THERAPY SERVICES
Olivia is a PROMPT trained therapist. PROMPT stands for PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. PROMPT Therapy is a unique philosophy and approach to assessment and treatment of speech delays or disorders. PROMPT may be used to facilitate production, revise or change production or to integrate motor production. This multidimensional approach to speech production disorders incorporates physical-sensory, cognitive-linguistic and social-emotional aspects.
Olivia is an NLA (Natural Language Acquisition) Trained therapist. Gestalt language processors (GLP) are "whole to part" thinkers and acquire language in chunks. These chunks of language, sometimes called "echolalia", "scripts" or "gestalts,"are a vital component of gestalt language development. With the right language environment and support, these gestalts will become more flexible over time. The child will be able to mix and match portions of the gestalts (mitigating) and later free single words from these gestalts. These single words will allow the child to generate original, self-generated language. We need to embrace the child's echolalia (gestalts) in order to support the child through the Stages of Natural Language Acquisition (NLA).
RECEPTIVE / EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE DISORDER
Language is how we use and understand the words around us. A child with a language disorder may have difficulty understanding questions or directions, identifying objects, asking questions, naming objects and putting words together into sentences. Overall, your child may have difficulty communicating their wants, needs or ideas.
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION OR PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE DISORDER
Social communication, also known as pragmatics, involves using language for different situations, changing language based on the listener/situation and following the rules for conversations. A child with a pragmatic language disorder may have difficulty taking turns in a conversation, staying on topic, and understanding facial expressions/body language.
SPEECH SOUND DISORDER
When speech sounds are substituted, modified or omitted past a certain age, therapy can aid in appropriate articulation and reduction of speech sound errors and phonological processes. A child with a speech sound disorder may be difficult to understand by others.
MOTOR SPEECH DISORDER
Motor speech disorders include two primary conditions: dysarthria and apraxia of speech. In these conditions, the connection between the brain and the speech mechanism is damaged or interrupted. This makes it difficult to control and/or coordinate the muscles of the face, tongue, or larynx for the purposes of speaking. Olivia is a PROMPT Trained therapist.
FLUENCY DISORDER
A child who stutters may have different types of disfluencies. They may repeat parts of words (repetitions), stretch a sound out for a long time (prolongations), or have a hard time getting a word out (blocks). This may result in tension, feelings of uncomfort, and negative feelings about talking.
AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC)
AAC means all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. People of all ages can use AAC if they have trouble with speech or language skills. AAC can be low tech such as using picture boards) or higher tech such as using an iPad.