Author: Milestone team

Benefits of Early Intervention Occupational Therapy

Post author By Milestone team
Post date June 27, 2024
No Comments on Benefits of Early Intervention Occupational Therapy

The Benefits of Early Intervention Occupational Therapy with Milestone Therapy Group

Your primary goal is to ensure your child’s well-being and success. You are constantly seeking ways to support their development and provide the best opportunities for their future. One powerful tool to consider in your journey is early intervention occupational therapy with Milestone Therapy Group. Understanding its benefits can be a game-changer for your child’s growth and your peace of mind.

What is Early Intervention Occupational Therapy?

Early intervention occupational therapy is a specialized form of therapy designed to assist young children who may be experiencing developmental challenges. This therapy focuses on helping children develop the necessary skills for daily living, such as fine motor skills, sensory processing, and social interactions. By addressing these issues early, occupational therapists at Milestone Therapy Group can help children reach their full potential more quickly and effectively.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Early intervention is crucial because the early years of a child’s life are a period of rapid brain development. During this time, children are especially receptive to learning new skills and overcoming challenges. By starting occupational therapy early with Milestone Therapy Group, you can take advantage of this critical developmental window to maximize your child’s progress.

Key Benefits of Early Intervention Occupational Therapy with Milestone Therapy Group

Enhanced Developmental Skills

Early intervention occupational therapy with Milestone Therapy Group helps children develop essential skills that are foundational for their overall growth. From improving hand-eye coordination to enhancing social skills, therapists work on areas that are crucial for your child’s daily activities and future learning.

Improved Academic Performance

Occupational therapy with Milestone Therapy Group can significantly boost a child’s readiness for school. By focusing on fine motor skills such as writing, cutting, and buttoning, children are better prepared to handle classroom tasks. This preparation can lead to improved academic performance and a more positive school experience.

Greater Independence

One of the primary goals of occupational therapy is to foster independence in children. By teaching them how to perform daily activities on their own, such as dressing and feeding therapists help children gain confidence and self-reliance. This independence is not only beneficial for the child but also for parents, as it reduces the level of assistance needed.

Enhanced Social Skills

Our Occupational therapists work on social interaction skills, helping children learn how to collaborate effectively, share with peers, and navigate social situations. These skills are crucial for building friendships and thriving in group environments.

Better Behavioral Outcomes

Early intervention occupational therapy can address sensory processing issues that may lead to behavioral challenges. By helping children manage their sensory experiences, our therapists can reduce instances of meltdowns and improve overall behavior.

Support for Families

Early intervention occupational therapy from Milestone Therapy Group doesn’t just benefit the child; it also provides support and education for families. Our Therapists work closely with parents to equip them with strategies and techniques to continue supporting their child’s development. This collaborative approach ensures that the progress made in therapy extends beyond the sessions.

Take Action Today

If you’ve noticed your child struggling with developmental milestones, don’t wait. Early intervention occupational therapy with Milestone Therapy Group can make a significant difference in your child’s life. By addressing challenges early, you can set your child on a path to success and unlock their full potential.

At Milestone Therapy Group, we specialize in early intervention occupational therapy tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to providing the highest quality care and support for your family. Contact us today at +1 610-753-5695 to schedule a consultation and learn how early intervention occupational therapy can benefit your child. Don’t wait—every moment counts in your child’s development. Take the first step towards a brighter future for your child.

Tags early intervention occupational therapy, occupational therapy services in pa

The Power of Speech: Understanding Speech Therapy for Children with Autism

Post author By Milestone team
Post date June 24, 2024

Guide to Speech Therapy for Children with Autism

Autism speech therapy can play a crucial role in supporting autistic children in developing communication skills and improving their overall quality of life.

How speech therapy can help:

Improving Communication Skills:

Autism speech therapists work on enhancing both verbal and nonverbal communication skills in autistic children. They focus on helping them learn how to express themselves effectively, whether through spoken language, sign language, or alternative communication methods like pictures or communication devices.

