Category Archives: Speech Therapist

What kinds of children have special requirements? The term “children with special needs” (CWSN) refers to kids who need extra support to live a normal, healthy life. CWSNs are children who have developmental delays, congenital conditions, medical conditions, and/or psychiatric disorders. These may include the necessity for occupational therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or medical care.

Today, experts classify CWSN impairments and illnesses into four broad groups:

  • Physical
  • Developmental
  • Sensory
  • Behavioral or emotional

The classification allows for timely and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and therapy for the child.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist is a medical expert who specializes in helping people with communication disorders. Conditions and/or disorders that need specialized care can be assessed, evaluated, diagnosed, and treated with their help. There are usually observable indicators that a child needs speech therapy.

Can Speech Therapists Assist Children with Special Needs?

The importance of speech therapy for kids with disabilities is frequently underestimated. Most children with developmental delays or disorders benefit from early intervention to help them learn language, communication, and social skills. Regular speech therapy is helpful for kids with speech, learning, and/or language difficulties. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help children and their families with communication issues. Speech therapy is often included as a component of special education programs or individualized education programs (IEP) in a number of different educational settings.

The following is a list of what you can anticipate from sessions with a speech language pathologist, or SLP for your child who has special needs:

1. Oral Motor Training

Problems with lip, mouth, tongue, and jaw control and coordination are common in young children. The muscles used for chewing and talking can be strengthened with the help of speech therapy. Children with Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and dysarthria benefit tremendously from it.

As your child practices on a regular basis, he or she will develop an enhanced awareness of the muscles used in speech and swallowing, as well as their strength and coordination. This is not going to happen quickly. The ability to make speech sounds that make sense will take a lot of practice on your child’s part and a lot of patience on your part.

2. The Use of Gestures and Sign Languages

Learning spoken language can be difficult for some kids. Learning sign language or other gestures to communicate may be helpful if your child has severe symptoms of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, non-verbal autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or dysarthria.

These can be as easy as nodding and pointing at things. They could also learn basic signs (like those used in American Sign Language) to help express themselves. Children with special needs can learn the most commonly used signs and gestures with the help of a speech therapist. A child with special needs may also use sign language or gestures as a short-term communication method until the child is able to learn to speak.

3. Voice Output Communication Aid(VOCA)

Voice output communication aids, or VOCAs, are electronic devices that can imitate human speech. Kids can “talk” using either recorded sound bites or computer-generated speech. A speech therapist is a great resource for helping you determine which VOCA is best for your child.

Kids can communicate with the help of a speech-generating system by using a switch system, a touch screen, or keypads.

4. Picture Communication Symbols (PECS)

With this method, kids can exchange ideas with just a deck of picture cards. Picture cards can be printed out or created digitally.

With the help of a speech-language pathologist (SLP), your child with special needs can learn to communicate by recognizing and responding to common symbols and pictures. 

5. Phonology and Articulation 

Children’s difficulties with speech articulation can be attributed to a number of different disorders. The speech-language pathologist will work with your child on specific sounds, words, and phrases in addition to oral motor exercises.

The therapists will show you and your child how to do exercises to help with articulation and phonation. This will help your child’s speech develop. Your child may need a few weeks to a year to show improvements in their spoken language, depending on the severity of their symptoms.

6. Methods of Swallowing 

Children with special needs often need guidance in developing safe swallowing habits. Dysphagia is the name for the disorder. Infants and young children with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy often suffer from this. However, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), cerebral strokes, and brain tumors can all contribute to this condition as well.

Your child can benefit from speech therapy in the areas of chewing and swallowing. Swallowing maneuvers, increasing jaw and tongue strength, and alternative methods of head positioning are just a few examples of the kinds of strategies used to help children with special needs.

7. Naturalness and Clarity of Expression

Stuttering can also manifest in children who have special needs. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help your child learn strategies to reduce stuttering and improve speech fluency.

Due to hearing loss or voice disorders, some children have trouble modulating the volume of their voice. SLPs can assist you in evaluating your child and referring you to an ENT (ear-nose-throat specialist) for a thorough hearing and voice examination.

