Services &
Specialties
Communicating Kids Speech & Language specializes in services for speech, language and literacy.
Speech concerns how people talk, and produce sounds and words.
Articulation and Phonology
Does your child have difficulty producing some sounds? Children with speech sound disorders including apraxia have difficulty coordinating the articulators (ex. tongue, lips, jaw, and palate) to produce age appropriate sounds. For example, a child with an articulation disorder may struggle to produce the /r/ sound and say, "wed" for "red".
Young children who are difficult to understand typically have phonological processes as well. This means that they are having difficulty producing and understanding patterns of sounds. A child with a phonological disorder may drop all final consonants in words and say, "du" for "duck".
A speech-language pathologist is skilled in knowing which sounds and phonological processes are developmentally appropriate in a child. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation or Check out our speech and language milestones.
Stuttering and Fluency
Does your child repeat sounds and words? Stuttering is often defined as disruptions in the forward flow of speech. Children who stutter may get "stuck" when speaking and repeat words ("my, my, my") and/or prolong sounds in words ("mmmmy").
Some disfluencies are normal as young children learn language, A speech-language pathologist is skilled in knowing what disfluencies are typical and what is considered stuttering. Help is available, schedule an appointment here.
Language is how people use words to express themselves.
Speech and Language Delays
Worried that your child isn't speaking enough? Young children with speech and language delays are behind in reaching speech and language developmental milestones, sometimes they are referred to as late talkers. Toddlers with delays may be difficult to understand, may not have words, or may not begin putting words together into sentences at an age expected time. If you think your child has a speech or language delay give us a call, we can help.
Expressive Language
Does your child have difficulty expressing themselves clearly? Children with expressive language disorders often have difficulty telling stories, making their wants and needs known, sharing their thoughts, answering questions, and giving directions.
Children with expressive language disorders may also have difficulty using appropriate grammar and vocabulary. If your child is having difficulty expressing themselves help is available.
Receptive Language
Does your child have difficulty following directions? Children with receptive language disorders have difficulty understanding the words, language and concepts that they hear. A child may have trouble understanding questions, following directions, and understanding basic concepts and common vocabulary.
If you think your child is experiencing difficulty with receptive language Communicating Kids can help. Give us a call!
Social Communication - Pragmatics
Children with social communication disorders demonstrate difficulty using language appropriately in social situations. The child may have trouble understanding the social rules of language in conversation, understanding figurative language and jokes.
Difficulty with social communication skills and pragmatic language is common in children on the Autism Spectrum.
At Communicating Kids Speech & Language we use the Social Thinking Methodology in our therapy sessions and social skills groups. Contact us to learn more.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
There are many ways to communicate. Using AAC to compensate for and supplement verbal speech can help your child express themselves independently. Research shows that using AAC will not stop a child from learning to speak, but gives your child the tools they need to express themselves.
We are passionate about AAC and can identify and implement an effective AAC system for your child. Many children can benefit from of AAC to help with communication including those diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, speech delays, apraxia and more.
AAC comes in many forms and can include sign language, picture communication symbols (PCS), communication books and high-tech speech generating devices (SGD). If you think your child might benefit from AAC please contact us.
Literacy concerns reading and writing.
Literacy
Is your child struggling to read? Children having difficulty learning to read are often weak in phonological awareness skills and interventions targeting both phonemic skills and phonics are proven to help children who are struggling to read. At Communicating Kids we provide tutoring to help your child with all aspects of literacy including decoding, reading comprehension, telling oral narratives, writing, vocabulary, and grammar.
Communicating Kids uses a variety of multisensory, evidence-based interventions based on the science of reading and structured literacy to help struggling emergent readers, including those with dyslexia become confident readers. Some of the reading programs we use in individualized reading interventions include Lindamood Bell- Seeing Stars and Lively Letters.
Speech-language pathologists are uniquely qualified to help children with reading skills as oral language is a prerequisite to written language. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help your child with literacy skills.
Let's Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential Together
Step 1. Evaluation
Communicating Kids Speech & Language provides comprehensive speech, language and literacy evaluations. Evaluations are used to diagnose and gain information about your child's strengths and weaknesses. An evaluation typically takes about an hour. After the evaluation you will receive a written report providing you with information, individualized goals and personalized recommendations to help with learning at home and school.
Step 2. Begin Speech Therapy
Help your child reach their goals. At Communicating Kids we believe that children learn best when they are having fun and our engaging play-based speech, language and literacy therapy sessions reflect that. We offer 45 minute and 60 minute sessions in the most natural environment for your family; at home, at your child's school, virtually or in our Alexandria office.