Developing Social Skills:

Many autistic children struggle with social interactions. Autism speech therapy can include activities and exercises aimed at improving their ability to engage in conversations, understand social cues, and initiate and maintain relationships with peers.

Enhancing Articulation and Pronunciation:

Some autistic children may have difficulties with articulation and pronunciation, which can affect their ability to be understood by others. Speech therapy helps them work on specific sounds and speech patterns to improve clarity and intelligibility.

Expanding Vocabulary:

Speech therapists help autistic children build their vocabulary by introducing new words and concepts through structured activities, games, and exercises. This helps them express their thoughts and ideas more effectively.

Addressing Sensory Issues:

Many autistic children have sensory sensitivities that can impact their ability to communicate. Speech therapists can help identify and address these sensitivities to create a more conducive environment for communication.

Increasing Independence:

By equipping autistic children with effective communication skills, speech therapy helps them become more independent in their daily lives. This includes tasks like asking for help, expressing needs and preferences, and participating in activities with others.

Supporting Academic Success:

Improved communication skills can have a positive impact on academic performance. Speech therapists work with autistic children to support their language and literacy development, which is essential for success in school.

Providing Support for Families:

Autism speech therapy for kids often involves family members, providing them with strategies and techniques to support their child’s communication development. This collaboration helps create a consistent and supportive environment for the child’s progress.

Guide to Speech Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum

Overall, speech therapy plays a vital role in helping autistic children overcome communication challenges, fostering their social interactions, and empowering them to lead more fulfilling lives. Don’t wait, schedule a consultation today to unlock your child’s full potential!

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today for a free consultation and see how our personalized therapy plans can make a difference in your child’s life. Call us at +1 610-753-5695 or visit Milestone therapy group to learn more and schedule your appointment

Tags autism speech therapy, speech therapist in philadelphia, speech therapy for children, Speech Therapy Services

Speech therapy

Benefits of Speech Therapy Services for Children in Main Line, Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, and Greater Philadelphia Area

Post author By Milestone team
Post date June 21, 2024

Speech Therapy Benefits for Children in Philadelphia

Unlock your child’s full potential with speech therapy services! From clearer communication to improved confidence, speech therapy enhances your child’s language skills for better social interactions and academic success.

Speech therapy can offer numerous benefits for children with speech and language disorders or delays.

Some of the Speech therapy benefits include:

Improved Communication Skills:

Speech therapy helps children develop clearer speech, making it easier for them to express themselves and communicate with others effectively.

Enhanced Language Development:

Speech therapists work on expanding vocabulary, understanding grammar, and improving comprehension skills, which can contribute to overall language development.

Increased Confidence:

As children improve their speech and language skills, they often gain confidence in their ability to communicate, which can positively impact their social interactions and academic performance.

Better Academic Performance:

Improved communication skills can lead to better performance in school, as children can more effectively participate in classroom activities, follow instructions, and engage in learning.

Improved Social Skills:

Speech therapy services can help children develop the communication skills necessary to interact with peers, make friends, and navigate social situations more successfully.

Early Intervention:

Early identification and intervention through speech therapy can prevent potential academic, social, and emotional challenges later in life by addressing speech and language issues before they become more significant barriers.

Support for Specific Disorders:

Pediatric speech therapy can provide tailored support for children with specific speech and language disorders, such as stuttering, apraxia, or dysarthria, helping them overcome challenges associated with these conditions.

Family Education and Support:

Speech therapists often work closely with families, providing education, strategies, and support to help them facilitate their child’s communication development.

Improved Quality of Life:

By addressing speech and language difficulties, speech therapy can significantly improve a child’s quality of life, enabling them to communicate more effectively and participate more fully in daily activities and social interactions.

Milestone Therapy Group Helps Speech Therapy Children in Philadelphia

Overall, speech therapy services play a crucial role in helping children with speech and language disorders reach their full communication potential and thrive in various aspects of their lives.

