SPEECH THERAPY PICKERING

Why Speech Therapy?

For many of us, the ability to communicate with others is something we take for granted. For some children however, speech and language disorders make it difficult to communicate effectively with family, friends and teachers. Speech and language disorders encompass a wide range of issues including articulation difficulties, stuttering, language delay, and trouble reading and writing. They can also result from disorders such as Down Syndrome, ADHD, Autism, TBI and Cerebral Palsy. Speech therapy is an effective way to improve a child’s ability to communicate by improving articulation, expressive and receptive language, literacy, and confidence when speaking. At Speech Therapy Works Pickering, we believe in early intervention and begin speech therapy with children as young as 16 months of age.

Assessment

Clinicians at Speech Therapy Works Pickering tailor speech therapy to fit each individual child’s needs. Goals for each child are determined in the initial assessment. During the assessment, a speech-language pathologist will use formal testing such as Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF), Grey Oral Reading Test (GORT) and Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation (GFTA) to test the child’s articulation, reading, and/or language ability. Along with these formal tests, informal testing is done using games and activities. This creates a fun, playful atmosphere which will carry through into the ensuing speech therapy sessions.

Speech Therapy Sessions

Weekly speech therapy sessions can be held at a child’s home. At Speech Therapy Works Pickering, we believe that the more engaged the child is, the more effective the therapy will be. Because of this, play-based strategies play a large role in each session. Depending on your child’s needs, our clinicians may also make use of a variety of programs including PROMPT, Lidcombe, and Kaufman Therapy. For children with autism, Speech Therapy Works is affiliated with ABA Therapy Works, a program that helps to develop basic skills in self-care, sociability, and communication for children with autism. We also offer Hanen, a parent training program for parents of children with autism to help them continue to work on speech and language development with their child at home.

Funding

Speech therapy is covered through most extended insurance plans. Please click on the ‘Resources’ section of our website to find out about additional funding options available for ABA therapy and speech therapy. Contact (416) 553-0729 or info@speechtherapyworks.ca to request an appointment.