1. Speech / Articulation - Oral-Motor / Muscle Based Evaluation and Therapy

Articulation and Oral-Motor / Muscle Based assessments and therapy are conducted on children of all ages. A traditional articulation (speech) assessment examines which sounds your child is having difficulty producing. An oral-motor / muscle based assessment will determine WHY your child has difficulty saying specific sounds.

Precise exercises to target improving mouth muscle strength and skills will then be recommended for home and therapy practice. For more details, please listen to Stephanie's articulation podcast.

Evaluations may consist of formal and/or informal testing. Each session is customized to your child's needs. Stephanie involves parents in the treatment process. Your child's progress will be reviewed with you each session and homework to encourage carryover will consistently be made available.

2. Say and Play Kids - Language Evaluation and Therapy

Through intensive parent education, you will learn how to improve communication skills with your child (birth through age four) through interactive play and everyday activities.

A modified (or complete, if requested,) language evaluation will be conducted on your child to help determine which language techniques and tools (toys, games, books, songs, etc.) will foster optimal developmental interaction. A language assessment may examine expressive (speaking) skills, receptive (listening) skills, vocabulary, grammar, and social language skills. Please listen to our language podcast for additional information.

Based on the results of the evaluation, parents are then guided on what activities to play with their child and which items to purchase on-line and in specific stores, and will be taught how to use the tools effectively. Recommendations will include specific techniques to improve communication, such as but not limited to: enhancing vocabulary, expanding sentence length, improving play skills and attention, and how to ask your child questions effectively (which may also facilitate problem solving / thinking skills).

Basic sign language techniques will be provided, when appropriate, to facilitate communication skills. Basic oral-motor exercises to improve the strength and stability of the muscles of the jaw, lips and tongue may be incorporated.

Note: The tools are purchased outside of the Say and Play program, but Stephanie may use the same, if not similar items during your session(s) so you will know how to use them effectively. Extensive customized tool and activity recommendation lists and instructions will be mailed or emailed to you after the initial session. Parents are encouraged to email or call with questions, thoughts and concerns about their child's language progress and / or about the suggested tools. Follow-up Say and Play sessions may be recommended or requested. Please check with Stephanie when scheduling an evaluation to see if she has time to accommodate your child in weekly treatment sessions if you anticipate this is what your child needs.

3. Say and Play Expecting Parents

Parents-to-be learn how to get an immediate jump on how to enhance communication between themselves and their newborn. Basic play and sign language techniques will be provided. Specific toys, games, books and songs for infants will be recommended and demonstrated. As in our other programs, these tools / techniques are valuable resources for learning and improving speech, language, critical thinking, social and play skills.

Group rates are available.

4. Say and Play Caregivers

Caregivers / Babysitters often spend a significant amount of time with children during their most alert hours. Say and Play educates caregivers on how to engage young children (birth through age four) in effective and fun communication interaction. Caregivers can learn how to facilitate a child's speech, language, critical thinking, social and play skills.

Stephanie recommends parents and their child participate in the Say and Play Kids Program (see program #2 above) prior to involving their caregiver.