KateSaid Speech Locations

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At KateSaid Speech Therapy, I am dedicated to providing children with the highest quality therapy services available, and I understand that a traditional clinic atmosphere isn’t ideal for all patients. Modern technology now allows me to provide high quality treatment via teletherapy, and I have offered teletherapy services to clients since 2020.

With teletherapy, consultations and therapy sessions are conducted remotely via a computer with high-speed internet. Using secure live video chat, children are able to participate in a live, interactive therapy session, and parents are able to communicate privately with their child’s therapist. Teletherapy is endorsed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Kate is a PROMPT Trained+ clinician and utlitzes PROMPT techniques in therapy when applicable. An evaluation by a PROMPT Trained clinician is the only way to find out if a client is appropriate for PROMPT therapy. PROMPT therapy is used with a wide range of children and adults who have motor speech difficulties. The most common clients have motor speech disorders, articulation problems or are non-verbal children. Many clients with aphasia, apraxia/dyspraxia, dysarthria, pervasive developmental disorders, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries and autism spectrum disorders have benefitted from PROMPT therapy.

Autism is a brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behavior.

The symptoms and signs of autism vary, but every child on the autism spectrum has problems to some degree in the following areas:

• Communicating verbally and non-verbally
• Social Interaction and relationships
• Behaviors that are restricted, inflexible, and even obsessive

Autism Symptoms

Recognizing the early signs of autism and seeking early intervention services and treatment improves the outcomes of learning, social skills, and communication in children with autism spectrum disorder. Though each child with autism is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior, some common autism symptoms include:

Social Skills

• Fails to respond to his or her name
• Has poor eye contact
• Appears not to hear you at times
• Resists cuddling and holding
• Appears unaware of others’ feelings
• Seems to prefer playing alone — retreats into his or her own world
• Doesn’t ask for help or request things

Language

• Doesn’t speak or has delayed speech
• Loses previously acquired ability to say words or sentences
• Doesn’t make eye contact when making requests
• Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm — may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech
• Can’t start a conversation or keep one going
• May repeat words or phrases verbatim, but doesn’t understand how to use them
• Doesn’t appear to understand simple questions or direction

Behavior

• Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand-flapping
• Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the slightest change
• Moves constantly
• May be fascinated by details of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car, but doesn’t understand the “big picture” of the subject
• May be unusually sensitive to light, sound and touch, and yet oblivious to pain
• Does not engage in imitative or make-believe play
• May have odd food preferences, such as eating only a few foods, or craving items that are not food, such as chalk or dirt
• May perform activities that could cause self-harm, such as head banging

References: Mayo Clinic

When autism is diagnosed in infancy, treatment can take full advantage of the young brain’s remarkable plasticity. Early diagnosis and treatment help the child develop important skills. Treatment will usually reduce some of the symptoms, regardless of the child’s age, and will help the child reach their full potential.

Children with autism tend to respond better to highly structured and treatment programs that focus on communication, social, behavioral, and independent living skills, and learning.  Speech therapy intervention focuses on the core areas affected by autism, including social skills, language and communication, imitation, play skills, daily living and oral motor skills.

Developmental delays occur when children have not reached developmental milestones by the expected time period.

For example, if the normal range for learning to walk is between 9 and 15 months, and a 20-month-old child has not begun walking, this would be considered a developmental delay. Developmental delays can occur in any or all five areas of development:

• Cognitive
• Social and Emotional
• Speech and Language
• Fine Motor Skill
• Gross Motor Skills

Developmental delays may be associated with, but are not limited to, sensory-motor deficits, chromosomal disorders, attention deficits, learning disabilities, pervasive developmental disorder and autism.

Treatment for developmental delays can include:

• Therapies that address speech-language development, sensory-motor processing (including occupational therapy), vision therapy, auditory training and perceptual-motor therapy
• Activities that encourage positive social-emotional relationships, such as communication therapies, floor time, and family therapy

KateSaid Speech Therapy has been treating and providing speech therapy to children with developmental delays since 1999.

If you would like to speak with Kate about speech therapy treatment possibilities for developmental delays, please contact me for a free consultation.