speaking of speech

If your child is a late-talker, makes speech errors profoundly impacting your understanding of his or her needs, or lacks verbal speech altogether, start your referral today.

Speak Out Services specializes in evidence-based strategies to promote functional communication. We facilitate treatment designed to:

  • Enhance coordination of the oral-motor mechanism in planning and organizing sounds in order to produce words.

  • Support the development of your child’s “sound system,” the foundation to accessing speech, reading, and writing.

  • Develop a child’s self-monitoring, problem-solving, while gaining control and independence at every stage of their development, at every age.

We focus on total communication, experiencing the world through play, layering it with rich vocabulary, and sensory integration.

 

We facilitate the child’s understanding of how and when AAC is used.

When mobility is impacted, we creatively approach access to language.

Augmentative & alternative Communication (AAC)

One of our niche areas includes use of personalized AAC, often providing immediate relief when speech is just too frustrating.

 
 
 
 

We frequently explore use of several linguistic systems, each having their own pros and cons. Determining which system is “best” is highly dependent on the individual’s needs.

To name a few commonly used communication apps:

Control Bionics- Neuronode Technology

  • Grid 3

  • TD Snap

  • LAMP

  • Proloquo2Go

  • CoughDrop

  • Avaz

  • TouchChat

We find that personalization at various key points of trialing is essential, and we put time and effort into ensuring a motivational learning experience for both the child and the communication partner, you!

Speech Generating Device (SGD) Evaluations

When a child’s mobility further impacts speech acquisition, we coordinate home trials for AAC exploration using more advanced technologies.

We help establish which device will best promote access to robust language options, as part of an in-depth SGD evaluation process.

 
 

Custom “Feelings” page- TD Snap

 

Custom page- Grid3

We regularly collaborate with companies to establish systems that will meet your child’s needs, including exploration for potential use of eye gaze, switch-scanning, head tracking, and neuronode technologies. We ensure the intimidation factor is reduced by supporting your family directly in understanding foundational aspects of AAC programing.

We’ve regularly established trials with the following companies:

  • SmartBox*

  • Talk To Me Technologies* (soon to merge)

  • Control Bionics

  • PRC-Saltillo

  • Tobii Dynavox

  • LoganTech

 

FEEDING & SWALLOWING THERAPY

“Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are the preferred providers of dysphagia services and are integral members of an interprofessional team to diagnose and manage feeding and swallowing disorders.”
— American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Feeding & Swallowing Disorders

Signs your child may benefit from an evaluation and/or treatment:

  • difficulty latching during breast or bottle feedings

  • back arching, turning away or grimacing

  • crying during mealtimes

  • runny nose during or after meals

  • frequent respiratory illnesses

  • persistent gagging or retching

  • refusing foods of certain textures, brands, colors, or other distinguishing characteristics

Feeding is any activity that includes eating and drinking, including gathering of food and liquids in preparation for swallowing.

Swallowing is a complex process in which saliva, liquids, and foods are cohesively transported from the mouth to the stomach.

 

Caregivers and children have the opportunity to socially engage during the feeding experiences, nurturing both the body and the brain.

 
 

tUBE fED & NPO

Some children who are too at risk or unable to maintain growth and nutrition orally may be considered “NPO” (“nil per os,” or “nothing by mouth”) and rely on external systems.

Those NPO should continue treatment to maintain use of their oral-motor mechanism to prevent loss of strength and function.

Speak Out Services specializes in treating medically complex children who are not currently oral feeders.

  • loss of food/liquid from the mouth when eating

  • noisy or “wet” voice during and after eating

  • taking longer to finish meals or snacks (longer than 30 min per meal and less for small snacks)

  • taking only small amounts of food, overpacking the mouth, or pocketing foods

  • tongue, lip, or cheek-tie (with or without repair)

  • torticollis (abnormal neck muscle symmetry)

  • stridor (noisy breathing, high-pitched sound)

  • stertor (noisy breathing, low-pitched sound, like snoring)

 

Is your child tube fed?

Treatment can improve long-term outcomes.

 

We work to continue supporting oral stimulation and input, improving awareness of how to use the structures of the mouth.

We target strengthening, improved range of motion, and increased coordination of the oral-motor system.

We promote oral hygiene and aspiration prevention, while facilitating improved respiratory power, stamina, and overall core stability.

How does Therapy work?

 

Sessions & Cycles

  1. Intake & Benefits Verification

  2. Evaluation

  3. Establish Plan of Care: Goals, session length, frequency, duration, and follow up (end of a “cycle”).

  4. Schedule out Cycle (e.g. 2-6 months of treatment)

 

“Guide by the Side”

You are the most important person in your child’s life. The need for therapy is an additional stressor in the already complicated role of parenting. Therefore, Speak Out Services believes that any successful strategies and support that work for your child should be passed on to you to alleviate some of the uncertainty that comes when raising a child with unique needs.

Chances are, you have already found ways that work, or you naturally implement language-rich strategies without even realizing how effective you are! The “Guide by the Side” model allows us to highlight all the wonderful things you already are doing and to increase them, find a time within your natural routine to practice them, or develop easy, new ways for you to feel good about embedding communication supports into your family’s structure.

You can expect to be the source of joy for you child as he or she begins to make gains with you as their communication partner. In order for this to happen, we encourage and support your active engagement each session. We may model, wanting you to solely observe and learn, or we may explain exactly what we are doing and why it works or doesn’t! We may have you try it out or support you in developing your own “style” of facilitating communication.

Collaboration and effective teamwork allow for everyone to gain confidence and competence in a safe, trusting environment. We ask lots of questions and that is solely for us to gain understanding to shape our approach. Asking questions does not mean you are doing anything wrong; we simply need more information to help us improve our therapy.

Lastly, if you would like additional support and/or advocacy at your child’s annual educational plan, Speak Out Services will gladly attend those meetings and is open to ongoing communication with your school team. We bring a unique set of expertise and background that can support authentic IEP implementation to ensure your child receives Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) while needs are met in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).