Phone 907-978-5430
Fax 725-220-6404
Step 1: Consultation
Contact Wildflower Therapy Services for a free 15 minute consultation to determine if our services can meet your needs.
Step 2: Evaluation
Set up an initial evaluation. The initial evaluation will depend on what concerns are expressed during the consultation. The evaluation may be made up of formal and informal assessments, parent and family report, and observation of the client in their natural environment.
Step 3: Therapy
The therapy plan and goals are individualized utilizing the results of the evaluation and collaboration with the client, parents, and family. Therapy intensity and duration are determined based on evaluation results.
What can a speech pathologist help with?
Speech
Disorders
Children can have trouble saying sounds clearly and it may be hard for you to understand them. Most children can say almost all speech sounds by age 4. Speech sound disorders are often categorized as phonological or articulation delays. Some people may get stuck on a word or sound, repeat part of words or whole words, or stretch out a sound for a long time. These can be signs of stuttering. Other speech disorders include apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and voice disorders.
Language disorders are described as being expressive or receptive. We use expressive language to express our thoughts and ideas and we use receptive language to understand what others are saying. Difficulty with using and understanding language can indicate a language disorder. Children learn skills at different rates but most children learn skills within an age range. Language disorders can lead to difficulty with reading and writing.
Language Disorders
Reading Disorders
Reading disorders can occur when there is a breakdown between the processing of semantics (meaning), orthography (the written letter), and phonology (the sound structure). These disorders can result from differences in which the brain processes language. People with a reading disorder may have difficulty recognizing words they already know, spelling accurately, they may mispronounce familiar words, and have difficulty recognizing rhyming patterns (cat, bat, hat). They may also actively try to avoid reading.
Autism Spectrum
Disorders
Autism is a spectrum disorder that causes difficulties with communication and social skills. Every person with Autism is different. Early signs of Autism include; avoidance of eye-contact, lack of joint attention (focusing with someone on the same object), is non-verbal or has delayed speech, echolalia (repeating words or phrases), obsessive/limited interests, difficulty changing activities, behaviors (flapping hands, rocking, tantrums), and sensitivity to texture and sound.
Aphasia is most often caused by a stroke but can be caused by other types of brain damage as well. Aphasia is a language disorder that makes it difficult to understand, speak, read, or write. People with aphasia have difficulty thinking of words they want to say, say the wrong word, have difficulty forming sentences, difficulty with understanding what others say, and have trouble reading and writing.
Aphasia
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder, which may result from a variety of medical conditions. In conjunction with results from an instrumental evaluation, therapy can help maximize swallowing safety.