If you’re seeking exceptional speech therapy services for your child in Main Line, Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, or the greater Philadelphia area, look no further than Milestone Therapy Group. Contact us today at +1 610-753-5695 to embark on a journey towards communication success and lifelong achievement.

Experience the joy of watching your little one thrive!

Tags speech therapist in philadelphia, speech therapy for kids at home, Speech Therapy Services

Speech therapy

Early Intervention in Pediatric Speech Therapy: Supporting Language Development

Post author By Milestone team
Post date June 11, 2024

Unlocking Communication Potential

Calling all parents! Are you looking to empower your child’s speech skills with Early Intervention Pediatric Speech Therapy? Milestone Therapy Group is here to help. Our specialized programs are designed to support children’s language development from an early age, ensuring they have the tools they need for clear and confident expression.

Early Intervention Pediatric Speech Therapy for Kids

Early Intervention Speech Therapy for Kids is a specialized program designed to support children’s language development from an early age. Through targeted activities and expert guidance, Milestone Therapy Group addresses speech and communication challenges proactively, setting the foundation for clear and confident expression.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Early intervention in speech therapy is essential for supporting your child’s language development. By addressing speech and communication challenges early on, we lay the foundation for effective and confident communication. At Milestone Therapy Group, our goal is to proactively identify and address any potential issues, helping your child thrive in all areas of life.

Personalized and Targeted Therapy

Every child is unique, and so are their speech therapy needs. At Milestone Therapy Group, we begin with a comprehensive assessment to identify your child’s specific challenges and strengths. Based on this assessment, we develop a customized therapy plan tailored to your child’s needs. This targeted approach ensures that therapy is both effective and focused, helping your child make the best possible progress.

Fun and Engaging Sessions

We believe that children learn best when they are engaged and having fun. That’s why our therapy sessions are designed to be enjoyable and interactive. Using play-based methods, our therapists incorporate games, activities, and creative exercises that keep children motivated and excited about their therapy. This not only makes the sessions more enjoyable but also enhances learning and retention.

Expertise You Can Trust

Our team of therapists at Milestone Therapy Group consists of highly trained and certified professionals who specialize in pediatric speech therapy. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to each session, ensuring your child receives the highest quality care. Our therapists are dedicated to helping each child reach their full potential and communicate effectively.

Building Confidence and Communication Skills

Our approach to early intervention speech therapy focuses on building your child’s confidence as well as addressing speech challenges. We celebrate every milestone and progress, no matter how small, to reinforce positive development. This boosts your child’s self-esteem and encourages them to communicate more freely and confidently.

Supporting Families Every Step of the Way

At Milestone Therapy Group, we know that supporting a child’s speech development involves the whole family. We provide guidance and resources for parents to help them support their child’s progress outside of our office. Our therapists work closely with families to ensure they are equipped with the tools and strategies needed to reinforce therapy goals outside of sessions.

Success Stories

Milestone Therapy Group has a proven track record of helping children and families overcome speech and communication challenges. Our success stories speak to the effectiveness of our approach and the dedication of our team. We are proud of the positive outcomes our therapy has brought to many young lives, helping them thrive in all aspects of life.

Don’t Wait—Start Today!

Give your child the gift of clear and confident communication with Milestone Therapy Group’s Early Intervention Speech Therapy. Early intervention can make a significant difference in your child’s speech development and overall well-being. Don’t wait—take the first step toward unlocking your child’s full potential today.

Schedule a Consultation

Ready to give your child the best start possible? Schedule a consultation with Milestone Therapy Group today. Our friendly and professional team is here to answer any questions you may have and to help you understand how our early intervention speech therapy can benefit your child. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, more communicative future. Call now at +1 610-753-5695 to get started!

Milestone Therapy Group: Where every child’s voice is nurtured, and every milestone is celebrated!

