Is Your Child Struggling? Here’s What to Know About Pediatric Speech Therapy
Ability Innovations
As a parent, you have a special intuition about your child. You know when something feels a little off, and you're the first to notice if they're not meeting a developmental milestone at the same pace as their peers. When it comes to communication, it's natural to have questions and even some worries. Is their vocabulary developing normally? Why do they have trouble pronouncing certain sounds?
At Ability Innovations, we've had countless conversations with parents just like you. To help answer some of the most common questions we hear, we’ve created a video explaining exactly what pediatric speech therapy is and how it can help your child.
What is Pediatric Speech Therapy? It's More Than Just "Talking"
While many people think of speech therapy as only for children who can't speak, it's so much more. In our practice, we work with children from birth up to 21 years old to address a wide range of challenges, including:
Speech and language delays: When a child's communication skills are not developing at the expected rate.
Speech sound disorders: Difficulty with correctly pronouncing words.
Stuttering: Interruptions in the flow of speech.
Social language delays: Trouble with the "rules" of social communication, like taking turns in a conversation or understanding nonverbal cues.
Feeding and swallowing difficulties: Issues that can impact a child’s nutrition and mealtimes.
A Simple Checklist to Guide You
If you're unsure whether your child could benefit from a speech therapy evaluation, we invite you to think about some of the questions we discuss in our video. As parents, your insights are the most valuable tools we have.
What is your child’s vocabulary size?
Do they have trouble understanding and following simple directions?
Do they rely on gestures to communicate instead of words?
Does your child struggle with social interactions or playing with others?
Do you notice your child having difficulty with specific sounds or pronunciations?
Are mealtimes a struggle due to a child's trouble with chewing or swallowing?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please know that you are not alone. And more importantly, you have options.
Our Secret? The Power of Play
One of the cornerstones of our approach at Ability Innovations is "play-based therapy." We believe that for kids, play is the most natural way to learn. Instead of formal, rigid sessions, we use toys, games, and fun activities to teach new skills. This approach not only makes therapy enjoyable for your child but also helps them make progress faster and more naturally. They don't feel like they're in a "session"—they're just having fun while building skills that will last a lifetime.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
At Ability Innovations, our goal is to empower children to communicate and thrive. We are here to answer your questions and provide a supportive, fun, and effective environment for your child to grow.
If you’re ready to learn more or would like to schedule an evaluation, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to helping your family on this journey!