Speech and Language Services

Evaluations

At Thrive of New England, we offer comprehensive evaluations for speech and language difficulties in order to to provide a thorough understanding of your child’s or your own needs. Our speech/language evaluations assess a child’s speech and language development, focusing on articulation, receptive and expressive language, and overall communication skills. All evaluations are child, and family-centered, with a focus on providing compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each unique situation.

Speech sound Disorders

A speech sound disorder is a condition where a person has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, which affects their ability to speak clearly and be understood. This can involve issues with articulation (how sounds are physically produced) or phonological processes (patterns of sound errors in speech).

There are two main types of speech sound disorders:

  1. Articulation Disorder: This occurs when a person has difficulty making certain speech sounds correctly, such as substituting one sound for another (e.g., saying "wif" instead of "with")

  2. Phonological Disorder: This involves patterns of errors in speech sounds that follow predictable rules or processes, such as substituting all "k" sounds with "t" sounds (e.g., saying "tar" for "car").

We create customized therapy plans to target specific speech patterns and promote proper sound production. Through engaging, play-based activities, we work with children to build their confidence and strengthen their communication skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Expressive and receptive Language skills

Expressive and Receptive Language Disorders refer to difficulties with understanding or using language, which can affect communication skills.

  1. Receptive Language: This is your child’s ability to understand and process spoken or written language, such as following directions, understanding vocabulary or basic concepts (i.e. “in”, “under”, “behind”), and comprehending sentences or stories.

2. Expressive Language: This is your child’s ability to use words, sentences, and gestures to communicate thoughts, ideas, and needs. This includes vocabulary development, sentence structure, correct usage of grammatical systems (i.e. verb tenses, and word order), and the ability to form coherent speech to initiate or maintain conversations.

Some children may experience difficulty with one, or both, types of language. This can impact their ability to understand and use language. We use assessments and therapeutic techniques to address delays or disorders in these areas, helping individuals improve their overall communication skills.