When you think about Speech Language Pathology, what comes to mind? You might imagine a therapist teaching children how to pronounce their 'r' sound, and that is certainly part of what we do, but the field is actually quite broad. There are many ways Speech Language Pathologists can help with communication skills and improve someone's quality of life in the process. Take a look through the many services we offer at Andalusia Speech Therapy!
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
When someone is non verbal or has limited verbal speaking abilities, they can still communicate through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). AAC can look like many different things, ranging from a personalized communication book, to picture communication, to a software program on a tablet.
AAC is often used after a stroke or when someone has delayed language skills. Speech Language Pathologists can provide assessments and therapy to help your loved one learn to communicate more freely or develop their language skills through AAC. Keep an eye out for a future blog post all about AAC!
Accent Modification
An accent should not be a source of embarrassment – it just shows that you speak another language fluently and have multilingual talents! Sometimes an accent can hinder your ability to be understood or can be perceived as a negative language ability. We do not believe that is the case, but we understand that having clearer English production can make someone feel more at ease or be understood more easily. Because of this, we provide individualized treatment plans for people who wish to reduce aspects of their accent.
Aphasia and Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury or stroke can be a scary and life altering experience. Damage to the language or planning centres of the brain can result in aphasia, which means difficulty with understanding language or expressing oneself through language. Speech Language Pathologists support the recovery process for individuals suffering with aphasia by performing assessments, providing strategies and training to improve communication, and acting as an advocate for the individual with their communication needs.
Articulation
When people think about Speech Therapy, articulation errors are usually what first comes to mind – difficulties producing certain sounds like "r" ('wabbit' instead of 'rabbit'), "s" (like a lisp) or "l" ('wove' instead of 'love'). Speech Language Pathologists help individuals learn to pronounce these sounds in a number of different ways, such as the beginning of a word, the end of a word, blends, etc. Check out this blog post about speech hierarchy to learn how Speech Therapists help with articulation errors.
Auditory Verbal Therapy
After receiving a cochlear implant or being fitted for hearing aids, some individuals might require assistance learning to listen with this new form of hearing, or training for speech and language development. Speech Language Pathologists provide resources for hard-of-hearing individuals and provide therapy and tips to help maximize their listening potential and speech and language production.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can affect someone's communication, social interaction, and functioning at home, or in school and work settings. If your child is showing signs of Autism or already has a diagnosis, we can help with developing social communication and language skills. Our assessments include screening for ASD and our therapy incorporates evidence-based practices for children on the spectrum to help them develop social skills and language.
Language
If your child is having difficulty telling you about their day, they may have a difficulty with narrative skills; or maybe they're speaking in shorter sentences or using verb tenses and grammar incorrectly, causing others to have difficulty understanding them. This can lead to difficulties in making friends or understanding/explaining important things. Through Speech Therapy, we can help those who have difficulty understanding more complex language or organizing their thoughts speak more clearly.
Literacy
If you or your child are experiencing difficulties with reading (dyslexia), or writing, we can help! Once an assessment has been conducted, your Speech Language Pathologist will identify the sub-areas of reading and/or writing that are difficult (i.e. decoding, fluency, organization of thoughts, punctuation, reading comprehension, etc.). Based on this assessment, your Speech Language Pathologist will create an effective and personalized treatment plan that works towards developing stronger reading and writing skills to begin using and understanding language with ease. An Occupational Therapist can also help with letter formation if required.
Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Rehabilitation
A motor vehicle accident (MVA) can be a highly traumatic event. When suffering from a language injury as a result of an MVA, our Speech Language Pathologists can help you rehabilitate your language skills and provide alternative strategies for communication. Our Occupational Therapists can also help you regain or improve your skills in daily living. Our therapists are licensed with Health Claims for Auto Insurance (HCAI) and will work with your team to help you in your rehabilitation journey.
Occupational Therapy
Some of the skills required to get through everyday activities like writing, paying attention in class, getting through the work day or comfortably enjoying leisure activities can be impaired for some people. Occupational Therapy can help! For individuals with sensory needs, ADHD, ASD, recovering from a stroke or injury, or many other situations, help is available through evidence-based strategies from a certified Occupational Therapist. Check out this blog post to learn more.
Preschool
If your toddler or preschooler is not talking yet or is showing signs of a delay in language, we can conduct an assessment to let you know if they're on the right track or if they need some support. We know how many words or how complex a child's language should be at every stage. We also know that early intervention is important and are here to help. We provide assessments, referrals and therapy for preschool kids.
Psychology
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it's a part of our everyday lives. Our registered Psychotherapist is trained to provide confidential assessments and therapy to our clients over Zoom. We can help adult clients as their communication disorder impacts their mental health, parents or caregivers of children with communication disorders, or IFHP clients to help them process their experiences. Don't hesitate to reach out – we're here for you.
Public Speaking
Speaking in front of a crowd may feel like an impossible, overwhelming task, or you might think it simply isn't something that you're capable of doing. We're here to tell you that public speaking is a skill that can be taught and learned. As Speech Language Pathologists, we specialize in communication and we can guide your speaking skills and help you gain the confidence you need!
Refugee and IFHP
If you are a refugee in Canada, you may be eligible for Speech Therapy services under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). All of our Speech Language Pathologists are registered with IFHP. If you would like Speech Therapy, please send us your 9-digit IFHP number and a doctor's referral for Speech Therapy to info@andalusiaspeech.com or fax 416 698 8127. Once we receive that information, we can get you started!
Stuttering
Stuttering or disfluency is not just one aspect of a person's life – it can take over every action or word they intend to say. Because we know how many areas of life stuttering can impact, we provide a holistic approach to treatment. This starts with providing information on stuttering, teaching strategies to reduce moments of stuttering, discussion of related anxiety and stress in a comfortable and supportive environment to help manage it, and other activities to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle to reduce stuttering. Discover the ability to use trained techniques and positive thinking to achieve fluent speech and a balanced lifestyle!
Vocal Health
We often take our voices for granted, but when we develop a hoarse voice or experience pain in our throats when speaking, simple communication tasks can become difficult. If you are experiencing voice issues and you don't know why, or your vocal disorder is secondary to an identified medical condition, find out if we can help. We receive referrals from Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors or individuals who call us directly to help them improve the health and quality of their voices. Many voice issues can be alleviated with lifestyle changes that improve the health of your vocal folds.
So, how can we help you? Send us a message or give us a call to discuss your needs and how you can start communicating freely.
Andalusia Speech Therapy has multiple clinics across Ontario and offers virtual therapy to clients anywhere in the world. Contact us more for information.