Speech Therapy

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1. Speech & Sound Development

• Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.

• Speech that is difficult for others to understand.

• Substituting, omitting, or distorting sounds.

• Difficulty producing age-appropriate speech sounds.

• Challenges with sequencing sounds in words.

• Persistent articulation or phonological difficulties.

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2. Expressive Language Development

• Delayed first words or phrase development.

• Limited vocabulary compared to same-age peers.

• Difficulty putting words together into sentences.

• Difficulty expressing wants, needs, and ideas.

• Challenges answering questions.

• Difficulty retelling stories or sharing experiences.

• Difficulty using age-appropriate grammar.

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3. Receptive Language & Understanding

• Difficulty following directions.

• Challenges understanding questions.

• Difficulty processing verbal information.

• Trouble understanding concepts such as location, size, quantity, or time.

• Difficulty understanding age-appropriate vocabulary.

• Challenges following multi-step instructions.

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4. Social Communication & Pragmatic Language

• Difficulty initiating or maintaining conversations.

• Challenges taking turns during conversations.

• Difficulty understanding social cues.

• Trouble interpreting facial expressions or body language.

• Difficulty maintaining topic during conversations.

• Challenges with peer interactions.

• Difficulty understanding humor, sarcasm, or figurative language.

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5. Fluency & Stuttering

• Repeating sounds, syllables, or words.

• Prolonging sounds when speaking.

• Getting stuck or experiencing blocks during speech.

• Visible tension or frustration when speaking.

• Avoiding certain words or speaking situations.

• Difficulty maintaining smooth, comfortable speech.

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6. Oral Motor & Myofunctional Skills

• Difficulty coordinating tongue, lips, and jaw movements.

• Open-mouth resting posture.

• Tongue thrust patterns.

• Difficulty with lip closure.

• Challenges with tongue mobility.

• Drooling beyond what is developmentally expected.

• Oral habits that may affect oral function.

• Concerns related to tongue-tie function.

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7. Early Communication & Developmental Milestones

• Limited babbling or sound imitation.

• Not using gestures such as pointing or waving.

• Limited use of words to communicate.

• Difficulty imitating sounds, words, or actions.

• Limited joint attention or shared interaction.

• Difficulty engaging in back-and-forth communication.

• Delayed development of early communication skills.

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8. Cognitive & Language Processing Skills

• Difficulty remembering verbal information.

• Challenges with auditory comprehension.

• Difficulty organizing thoughts into words.

• Challenges with sequencing information.

• Difficulty understanding abstract concepts.

• Challenges with storytelling and narrative development.

• Difficulty understanding and responding to verbal information in the classroom.

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9. Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC)

• Difficulty communicating verbally.

• Limited functional communication.

• Need for picture communication systems.

• Benefit from speech-generating devices.

• Difficulty expressing wants, needs, and choices.

• Need for additional communication methods to support independence.