Speech Therapy is a medical service that help a child express his or her needs/wishes, in any environment! A speech therapist, also known as a speech language pathologist (SLP) can help equip children with the tools they need to communicate effectively or address any problems related to mealtime.

A Speech Language Pathologist can help a child with the following difficulties:

• Pronouncing Words
• Communicating (understanding others and/or communicating with others)
• Focusing
• Chewing/swallowing
• Aversion to food

3 Broad Benefits of Speech Therapy

Speech therapy provides children with more tools that help build a stronger foundation for:

• Greater success in school
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with family and friends
• Establishing and maintaining a healthy diet

2 Signs that your child may need therapy

• Your child is gets frustrated when trying to explain themselves to you or others
• You child is a picky eater and is very rigid with the types of food he/she will eat or drink

1 thing Pediatric Movement Center's speech therapy team wants you to know

If you have any level of concerns regarding your child's pronunciation of words, language use or understanding, diet or safety eating, it never hurts to do an evaluation! An evaluation is a way to allow our speech therapists to take a closer look (through standard testing) at your child  strengths and potential needs. An evaluation, while requiring a doctors order, does not lock you into ongoing services. Rather, an evaluation provides the information to address the question if additional services are warranted.