[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/speech-therapy-visit\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/speech-therapy-visit\/","headline":"What to Expect at a Speech Therapy Visit","name":"What to Expect at a Speech Therapy Visit","description":"If your child has a speech or language disorder diagnosis, the next step is therapy with a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Speech-language pathologists are experts in treating children with communication disorders. They help families reinforce what they’ve learned outside of these scheduled visits. Speech-language pathologists work with other pediatric experts to address a child’s unique needs.\u00a0They […]","datePublished":"2024-06-06","dateModified":"2024-06-06","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-1468056355.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-1468056355.jpg","height":867,"width":1999},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/speech-therapy-visit\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":696,"articleBody":"If your child has a speech or language disorder diagnosis, the next step is therapy with a speech-language pathologist (SLP).Speech-language pathologists are experts in treating children with communication disorders. They help families reinforce what they’ve learned outside of these scheduled visits.Speech-language pathologists work with other pediatric experts to address a child’s unique needs.\u00a0They treat general speech, language, and swallowing disorders.They also have advanced skills in\u00a0many specific areas. These include stuttering, apraxia, autism, social skills, hearing impairment, voice, and more.Remember: Early intervention and therapeutic intervention are\u00a0key\u00a0for children with communication disorders.Meeting with a Speech-Language PathologistAfter you learn your child has a communication disorder diagnosis, you may want to start speech-language therapy. Speech-language pathologists create treatment programs. They do this based on your child’s age, diagnosis, and goals.The SLP will work with you and your child to improve your child’s communication skills.“At that first visit, we emphasize the importance of consistent weekly attendance to scheduled sessions,” says Tonia Vagni, a speech-language pathologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “Children who regularly attend make progress faster than those whose attendance is inconsistent. The longer we wait, the harder it is to break certain habits.”Children typically meet with their SLP\u00a0once or twice a week for 30-minute sessions.Play-based therapySpeech-language pathologists use play-based therapy to help children, Tonia says.“Kids think they’re playing because we put\u00a0a\u00a0very\u00a0fun\u00a0spin on it,” she says. “But I’m very structured with my expectations.\u00a0I always start with some\u00a0type of\u00a0storybook, and I use a technique called dialogic reading.“It’s a proven approach to increasing a child’s vocabulary inventory. So, right off the bat, we’re working on a child’s vocabulary, which also holds a child’s attention.”Other tools that build a child’s communication skills include puzzles and one-on-one play with farm sets, dollhouses, and toys.“It depends on a child’s age and the level at which we\u00a0are meeting\u00a0them,” says Nicole Heiman, a speech-language pathologist at UPMC Children’s.How long will my child need speech therapy?It’s hard to judge how long a child will need consistent speech therapy, says Tonia. It depends on the child’s speech issues, possible attendance issues, and other factors.“We like to start everyone off with a block of intervention of three months, adjust goals as needed, and assess progress,” she says. “At the end of the three months, we determine if a child will benefit from an additional three months of therapy or if they are ready to see how well the new skills they learned generalize to their daily life.”At-Home Reinforcement for Speech IssuesFamily participation is critical to addressing speech-language issues in children.Parents and guardians should observe and participate in the treatment process. This is true for both\u00a0sessions and home-based practice.“We always encourage families to observe our sessions so that parents can learn some tips and strategies for modeling these techniques in the home,” says Tonia.Sometimes, the SLP may send families home with worksheets or practice ideas for children to reinforce strategies they learned in therapy.“For instance, if we are working on words that end in ‘F’ sounds, I have a worksheet of target words, and I model to parents how to get a child to imitate those words successfully,”\u00a0says Tonia. “Repetition is key for children with speech-sound issues.”Tonia strongly encourages families to join their children in interactive play at home. This can include engaging in pretend play with farm sets and encouraging children to use their imagination.The SLP often ensures a child successfully practices words or sounds in therapy before assigning at-home practice.“I go over with the family how to practice and ideas of when to practice,”\u00a0says Heiman. “I know families are busy, so I try to tell them, ‘Well, why don’t you incorporate it in a car ride, brushing your teeth, or when you sit down for dinner?’\u00a0I\u00a0try to\u00a0highlight how\u00a0it can be paired\u00a0with something they’re already doing rather than something extra to do.”"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2024","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What to Expect at a Speech Therapy Visit","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/06\/speech-therapy-visit\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]