Tags early invention speech therapy, speech therapist in philadelphia, speech therapy for children, Speech Therapy Services

Speech therapy

Finding the Right Speech Therapist for Your Child

Post author By Milestone team
Post date May 29, 2024
No Comments on Finding the Right Speech Therapist for Your Child

Speech Therapy Options in the Main Line, Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd & Greater Philadelphia Area

Struggling to find the perfect speech therapist for your child in or near Bala Cynwyd, Main Line, or greater Philadelphia? Look no further! Milestone Therapy Group has the right professionals to help your child flourish.

Why Choose Milestone Therapy Group?

At Milestone Therapy Group, we understand that every child is unique and deserves personalized care. Our clinicians are dedicated to providing top-notch speech therapy that is not only effective, but also enjoyable for your child.

Experienced and Trustworthy Therapists

Our team has helped thousands of children and families navigate speech challenges successfully. We pride ourselves on the trust we’ve built within the community. Each pediatric therapist at Milestone Therapy Group is highly trained, ensuring your child receives the best possible care.

Fun and Engaging Therapy Sessions

One of the hallmarks of our approach is the use of play-based therapy. We believe that therapy should never be boring or monotonous. Our sessions are designed to be fun and engaging, making it easier for children to participate actively and enthusiastically. Through games, interactive activities, and creative exercises, we ensure that therapy is something your child looks forward to.

Hand-Picked Specialists

At Milestone Therapy Group, we only involve hand-picked specialists who are certified and exceptionally skilled in pediatric speech therapy. Our rigorous selection process ensures that our team is composed of professionals who are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about helping children.

Customized Therapy Plans

Every child is different, and so are their speech therapy needs. Our process begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand your child’s specific challenges and strengths. Based on this assessment, we develop a customized therapy plan tailored to address their unique needs. This personalized approach ensures that your child receives the most effective treatment possible.

Building Confidence and Progress

Our expert team focuses on nurturing young voices and building confidence every step of the way. We celebrate every small victory and milestone, reinforcing positive progress and motivating your child to continue improving. The goal is not just to overcome speech challenges, but to help your child communicate confidently and effectively.

Accredited and Certified Therapists

Milestone Therapy Group’s therapists are all accredited and certified, adhering to the highest standards of professional practice. Their expertise and dedication are key factors in the success stories of many children who have thrived under their care.

A Brighter Future Awaits

Say goodbye to speech struggles and hello to a brighter future with Milestone Therapy Group. Our commitment to your child’s development and well-being is unwavering. We believe in the potential of every child to improve and excel, and we are here to support them every step of the way.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Don’t wait to unlock your child’s full potential. Scheduling a consultation with Milestone Therapy Group is the first step towards a better future for your child. Our friendly and professional team is ready to assist you and answer any questions you may have. Together, we can help your child achieve significant milestones in their speech and communication skills.

Discover how Milestone Therapy Group can make a difference in your child’s life. With our expert care, engaging therapy sessions, and customized plans, your child is in the best hands. Let us help you pave the way to a brighter, more confident future for your child. Schedule your consultation today at +1 610-753-5695 and take the first step towards transformative speech therapy.

Milestone Therapy Group: Where every child’s voice is nurtured, and every milestone is celebrated!

Tags speech therapist in philadelphia, speech therapy for children, Speech Therapy Services

blog

When Should We Start Speech Therapy for Children?

Post author By Milestone team
Post date February 23, 2023
No Comments on When Should We Start Speech Therapy for Children?

when to start speech therapy for children — Milestone Therapy Group can provide you, as parents, with strategies and techniques that best meet your child’s needs throughout sessions

Communication skills are an important part of our everyday life. When people have a difficult time understanding you it can be frustrating. When children have difficulties communicating their wants and needs and understanding questions that are asked by parents or teachers, this can be a challenging time for both the child, their family, and educators. Questions such as “what should we do?” or “let’s wait and see?” and possible thoughts of “they are choosing when they want to listen” or “they choose when they want to talk” are common questions and concerns that parents bring up. When we notice and begin to see an increase in frustration or minimal attempts by a child to communicate, this is a starting point to seek out strategies and techniques from a speech language pathologist. Pediatric speech therapy at Milestone Therapy Group can provide you, as parents, with strategies and techniques that best meet your child’s needs throughout sessions and help decrease frustration for both your child and the family.

