Speech-Language Therapy Program

The Speech-Language Therapy Program offers services to students through diagnostic, consultation, treatment, case management, and collaborative partnerships with other service providers, classroom teachers, and parents. We serve students ages 3-21 in area preschool, public, and approved non-public schools. Speech therapy is a related service encompassing a wide range of communication disorders to include articulation, voice, fluency, language, and feeding and swallowing. Our team of providers work diligently to provide treatment to eligible students through an evaluation and IEP when a student exhibits a speech and/or language impairment which adversely impacts educational performance, to the degree in which the related service is needed to help the student make progress in the general education curriculum.  

Speech is how we say sounds and words.

Articulation is how we make speech sounds using the mouth, lips, and tongue. Your child may say one speech sound for another, leave a speech sound out of a word, or have problems saying certain speech sounds clearly. Some children are unable to speak at all and need help learning other ways to communicate.

Voice is how we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds. The voice can be loud, soft, or high- or low-pitched. We can hurt our voices by engaging in actions such as talking too much, yelling, coughing often, or unnecessary throat clearing.  

Fluency is the rhythm of our speech. A fluency impairment is a disturbance to the normal fluency and timing of speech, with signs and symptoms varying among individuals. Your child may speak too fast and make mistakes on sounds and syllables in words or phrases, also known as cluttering. Speech therapy services can support how to address the flow of speech and manage symptoms.

Language refers to words we use and how we use them to share ideas and get what we want.

Language impairment refers to the delayed or disordered acquisition, comprehension or expression of language. Differences from normal language may impact one’s educational and developmental progress. This can include problems with vocabulary and grammar as well as reading and writing.

Pragmatics language refers to the use of appropriate communication in social contexts, e.g., taking turns, how close to stand to someone when talking, and how to start and stop a conversation.

Some children may have trouble with speech, language, or both. Difficulty in understanding what others say is a receptive language disorder. Difficulty with sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings is an expressive language disorder. It is possible to have both a receptive and an expressive language problem.

Feeding and swallowing is how well we suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid. Your child may need help to eat safely without choking on food. Swallowing problems, or dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh) can make it hard for your child to eat and drink enough during the school day, thus making it difficult to learn. Such problems can also make social times such as lunch or snack harder for your child to participate. All members of a school’s swallowing and feeding team have a role for ensuring the safety of children at school.

For more information contact:

McKeba Acker, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Therapy Program Coordinator
(985) 898-3311
McKeba.Acker@stpsb.org