The speech therapist can also teach your child easy ways to control the volume of their voice.

8. Therapeutic Interventions for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

The vast majority of SLPs won’t help your child with his or her emotions or behavior. However, they have the expertise to determine if your child actually requires these interventions. If you need help, they can recommend a child psychologist, psychiatrist, or behavioral therapist to you.

Every child with special needs is one-of-a-kind, and that fact must never be forgotten. The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy vary from child to child, making it difficult to diagnose ASD in a child and rule out other conditions like speech delay, Down syndrome, or dysfluent speech. 

It is important to talk to a doctor about any physical problems and to find out how bad they are. As a corollary, you should consult with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist to address their linguistic and communicative needs.

In many situations, caregiver burnout is a serious issue. As a parent, you have probably spent all day tending to your child’s needs, and it’s perfectly normal to feel exhausted by the end of the day. To address your emotional needs in such a situation, you may find it helpful to consult a psychologist or other mental health professional.

Have you run out of options?Total Speech Therapy in Maryland and Houston may be the best option for you. Our speech-language pathologists have the necessary experience to assist your children with special needs. We will travel to your home or other convenient locations to provide speech therapy for your children. Please contact us at 410-696-3301 to set up an appointment.

Speech therapists help children who have difficulties with speech, such as stuttering, sound production, and sentence construction. Speech therapists are employed in a wide variety of settings, from community clinics and hospitals to schools for students with special needs and nursing homes.

The objectives of a pediatric speech therapist:

A pediatric speech therapist works with kids and teens to help them talk more clearly, become more expressive in other ways, and develop healthier social relationships. This may involve helping kids who have trouble communicating because of issues like dyslexia or a delay in their overall development. It could also involve teaching kids how to improve their speech or expand their vocabulary.

Following an evaluation of the child’s condition, tailored treatment plans are developed. If a kid has trouble communicating verbally, for instance, it might be helpful to teach them to sign language. Helping others with their reading, writing, or spelling may be necessary. Speech therapists help kids learn to talk and learn new words to help them communicate better.

Early assistance:

A little over 5% of respondents in a survey of almost 30,000 people reported having trouble communicating. In light of this, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible if your child shows signs of speech or language difficulty.

It’s important to find out as much as possible about a speech therapist’s history before hiring them. Verify that they have worked in the field for some time, hold a relevant degree, and have expertise in this area. Inquire about the length and cost of the sessions, as well as what you can do to assist the child’s development. Choose a therapist who you feel will work well with you and your loved ones. If you want your child to get the best possible treatment, it’s important to know what a therapist does and is responsible for before you choose one.

The Function of a Speech Therapist

  1. Conducting a detailed analysis of the speech disorder

Several distinct language and communication disorders exist. The primary role of a speech therapist is to evaluate a child with a speech disorder in order to determine the specific nature of the disorder and the best course of treatment. Standardized testing, observational scales, and your own feedback will all go into determining your child’s communicative strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of these tests is to gauge the child’s level of oral motor development, vocabulary, fluency, and phonological awareness.

  1. Suggesting potential therapeutic measures

As soon as your speech problem is identified, your therapist will begin formulating a plan and investigating potential treatments. Articulation exercises are sometimes incorporated into treatment plans in addition to focusing on underlying causes. Auditory habilitation and auditory rehabilitation are two types of speech therapy that therapists may use to help children who are having trouble hearing. They also educate parents on the value of starting therapy early to help a child’s language and social skills flourish.

  1. Implementing programs to correct speech disorders

The program is implemented based on the child’s baseline level of development in terms of speech and language abilities, as well as mental and physical growth. Since speech is innate and mostly automatic, gradually increasing the difficulty of his therapy sessions will help him build a solid foundation for his future communication skills. Patience and practice are essential in the field of speech therapy. Some children begin to show improvement in as little as a week, while others may take several months.