What can Speech Language Pathologists work on?

As speech language pathologists, we can work with the production of sounds, we work with words and how we put them together to communicate with others, and we specialize in the evaluation and treatment of communication & related disorders. So what does this all mean? It means, speech language pathologists can help with:

Fluency: rhythm of our speech, stuttering

Voice: too loud, too soft, too high, too low

Understanding What words mean

Knowing what to say in different social settings

How to put words together to make sentences

Articulation: how we make speech sounds using our mouth, lips, tongue.

Finding alternate ways to communicate through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Swallowing difficulties

At Milestone Therapy Group, we have the best children’s speech therapists who provide individualized speech therapy sessions to meet the child’s current goal through a play-based approach. Pediatric speech and language services can start in infancy and continue on up to 18 years of age. For our younger early intervention children, this can include gross motor activities mixed into the sessions to elicit language opportunities such as using a slide (i.e., “go down” “climb up” “fast” “wee” “ready, set, go”) or trampoline (i.e., ‘jump”, “jump high”, “let’s jump”, “jump fast”) or other activities of special interests to engage in during the speech therapy session. Games, interactive activities, and conversations are how we target language and articulation goals for our older children to increase their level of engagement, cooperation, and most importantly to encourage them to continue to work towards their goals.

An important piece of the therapy puzzle, so to speak, is carryover to home. Consistency is important regardless of the goal we have set, which means we want to create a partnership between families and our speech language pathologists to help provide gains in communication skills at home, school, and all environments outside the clinic treatment room. Providing strategies, recommendations and ideas for activities at home and during routine daily activities are an important part to speech therapy. This can include how to continue working on language skills such as “wh” questions, prepositions, listening comprehension, executive functioning; working on requesting and commenting; following directions; communicative intent, and target words such as core language and speech sound productions during daily activities for carryover. The more we can practice the better!

Milestone Therapy Group is committed to providing a supportive and friendly environment for families and children, and we believe in working closely with families to help them understand their child’s needs and support their child’s progress. A multi-disciplinary approach is used between our speech language pathologists and children’s occupational therapists as these therapies are related to help provide support for the child to their strengths and needs. Our team-based approach provides constant communication with one another and assists each other when parents have questions or concerns. Our team of speech language pathologists are dedicated to helping children achieve and reach their speech and language goals.

For more information about our speech therapy services and to schedule an appointment for your child, please contact us. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Tags children’s speech therapist in Philadelphia, language therapy for kids, speech therapist in philadelphia, speech therapy for children, Speech Therapy Services

blog

Learn how Teletherapy can benefit your child

Post author By Milestone team
Post date February 16, 2023
No Comments on Learn how Teletherapy can benefit your child

Teletherapy for children — At Milestone Therapy Group, we understand the importance of consistent therapy and are proud to offer teletherapy services to support children in the Greater Philadelphia area.

As a parent, ensuring your child receives the best care and support for their developmental needs is a top priority. At Milestone Therapy Group, we understand the importance of consistent therapy and are proud to offer teletherapy services to support children in the Greater Philadelphia area.

What is Teletherapy?

Teletherapy is a form of therapy delivered via video conferencing. This type of therapy provides families with an alternative to traditional in-person therapy sessions and allows children to receive the support they need from the comfort of their own home. Teletherapy allows our speech therapists and occupational therapists share activities via the teletherapy platform being used to provide engaging activities for the child.

Why choose Teletherapy?

Teletherapy provides numerous benefits for families, including:

Increased accessibility:

With teletherapy, children can receive therapy services from anywhere, at any time. This is especially beneficial for families who may have trouble traveling to appointments or have scheduling conflicts.

