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Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy has life changing benefits in cases where communication, using the organs of speech do not function effectively or efficiently. It is also used to support difficulties in eating, drinking and swallowing. Under the KIDS Program©, SLT is taken to a new level by combining it with holistic treatments and addressing the root cause of these disorders.
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Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Speech and language disorders affect about 8% of children between the ages of 3 to 17. These conditions are more commonly found in children born prematurely, or have been diagnosed with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder, or have a family history of speech and language issues. The five most commonly diagnosed language and speech problems in children are:

It is characterized by difficulty pronouncing certain sounds correctly, most commonly the ‘Rr’ sound and the ‘Ss’ sound. These issues are common and even expected when children learn to speak, speech therapy may be helpful if they persist beyond the age of 3. These disorders often don’t seem to have an obvious cause, but can be associated with hearing loss, structural abnormalities in the mouth such as a cleft palate, or nervous system conditions such as cerebral palsy.

Apraxia of speech occurs when the signals sent by the brain to form words don’t always reach the muscles that are used to produce sounds. This often results in errors with the rhythm, stress, and/or intonation of speech.

Children may have issues with either receptive or expressive language. Children who struggle with receptive language may experience difficulty answering questions or follow directions. With expressive language disorders, there is trouble forming sentences, asking questions, and starting a conversation.

A stutter or a stammer is a type of speech fluency problem in which a person tends to repeat words, phrases, or parts of a word. They may also have a difficulty getting a word out or may stretch out a certain sound for longer than normal. Children affected by stuttering often feel uncomfortable in public settings. In most cases the problem is linked to anxiety and/or fear and is treated as such under the KIDS Program© using not only speech therapy but also other holistic measures to treat the underlying condition.

Children who speak too loudly, too softly or frequently have a hoarse voice may have a voice disorder. Voice disorders are common in children who scream a lot, sometimes leading to formation of polyps or nodules in the throat or vocal cords. This causes stress leading to speaking with unnecessary force.

Under the KIDS Program©, SLT is employed for the following conditions along with other natural healing therapies:

  • Cleft lip and palate
  • Developmental language disorder
  • Hearing impairment
  • Mild, moderate or severe learning difficulties
  • Selective mutism
  • Specific difficulties in producing sounds
  • Speech or language delay
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How is SLT different under the KIDS Program©?

Like everything else under the KIDS Program©, SLT too is holistic in its approach. Unlike in most therapy centers where numerous underlying causes behind speech or language difficulties remain unaddressed, the KIDS Program© lays special emphasis on looking at all aspects of a child’s development.

Some of these often ignored factors are:

Emotional, Behavioral and Feeling Disorders: Most speech and language disorders often arise or are made worse by emotional disturbances. Unless these are treated, progress is either slow or does not take place. Developmental Disorders: There are often developmental processes that lag in children with speech or language delay. A thorough analysis reveals the underlying causes behind developmental delay. Parental education: In some cases parents need help with how they can contribute to the optimal development of their child. (For example not talking with the child in a childish babble, not punishing the child when it is not their fault etc.) For more information on the holistic Speech and Language Therapy or to enroll your child on to the KIDS Program©, click here.
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