Carmen Knight, M.A.T. Early Childhood and Special Education 

Speech therapy is important in the lives of children facing speech and language disorders. Articulation, fluency (stuttering), resonance and voice disorders are all treated with regular speech therapy sessions and practice. Tackling these disorders early on can help children gain confidence and grow socially as they enter later years. May is Better Hearing and Speech month, and we want to take time to highlight those working in this field.

Speech therapy is necessary to work through disorders and delays in speech so that children can speak more clearly.  It is also necessary when there are medical conditions that make speaking difficult.  Kids with autism, breathing or swallowing disorders and the hearing impaired can work with a Speech Therapist to improve communication skills that will help in daily activities.  Parents rely on Speech Therapists or Pathologists to provide direction and education on how to help children be productive communicators. Therapists assess receptive and expressive language skills and work tirelessly to improve those skills to make children more age appropriate. They monitor and assess children's clarity of speech and oral motor status and then practice with the child by making sounds or saying words and asking them to be repeated. Children are encouraged to watch the therapist's lips and mouth as they say a word, then copy it to make the correct sound.

Communication is so important in the life of a young child because it enables them to communicate their wants and needs and their cognitive ability. My son had speech therapy services as a child and was always excited to see his speech therapist because he saw it as his own personal play session. Working with children to improve their speech is oftentimes easier in a relaxed setting, bringing elements into the session that make therapy fun.

SmileMakers can assist Speech Therapists in achieving their goals in a fun way with a variety of products. One that I recommend to help focus on expressive and receptive language skills is the Shapes Chunky Puzzle. This puzzle allows the speech therapist to evaluate receptive language as they ask the patient to select a specific shape and place in the correct location. Evaluating expressive language can be done by asking the patient to identify colors and shapes. It's fun and colorful and the children will love playing with their favorite speech therapist!