Convenient and flexible scheduling:

Teletherapy allows families to schedule therapy sessions that fit their schedules, without the need for travel time or missed school or work. Many families have busy schedules and sometimes unexpected events pop up that may prevent families making their appointments.

Personalized support:

Our experienced therapists use teletherapy to provide personalized support to each child, based on their unique needs. Our therapists have multiple resources and interactive activities that will be individualized to meet the child’s needs. Our therapists are able to share the activities via the teletherapy platforms and for older children, they are able to activate the activities through remote control through the teletherapy platform.

What types of therapy are offered via teletherapy?

At Milestone Therapy Group, we offer a variety of therapy services via teletherapy, including:

Speech therapy and occupational therapy. Our speech language pathologists and occupational therapists will use individual activities to meet the child’s goals. Areas that are addressed via teletherapy include communication needs such as expressive language expansion, receptive language activities, increasing speech sound productions, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, gross motor activities and sensory processing.

How does teletherapy work for speech therapy and occupational therapy?

Teletherapy is delivered via video conferencing, using secure and HIPAA-compliant platforms. During a teletherapy session, your child will interact with their therapist in real-time, just as they would in an in-person session. Our speech therapists and occupational therapists discuss with our families about materials that are helpful to provide the best therapy session. Materials could be scissors, messy play items (i.e. pudding, yogurt, playdoh, cool whip, shaving cream, etc.), crayons, paper, a quiet area to conduct the session and ideas for upcoming sessions. Teletherapy provides our speech therapists and occupational therapists the ability to help with in the moment suggestions and recommendations for extra support at home to provide ideas for how to utilize toys at home, ideas for meal times and daily routines.

At Milestone Therapy Group, we understand the importance of providing families with access to the best possible care for their children. That’s why we’re proud to offer teletherapy for early intervention therapy, allowing children to receive the support they need from the comfort of their own homes.

To learn more about our teletherapy services or to book an appointment contact us today.

Tags occupational therapy services in pa, speech therapist in philadelphia

blog

Child Speech and Occupational Therapy FAQ by Milestone Therapy Group

Post author By Milestone team
Post date February 9, 2023
No Comments on Child Speech and Occupational Therapy FAQ by Milestone Therapy Group

At Milestone Therapy Group, we understand that seeking help for your child can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to speech and occupational therapy. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you better understand our approach to pediatric speech therapy and child therapy services we provide in the Main Line and Philadelphia area.

Q: What does child speech therapy and occupational therapy look like?

A: At Milestone Therapy Group our speech therapy sessions and occupational therapy session for children consist of meeting the child where they are currently and building upon their strengths. Our experienced therapists will find engaging activities that are of interest to your child and plan the strategies and goals into the activity. Communication needs, feeding needs, sensory processing needs, fine motor needs, and play skills are just some of the areas targeted that are conducted through a child led approach to engage and encourage children to build upon their skills. Pediatric therapy services can help children reach their full potential and improve their quality of life while providing strategies and recommendations for home practice for carryover.

Q: Who can benefit from child therapy services?

A: Children of all ages and abilities can benefit from speech therapy and occupational therapy services. Whether your child is struggling with language delays, speech sound difficulties, other communication difficulties, fine motor difficulties, gross motor difficulties, sensory processing difficulties, our experienced therapists can provide the support your child needs to help build upon their skills and increase their quality of life.

Q: What can I expect from child therapy services at Milestone Therapy Group?

A: At Milestone Therapy Group, our approach is a child led approach and strengths-based approach to speech therapy and occupational therapy services. Treatment sessions are designed to be interactive and engaging. Our experienced therapists work with children and their families to provide personalized support based on each child’s unique needs. Our goal is to help support children with varying needs and developmental difficulties reach their full potential in a supportive and nurturing environment with therapists that care.

Q: How long will speech therapy and occupational therapy last?

