Speech Disorder

Information taken from Cincinnati Children’s  

WHAT IS A SPEECH DISORDER?

An individual who has a speech disorder has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or has   problems with his / her voice.  Speech disorders are different than language disorders.  A person with a speech disorder may have difficulty with articulation, voice, fluency, or a combination of these. 

WHAT CAUSES A SPEECH DISORDER?

The cause of a speech disorder is often unknown; however some known causes include the following:

• Hearing loss
• Cognitive disability
• Brain damage
• Drug abuse
• Physical impairments (i.e., cleft lip or palate)

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD AT HOME?

Model correct speech at home.  Try not to use baby talk or model your child’s errors.  Continue to read, play, and talk to your child.    

OUR APPROACH AT KEY THERAPIES:

We will develop an individualized treatment plan for each child based off of his / her current needs.  A variety of approaches will be utilized which may include auditory bombardment, modeling, and practice.  Techniques and strategies will be taught to caregivers so that follow-through can be completed at home.