Speech Sound Therapy in Portland OR
By age 4, most kids can say almost all their sounds clearly. A few, like "r," "l," and "th," can take a little longer. If your child is still tricky to understand, it may be time for a speech evaluation.
A comprehensive evaluation by one of our clinicians is the most effective way to identify challenges and areas needing support. With the specific information gathered throughout the assessment, we will be able to pinpoint your goals and formulate an individualized treatment plan built just for you.
What to Look (and Listen) For Before Requesting a Comprehensive Evaluation
As a parent or loved one, you can typically tell when your child has speech sound errors.
The most common signs of speech sound disorders will be in everyday interactions.
For example, do any of these examples sound familiar to you:
Your child's speech is challenging for unfamiliar listeners (whether it’s new friends at school or other parents)
You notice how their speech delays may be slowing down their reading development (mispronouncing letter sounds when learning to read)
You notice your child is not communicating as clearly as other kids their age
If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to seek a professional evaluation to know what kind of speech sound disorder or delay your child has.
Types of Speech Sound Disorders
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all model when it comes to treating speech sound delays.
In fact, there is a wide range of possible speech sound disorders and many that coexist!
Phonological disorders
Articulation disorders
Motor speech disorders
Speech disorders secondary to OMT concerns
At Beech Street Speech, we specialize in speech sound disorders and delays. We'll figure out what's going on and build a plan that fits your child.
Why Work With Beech Street Speech
We want to hear what you have to say.
Speech sound disorders are our bread and butter. Our experienced team knows how to help kids make real progress.
Every session works toward every goal in your child's plan. You'll also get a custom home program and learn how to practice, so progress keeps going between visits.
Our activities are fun on purpose. When kids are motivated, they practice more. More practice means faster progress.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS):
Unwavering Support for Motor Speech Challenges
CAS is a motor speech disorder that affects a child's ability to coordinate articulators (tongue, lips, teeth, palate and voice) for accurate speech production.
Common Signs of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
Here are some markers to look out for if you suspect your child is apraxic:
Groping during attempts to imitate mouth movements, resulting in sporadic, disorganized mouth movements
High levels of unintelligibility
Decreased output and less babbling (quiet children)
Inconsistent speech production and accuracy (some days are clear and some days are hard)
Frustration and behavioral challenges due to communication difficultie
Our therapists excel in identifying and supporting CAS through a variety of multisensory, multimodal approaches.
Learn more about speech sound delays and available support
Have questions about your child's speech? We're happy to talk.