Communication/Feeding difficulties

Dynamic Speech Pathology offers intervention across the following areas:

Articulation; the way individual sounds are produced.
Incorrect substitution of sounds within words and conversation e.g. /w/ for /r/and /f/ for /th/.

 

Language; the way in which words are put together and the ability to comprehend various language forms.
-Asking questions and following instructions appropriately
-Narrative skills
-Grammar
-Vocabulary
-Sentence structure and formation
-Story comprehension

 

Fluency/stuttering; the presence/severity of a stutter
Repetition of sounds, words and phrases
Blocks (fixed postures upon producing various sounds)
Prolongations (the stretching out of sounds)
Auditory inhalations

Literacy and phonological awareness; spelling and writing
-Phonemic Awareness: The ability to identify and manipulate the distinct individual sounds in spoken words
-Phonics: The ability to decode words using knowledge of letter-sound relationships
-Fluency: Reading with speed and accuracy
-Vocabulary: Knowing the meaning of a wide variety of words and the structure of written language
-Comprehension: Understanding the meaning and intent of the text

 

Pragmatics; social skills
Eye contact
Friendship formation and maintenance
Conversation skills; topic maintenance
Play skills; sharing, turn-taking

 

Auditory processing; the interpretation of what individuals hear

  • Auditory discrimination:The ability to notice, compare and distinguish between distinct and separate sounds.
  • Auditory figure-ground discrimination:The ability to focus on the important sounds in a noisy setting.
  • Auditory memory:The ability to recall what you’ve heard, either immediately or when you need it later.
  • Auditory sequencing:The ability to understand and recall the order of sounds and words.

 

Voice (vocal quality e.g. rough/husky)

  • Vocal Fold Nodules and Polyps
  • Vocal Fold Paralysis
  • Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM)
  • Spasmodic Dysphonia
  • Vocal hygiene

 

Swallowing

  • Drooling
  • A feeling that food or liquid is hard to control or getting stuck in the throat
  • Coughing or choking caused by bits of food, liquid, or saliva not passing easily during swallowing.

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