Does your child seem to be falling behind in their speech and language development?
Have they received a medical diagnosis that may impact their ability to communicate?
Forte Speech & Language Therapy is here to help.
We’ll work with your child to help foster clear, effective communication skills, at any age.
Our team of therapists have years of experience in treating a variety of different speech-language conditions, including treatment for developmental disorders.
A pediatric speech-language pathologist is considered the best option for treating speech and language issues due to developmental disorders.
If you’re noticing the signs of a developmental disorder in your child, start with an assessment or consultation with our clinic.
Early intervention has been shown to deliver more effective results than the “wait and see” approach.
Find out more about the different types of developmental disorders and how our speech therapy clinic in Los Angeles can help your child.
Speech Therapy for Developmental Delays
Developmental milestones are used as signifiers of a child’s development.
When it comes to speech, delayed milestones may be related to a speech and language delay or disorder.
So what exactly is a speech and language delay or disorder, and how can speech therapy help?
A speech or language delay is characterized by developing language or speech sounds at a slower rate than what is considered typical.
Children with language delays still acquire milestones similarly to those without delays, just at their individual speed.
This sets them apart from other developmental disorders, where children tend to develop along a different path.
The good news is that with speech and language therapy, they can reach age appropriate speech and language skills.
Children who display signs of a speech and language delay are also known as late talkers or late language learners.
They may have a limited vocabulary and have trouble effectively communicating using words and phrases.
While they may be behind what is considered typical language skills for their developmental stage, children who are late talkers often catch up and develop typical speech and language skills.
At Forte Speech & Language Therapy, your child will get the support they need to develop their communication skills.
With the appropriate support and treatment plans, speech therapy can help address your child’s developmental speech and language delay and have them feeling more confident and independent.
Speech Therapy for Selective Mutism
Selective mutism, also referred to as situational mutism, is an anxiety disorder that occurs when your child is unable to speak in certain times, places, or situations.
For example, they may be unable to speak in school or social situations, but are able to speak in environments where they feel safe and comfortable, such as at home.
It can start at various stages in childhood, and may persist into adulthood if not addressed early on.
Selective mutism can be the result of anxiety, extreme shyness, fear of expression, or other contributing factors.
The main sign of selective mutism is that your child is able to speak in some situations, but not others.
While some children are just shy and need to warm up to new environments, selective mutism is persistent and continues for at least one month.
Speech therapy can help.
At Forte Speech & Language Therapy, we’ll assess your child for any speech and language delays that can impact your child’s ability to speak, as well as their speech and language abilities.
From there, we’ll work with your child to improve their ability to communicate across various places and situations. We will also collaborate with related professionals, such as psychologists, where necessary.
The goal is to get your child comfortable speaking whenever and wherever they need to.
If you suspect your child has selective mutism, we’re here to help.
Speech Therapy for Learning Disabilities
A learning disability is a difficulty in one or more areas that are related to learning.
This can include writing, spelling, reading, and spoken language.
Making mistakes as children is normal, but a learning disability can significantly impact their ability to learn new skills and comprehend new concepts and instructions.
Some signs that may indicate that your child has a learning disability can include challenges with:
- Learning new words
- Learning right and left
- Learning the alphabet
- Expressing their ideas
- Learning to count
- Following directions
- Remembering details
- Learning simple math
- Understanding questions
If you’ve noticed that your child is showing signs that may indicate they have a learning disability, speech therapy can help.
Alongside your child’s school curriculum, speech therapy can further increase their literacy and comprehension skills.
At Forte Speech & Language Therapy, we’ll work with your child to address their learning disabilities and help them to reach their potential.
With speech therapy, your child can learn how to process information and express their ideas more effectively.
Speech Therapy for Hearing Loss
A person born with hearing loss isn’t able to hear as well as a person with typical hearing. If your child was born with hearing loss, it can make it much more difficult for them to learn to communicate.
Children learn to speak by listening to the people in their environment and copying their sounds used to produce words.
When a child is born with hearing loss, they aren’t able to access some or all sounds needed to learn speech.
Several complications can result from hearing loss, such as:
- Developmental speech delays
- Developmental language delays
- Learning disabilities
- Mood disorders, such as low self esteem
- Difficulty creating sentences
- Difficulty understanding other people
The good news is that pediatric speech therapy can help.
Because speech and language skills are developed from a very young age, early intervention is important to help your child achieve developmental milestones.
At Forte Speech & Language Therapy, our speech therapists will work with your child to assess their communication capabilities and address areas of need.
If your child has been born with hearing loss, speech therapy can help them communicate more effectively.
Speech Therapy for Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Cleft lip and cleft palate are conditions characterized by a split or opening in your child’s upper lip, roof of their mouth, or in both.
The severity of the cleft, or split, can range from a tiny notch in their upper lip, to large gaps that go into your child’s nostril.
This condition occurs during pregnancy and results from the tissues that form in your child’s mouth not fusing together properly.
A cleft lip or cleft palate may also be caused by genetic or external factors.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are typically surgically repaired, usually within the first three months of birth.
But regardless, it can still lead to complications related to speech or language.
This can include:
- Velopharyngeal dysfunction (an imperfect seal between their mouth and nose)
- Speech sound disorders like an articulation disorder
- Overly nasally tone
- Speech and language developmental delays
Other complications may also include:
- Anxiety
- Difficulty feeding and swallowing
- Abnormal tooth development
- Frequent ear infections
Here at Forte Speech & Language Therapy, we offer speech therapy for children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate.
It starts with an assessment of your child’s condition to determine the extent of their communication capabilities, such as their:
- Articulation
- Control and function of oral muscles
- Speech and language capabilities
- Resonance, airflow, and air pressure
Speech therapy can help your child produce more natural sounding speech and implement new techniques and habits to improve their speech intelligibility.
Cleft lip and cleft palate don’t have to stand in your child’s way.
With the right support, your child can develop strong, confident speech and language skills.
Helpful Articles To Learn More About Speech Therapy For Developmental Disorders
You can learn more about developmental disorders with these articles from our speech and language therapy blog.
If you need additional help with speech therapy for developmental disorders, our experienced team of speech therapists are here to help you anytime.
Get Started with Forte Speech & Language Therapy Today
If your child has a developmental disorder that’s impacting their speech and language skills, Forte Speech & Language Therapy can help.
We’ll work with your child to implement strategies and treatment plans to facilitate improved speech and communication.
Early intervention is important.
It’s been shown to deliver more effective results than waiting to see if your child’s speech or language developmental disorders resolve on their own.
By addressing concerns early on, your child can learn to communicate more effectively.
Book your appointment with Forte Speech & Language Therapy today.