Speech & Language Therapy

At Happy Play Therapy, we offer speech-language therapy services for children to help them improve their communication skills and build confidence. Our experienced therapists work with children of all ages to diagnose and treat speech and language disorders, such as stuttering, apraxia, and articulation difficulties.

Speech-language therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on helping children improve their communication skills. Our speech-language therapists work with children to assess their communication abilities and develop a treatment plan to help them achieve their goals.

Speech-language therapy can benefit children in many ways, including:

• Improving communication skills: Our speech-language therapists work with children to improve their speech, language, and social communication skills, helping them to express themselves more clearly and effectively.
• Enhancing academic performance: Communication difficulties can affect a child's ability to learn and perform academically. Our therapists can help children improve their communication skills, which can lead to better academic performance and increased confidence.
• Boosting social skills: Communication difficulties can also impact a child's ability to socialize with others. Our therapists can help children develop the social communication skills they need to interact with peers and build relationships.

At Happy Play Therapy, we understand that every child is unique, and that's why we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your child's specific needs. Our therapists use evidence-based practices and individualized treatment plans to ensure that your child receives the best possible care. Below are the areas within our Scope of Practice as speech-language pathologists.

• Motor Planning and Execution: Refers to the ability to plan and coordinate the movements required for speech. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their motor planning and execution skills to help them produce speech sounds more accurately and efficiently.
• Articulation: Refers to the ability to produce speech sounds accurately and fluently. In speech-language therapy, therapists work with children to improve their articulation skills by focusing on the movements and positioning of the mouth and tongue to produce speech sounds correctly.
• Phonological: Refers to the sound system of a language, including the sounds (phonemes) that make up words and the rules for combining those sounds to form words and sentences. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their phonological awareness, which can help them better understand the sound patterns of their language and improve their reading and writing skills.

• Receptive language skills: Refers to a child's ability to understand and comprehend spoken language.
• Expressive language skills: Refers to a child's ability to use language to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
• Morphology: Refers to the study of the structure and formation of words.
• Syntax: Refers to the study of the rules governing sentence structure.
• Semantics: Refers to the study of the meaning of words and phrases.
• Pragmatics: Refers to the study of language use in social contexts and the appropriate use of language in different situations.
• Auditory Processing skills: Refers to the ability to process and make sense of sounds, including speech.
• Prelinguistic Communication: Refers to the communication skills that develop before a child begins using words, including joint attention, intentionality, and the use of communicative signs.
• Paralinguistic Communication: Refers to nonverbal communication, including gestures, signs, and body language.
• Pre-Literacy skills: Refers to the foundational skills that are necessary for reading and writing, including phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and print awareness.
• Literacy: Refers to the ability to read, write, and spell words and sentences.

• Attention: Refers to the ability to focus and sustain attention on a task or activity. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their attention and concentration, which can help them better engage in therapy activities and improve their communication skills.
• Memory: Refers to the ability to remember and retain information over time. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their memory skills, which can help them better remember and use new vocabulary, concepts, and communication strategies.
• Problem Solving: Refers to the ability to identify and solve problems, often through logical reasoning and critical thinking skills. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their problem-solving skills, which can help them better navigate communication challenges and effectively express their thoughts and ideas.
• Executive Functioning: Refers to a set of cognitive skills that are involved in planning, organizing, initiating, and completing tasks. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their executive functioning skills, which can help them better manage their time, prioritize tasks, and stay focused on communication goals.

• Quality: Refers to the clarity and accuracy of speech sounds. In speech-language therapy, therapists work with children to improve the quality of their speech sounds by focusing on articulation and phonological awareness.
• Pitch: Refers to the highness or lowness of a sound. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their ability to produce and distinguish different pitches, which can impact their ability to communicate effectively.
• Loudness: Refers to the volume of a sound. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children to improve their ability to control the loudness of their voice, which can impact their ability to communicate effectively in different settings and situations.

• Stuttering: Refers to a speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the normal flow or rhythm of speech, such as repetitions, prolongations, or blocks of sounds or words. Stuttering can impact a child's ability to communicate effectively and may lead to social and emotional difficulties.
• Cluttering: Refers to a speech disorder characterized by a rapid or irregular speech rate, along with other symptoms such as poor organization of speech and difficulty with syntax or grammar. Cluttering can impact a child's ability to communicate clearly and effectively, and may also impact their ability to express their thoughts and ideas.

• Food Selectivity: Refers to a child's limited or restrictive diet, often due to a heightened sensitivity to certain tastes, textures, or smells. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children who have food selectivity to improve their sensory processing and expand their food choices to promote better nutrition and overall health.
• Refusal: Refers to a child's unwillingness to participate in or engage with a particular activity or task, often due to anxiety or a lack of interest. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children who have difficulty with participation or engagement, and help them develop strategies to reduce anxiety and improve motivation.
• Pediatric Dysphagia: Refers to difficulty swallowing in children. Dysphagia can result in aspiration or choking, which can be life-threatening. In speech-language therapy, therapists may work with children who have dysphagia to improve their swallowing function and safety, which can promote better nutrition and overall health.

Don't let your child struggle with communication difficulties. 

Contact us today to get started with one of our experienced speech-language pathologists in Broward or Miami-Dade county. We are here to help your child improve their communication skills and build their confidence! Check out our occupational therapy services here!