Speech and Language Services

Receptive Language

A child’s ability to understand incoming information. This may include following directions, understanding complex sentences (e.g., prepositions, temporal, sequential), and understanding questions.

Expressive Language

A child’s ability to use language, whether that be verbally, through sign, or augmentative/alternative communication. This may include using sentences of increased length, expanding vocabulary, using pronouns, labeling items/actions, and responding to wh- questions appropriately.

Pragmatic Language

A child’s social communication skills. This may include his/her ability to take turns within play, understand humor, understand and use appropriate body language, engage in a conversation, or interact with peers.

Articulation refers to a child’s ability to produce age appropriate sounds. For example, producing “tat” for “cat” or “wed” for “red.” Take a look at the sound acquisition chart under the ‘resource’ tab. The majority of sounds are mastered by age 5.

Phonology refers to a child’s use of specific patterns of sound substitutions. For example, consistently substituting /t/ for /s/ (e.g., “tay” for “say”). All phonological processes should be eliminated by age 6.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication is any way a child communicates besides talking. Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Speech therapy can increase a child’s ability to understand and use various types of communication ranging for low tech (pictures) to high tech (iPad equipped with software). Beyond speech provides help with trialing and funding a device.