders That Benefit from Child Speech Therapy

1. Respiratory Disorders

Breathing disorders such as a chronic cough, hoarseness, and asthma make it challenging for children to speak articulately. These cases may be grouped under the respiratory umbrella, but child speech therapy treatments will be unique to the disorder. The techniques used by a speech pathologist will need to address the laryngeal and respiratory mechanisms at play.

2. Apraxia

Apraxia is difficulty making particular sounds, and even if a child knows what they want to say, it won’t come out right. Speech specialists diagnose apraxia over a series of several tests, and once detected, intensive one-on-one weekly child speech therapy sessions are needed.

3. Late Talkers

First-time parents often experience trouble navigating what’s considered normal for early childhood development. By 12 months of age, babies should be able to recite a few words. If you, your child’s daycare supervisor, or guardian begin to worry about missed milestones, speech therapy can help catch your child up.

4. Aphasia

Typically caused by illness or trauma to the brain, aphasia is a frustrating, but treatable, condition in children. There are many notable types of aphasia, and some children have issues reading, while others unintentionally use nonsensical words or phrases in conversation. Speech therapy directly addresses the type of aphasia and extent of the brain damage in each patient to improve communication.

5. Auditory Processing Disorder

Commonly confused with hearing loss, auditory processing disorder (ADP) is a condition that prevents patients from accurately processing and interpreting verbal information. Children with ADP may have problems filtering out background noise and following a conversation. With the help of assistive listening devices and child speech therapy, your young one will develop effective listening and communication skills over time.

Does your child struggle with a speech, feeding, or language disorder? The certified and licensed staff at Sounds of Success: Preschool & Learning Center in Aiea, HI is here to help. Servicing the entire island of Oahu, this non-profit preschool and daycare center specializes in providing children with individualized speech therapy treatments. These skilled speech pathologists are fully qualified to teach, treat, and enrich the lives of every student. Find out more about their child speech therapy programs online or call (808) 488-2211 for enrollment information.