When most people think about speech therapy, they picture children practicing sounds, repeating words, and working to improve their speech production. While these activities are certainly important, an often-overlooked part of speech sound intervention involves something much simpler: listening. 

Children learn speech sounds by hearing them. Long before they can accurately produce a sound, they must first develop an understanding of what that sound is supposed to sound like. For many children with speech sound disorders, this process requires more exposure and more focused listening opportunities than it does for their peers. One evidence-based technique that supports this learning process is auditory bombardment. 

If your child has difficulty navigating community environments, such as their school, playground, the grocery store, or any other, first things first, you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide use assistive technologies to help participate in day-to-day activities and approximately 240 million are children. As Physical Therapists, our goal is to help make mobility as independent as possible with the right tools for that specific child. This may include the addition of an item that is commonly referred to as adaptive equipment. Adaptive equipment help assist with independent mobility. The adaptive equipment that Physical Therapists see the most are with standers, gait trainers, posterior walkers, wheelchairs, and adaptive bikes. Listed below are more details about these specific devices and whether your child will benefit from them.

Sensory bins are one of the most effective—and fun—tools you can use at home to support your child’s development. As an occupational therapist, I often recommend sensory bins because they provide meaningful opportunities for children to explore, learn, and regulate their bodies through play. Whether your child is a toddler or early elementary age, sensory bins can be easily adapted to meet their individual needs while supporting skills that carry over into everyday routines. 

Sippy cups are often marketed as the norm to transition from bottle drinking. They can be convenient and offer a quick transition; however, they are not beneficial for overall development and maturation of oral motor skills. Although sippy cup use is not going to be detrimental to a child’s development, feeding therapists and oral motor specialists recommend straw or open cups as the most beneficial options to support a child’s long-term growth.