A: Each child is different in acquiring skills, so this is child dependent on an individual basis. With repetition, consistency and carryover of strategies at home, you will be creating an environment to best support progress for your child. Using strategies and recommendations paired with consistent therapy sessions, will provide the best support for your child to thrive and reach their goals.

Q: How do I know if my child needs child therapy services?

A: If you’re concerned about your child’s development, it’s always best to seek the advice of a speech language pathologist or occupational therapist. If you have concerns about communication, play skills, sensory processing or feeding, our experienced therapists can assess your child’s needs and provide recommendations for future treatment sessions and suggestions for parents to begin implementing at home after your evaluation and answer questions you might have.

Q: What are the benefits of child led therapy services for my child?

A: Child led therapy services can provide numerous benefits for your child, including increasing communication skills, increasing play skills, increased confidence and independence, and enhanced quality of life. Our experienced therapists work with children and their families to provide the support they need to reach their full potential in the clinic and carryover to home. At Milestone Therapy Group, our whole team is committed to providing the best child led therapy services in the Greater Philadelphia area. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping children achieve goals and skills to increase their quality of life and reach their full potential. Whether you are looking for pediatric speech therapy or occupational therapy services for your child, feel free to contact us for therapy services that will change your child’s life!

Tags best speech therapy for toddlers in Philadelphia, children’s speech therapist in Philadelphia, speech therapy for kids at home, Speech Therapy Services

blog

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Early Intervention Therapy

Post author By Milestone team
Post date January 13, 2023
No Comments on Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone with Early Intervention Therapy

Early intervention speech therapy — Early Intervention Speech Therapy

As a parent, you might have heard the phrase “just give your child time” and “just wait and see” whenever you express your concerns about a possible delay in your child’s development. While children exhibit different developmental milestones and are often able to catch up with their peers, some may need medical interventions to help provide strategies to achieve their milestones.

Most children with speech sound errors including articulatory difficulties (sound errors) need specialized intervention to achieve certain speech milestones and to increase how well others understand them. Seeking early intervention speech therapy is a great move towards improving the quality of your child’s life.

What is Early Intervention Speech Therapy?

Early intervention speech therapy focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders and delays in children aged between infancy and typically 5 years. These delays and disorders can include motor speech disorders such as apraxia, speech sound errors that impact their overall production of words, a lisp, voice disorders, receptive language delays and disorders such as following directions, pointing to items when named, and expressive language delays and disorders such as meeting vocabulary milestones and effectively communicating their wants and needs with minimal frustration.

Even though early speech intervention procedures often target infants and toddlers, they can be carried out until your child is able to communicate effectively. However, the earlier you begin early intervention speech therapy, the better off your child will be as you are providing them different strategies that work best for them to achieve communication milestones while teaching you as a parent how to carryover the strategies at home during everyday activities and daily routines to assist in increasing the exposure to the strategies that best work for them.

How to Get Started With Early Intervention Therapy

Once you have noticed your child has a speech difficulty including being hard to understand them or others not understanding your child, its best to seek out strategies and help from a speech therapist to begin assessing what sounds to work on, and how best to increase their clarity of words so everyone can understand them including peers. Many parents often don’t know how to get started. So we are going to detail it for you:

Contact Milestone Therapy Group or your pediatrician. If contacting your pediatrician, explain to the pediatrician the nature of your concern regarding your child’s speech and the need to obtain a speech and language evaluation from a professional Speech Language Pathologist. Your pediatrician can refer your child to Milestone Therapy Group for speech therapy.

Next, book an appointment with our speech therapist. They will examine your child and ask you important questions about his or her speech history, before providing a diagnosis that reflects the difficulty and any therapy recommendation.

The Importance of Early Intervention Therapy

Early intervention speech therapy can have a significant impact on your child’s social and emotional wellness. Children who are good communicators and understand their communication partners are more confident and can interact with friends in daycares, preschools and during community outings such as playgrounds. However, those with speech difficulties and language difficulties can be timid and move away from peers not attempting to express themselves or their needs. Early intervention speech therapy can help your child achieve strategies to assist them in interacting with peers, friends, teachers, and family impacting their overall quality of life.

