What are the Benefits of Speech and Language Group Therapy?
For years we have been hearing about the benefits of private one-on-one therapy and need for individual support, however recently there has been a lot of talk about group speech therapy. Why choose group therapy for your child? How will your child get the attention they need if there are other children around? Group therapy […]
The Benefits of Storytelling to Preschool Language Development
When children begin school, they need to extend their language skills to include reading and writing. Telling and listening to stories provides a bridge between the oral language skills of early childhood and the more formal language of print. With the ability to tell stories develops the ability to talk about things outside the here […]
Practical Tips for Working on Speech and Language at Home
For many parents, juggling work, school, homework and extra-curriculars is an exhausting feat. Now on top of all that your child is seeing a speech-language pathologist and they are giving you more HOMEWORK! Below are some practical tips that I give to my client’s parents on how to work on speech and language without adding […]
Speech-Language Pathology and Concussion
Speech-Language Pathology and Concussion Jeanette Podolsky Speech-language Pathologist BA (Speech & Hearing Therapy) Wits. Reg CASLPO Mary (not an actual client) is a grade 12 honours student who was involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in October 2017. Prior to the accident, she was planning on starting university in September 2018 to pursue a […]
Sibling Rivalry in Families of Children with Autism and ASD
Sibling rivalry and jealousy is common in all families. But when it comes to dealing with siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), stresses can be far more complex. Many siblings, especially those of children with ASD, feel that the focus is always on their brother or sister. Even the idea of a sibling […]
The Importance of Playtime in the Development of Speech and Language Skills in Children
We all like to play – children, adolescents, and adults alike. But did you know that the development of play skills is integral to the development of a child’s speech and language skills? Who would have thought something so fun could be so beneficial! A play context, in fact, provides primary communicative opportunities for young […]
I Think My Child Has a Stutter…What Do I Do?
Many children go through a period of normal dysfluencys during the preschool years as they learn to put sounds, words and sentences together. Normal dysfluencys include word and phrase repetitions and hesitations. Some children, however, develop a speech that includes sound and syllable repetitions, sound prolongations, and silent blocks (getting stuck on a sound). This […]
What Can I Do To Help My Child be More Aware of Different Sounds and Rhymes?
Children generally begin to show early phonological awareness when they demonstrate an appreciation of rhyme. For children as young as 4 years old, focusing on rhyme is a good starting place. Rhyming activities you can do at home: Sing fun rhyming songs together, such as Row row row your boat, gently down the stream Merrily […]
Making Homework Fun – Using Computer Games to Make Therapy “Homework” Seem …. Not Like Homework
Acquiring speech and language skills takes extensive practice in both the therapy session and at home, too. When juggling schoolwork, meal time, family time, household chores, and down-time, it can often be a challenge to find activities to tempt children into practicing their speech and language homework. Luckily, if you have access to a computer, […]
Is it Possible to Teach Children to Speak in Two Languages?
Many parents ask the following questions? Is it too confusing to learn two languages simultaneously? Will learning two languages cause our child’s speech or language skills to be delayed? How should we teach our child two languages? These questions are typical concerns of parents considering using more than one language at home. Many parents in […]