Many issues can interfere with a child’s ability to communicate well. From speech, voice, and language disorders, which affect about 1 in 14 kids in the United States, to developmental disorders, which affect 1 in 6 American kids, millions of kids are struggling to be heard and understood.
When it comes to improving speech, language, and voice skills, speech therapy is an obvious first stop. And it’s an effective one.
At Celebrations Speech Group, our team often takes multi-pronged approaches to improving communication and socialization skills in kids, and we appreciate the important role that speech therapy can play. However, when we combine it with our occupational therapy services, we can improve outcomes even more.
Here’s a look at how occupational therapy can help kids communicate better, with more confidence and control.
Speech, voice, and language disorders in kids can cast a wide net during the developmental years. Aside from communication issues, when speech disorders accompany development, their reach can extend beyond speech.
A great example of this is sensory processing, which is how your child takes in sensory information around them and processes it. If a child has a speech disorder, their sensory processing can be affected. For example, a child who doesn’t communicate easily may be more prone to distraction, making them less able to learn and focus.
Through occupational therapy (OT), we work on sensory processing and on helping kids relax and focus in environments where a lot is going on.
If your child’s speech disorder involves motor-skill issues — childhood apraxia of speech is a great example — OT can play an invaluable role.
During OT sessions, we work on the physical aspects of communication — the mouth, hands, eyes, posture, etc. — and how they work together to support effective communication. From targeted mouth and posture exercises to hand-eye coordination, we can address the mechanics of speech and communication to support the work they do in speech therapy.
This holistic physical work can set the stage for improved communication, even (and perhaps especially) in nonverbal kids.
The foundation of occupational therapy is to improve a person’s ability to function in their environment. For kids who are still developing, socialization is critical to future success, but if they have a speech, language, or voice disorder, socialization may be hindered.
Through OT, we focus on social skills in real-world situations through:
In our considerable experience, the combination of speech therapy and occupational therapy is powerful, providing kids with critical resources and tools that will serve them well long into the future.
If you’d like to explore how occupational therapy can help with your child’s speech and language, please contact one of our offices in Brentwood, Stockton, or Elk Grove, California, today to schedule an appointment.