In addition, early intervention speech therapy can also increase a child’s comfortability and success at school. Children who can correctly differentiate and understand sounds are able to develop phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness contributes to improved reading and spelling skills. Building language skills early on will assist in answering questions and participating in classroom activities.

Early intervention also helps to resolve developing speech and language difficulties in children. Some speech sound errors and difficulties, if left untreated, are harder to correct as the longer the child practices the incorrect speech sound, the longer and harder it will be to change that speech pattern.

Don’t Wait!

Whenever you feel uneasy or worried about your child’s speech development milestones, don’t sit back and wait for fate to take its course. Step out of that comfort zone and book an appointment with the best speech therapy for toddlers and early preschoolers near you, such as the tried and tested Milestone Therapy Group. If you are in the Philadelphia or Main Line area, don’t hesitate to do a quick Google search of child therapy services in Philadelphia and/or Main Line and choose a suitable speech therapist for your child.

When it comes to speech challenges with children, taking chances isn’t an option.

Tags early invention speech therapy, language therapy for kids, speech therapy for children, speech therapy for kids at home

Speech therapy

5 Speech Therapy Tips for Parents to Use at Home

Post author By Milestone team
Post date December 6, 2022
No Comments on 5 Speech Therapy Tips for Parents to Use at Home

A speech therapist’s job doesn’t end after a speech therapy session. In reality, one of the most important aspects of speech therapy is educating parents and caregivers on strategies they can use to improve their child’s speech and language skills at home, which is why we always provide additional tips to work outside of our clinic.

Below are some effective speech therapy strategies that you can incorporate into your child’s daily routine.

1. Offer choices

Providing choices for your child to model what the child could say. For instance, you can ask your child, “Do you want to wear the red dress or the blue dress?” Giving your child options will encourage them to make requests using language. Offering choices for what the child might want provides a model of the words, but also makes the child feel included in decision making. Children can be more likely to answer these questions when they feel as if they have some control in the decision making.

2. Keep Play Interesting and Fun

Child’s language development needs can be a sure way of increasing language. You can be animated, use silly voices and facial expressions to keep your child engaged. Being silly during play will not only increase your child’s engagement but it can increase social communication by encouraging eye contact, initiation and imitation.

3. Eliminate Distractions

Children learn through play. It is important to limit distractions during focused play with your child, especially when you are trying to model language and encourage speech. Studies have shown that background distractions can limit your child’s speech development because they lower the quality of your interactions. Parents can reduce distractions and increase the quality of interactions with their children by turning off devices, getting on the child’s level and letting them lead in a play scheme.

4. Follow Their Lead

While playing with your child, try letting them lead. Allow them to choose the toy/activity and follow with the play scheme that they introduce. You can imitate their play while providing language. Model sound effects and narrate what your child is doing. This allows the child to hear what they could say, without providing any demands or restrictions.

5. Functional Words First

Focus on modeling and emphasizing functional words first. Functional words include words we use in our daily life or “core” words (i.e., eat, drink, more, likes/dislikes, names of people and favorite toys). Oftentimes, parents focus on “academic” words (i.e., shapes, letters, numbers, labels) before they begin to focus on core words. These “academics” are not helpful in having your child’s needs and wants met. Focusing on simple action words and making requests can allow your child to acquire functional language.

As you play with your child and go about daily routines, be sure to remember these strategies. Most strategies can be incorporated into play, chores and daily routines. It is important to note that your child will benefit from short, regular opportunities to practice language skills. Sometimes 15 minutes everyday can be much more impactful than a longer duration all at once sporadically, especially for young children. If you believe your child may have a language delay or is not meeting typical milestones, you can seek out support from specialists offering speech therapy near you, like Milestone Therapy Group. Our therapists work first-hand with parents and caregivers to provide education and resources to promote your child’s language development.

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Get Peace of Mind in 1 Hour