  1. Giving parents access to at-home speech therapy exercises

Children see their speech therapists once a week for an average of two hours (this varies by treatment plan), but they remain in their parents’ care around the clock. The speech therapist’s job is to educate the parents on how they can help their child with speech and language therapy at home through activities like reading aloud, talking openly, and singing songs.

  1. Keep an eye on the patient and see where things stand

An IEP (individual education plan) is a document used by speech therapists to track and report student progress to families. A competent speech therapist would routinely seek the parents’ opinions and comments. Once the therapy’s goals have been accomplished, the therapist will begin winding down the sessions.

Conclusion

About 2% to 3% of all students in elementary through high school have some form of language or speech disorder. They have the potential to hinder the kid’s verbal and nonverbal communication skills. In order to help your child communicate more clearly, speech therapy is recommended. Speech therapists work with kids to improve their communication skills.

The speech therapists at Total Speech Therapy evaluate each child on an individual basis to determine the nature and severity of any issues impacting the child’s communication skills. They also collaborate closely with parents and other caretakers of kids who have or are at risk for speech disorders.

We are committed to offering mental health and therapeutic services that are of the highest possible quality and are supported by solid, empirical data. Our consultants work hand in hand to design a program that is focused on children and encourages their growing skills and abilities. We feel strongly that no child should be denied access to quality therapy because of financial or logistical considerations. To browse our available therapists and schedule an appointment, please call us at 410-696-3301 or send an email to yasminah@totalspeechtherapy.com.

Are you looking for a company to grow with, gain diverse office experience, and build a long-term career?

 

Together we can stand even stronger behind our mission to bring children and families first-class speech and language services. As industry leaders, we’ll continue to bring you unrivaled opportunities for professional and personal growth.

 

Total Speech Therapy is currently interviewing Speech Language Pathologists with at least two years of experience in servicing the Baltimore City and surrounding areas population.

 

Our team constantly raises the bar to excite, inspire, and connect to our patients as best as possible. Join our team today! Together we can continue to transform lives and make a difference.

 

Our SLPs now have access to even MORE:

  •   Opportunities to Grow
  •   Career Possibilities
  •   Support & Stability
  •   Job Security

 

Qualifications:

  •   Graduate from a Speech Pathology program
  •   Current license as a Speech Language Pathologist in MD
  •   At least two years of clinical experience

 

Benefits Made for You:

  •   Full health benefits
  •   Professional Development Opportunities
  •   Clinical Support
  •   Online resources, ASHA-approved webinars, therapy ideas, and free CEUs
  •   Referral bonuses for every new hire & more!

 

Feel free to call +1 410-696-3301 or email at yasminah@totalspeechtherapy.com. Or visit https://www.totalspeechtherapy.com/jobs/ to apply for your job.

 

Communication in the right way plays a vital role in our day-to-day lives. Speaking without any pause not only helps people understand you clearly but also boosts your confidence both in your personal and professional life. The more accurate you sound while delivering a message, the greater the impact of you leaving in your surroundings.

But, it is also a sad fact that not all of us are gifted with a loud and clear voice to narrate our emotions. Some people do find it difficult to speak and take a pause while speaking their hearts out. Especially children! Sometimes, children have difficulty understanding the uses of various parts of speech. They do get confused over nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, and many other forms of speech and language while speaking.

Which is completely okay, and can be cured at an early stage by implying proper speech, and language therapy. For the past several years, we at Total Speech Therapy committed to providing the most advanced and effective speech and language therapies for the people of Baltimore, Maryland. Our expertise & unique approach to address a variety of causes that contribute to difficulties with speech, language, swallowing, or cognition, makes us highly effective.

While approaching, we first discuss and analyze the exact problems your children are facing. Whether it’s speech disorder or language barrier or both speech and language disorders, we prepared our treatment method accordingly. Depending on the patient’s condition, our therapy can vary into many forms, including sign language, voice/communication devices for the basic understanding of speech and voices, and many more.

Our therapy is not limited to clinics only. As per your comfort, we can bring the treatment to your house also. So, you and your child can get a friendly and comfortable environment. 

Some of the key benefits of Speech and Language Therapy:

  • Improve Swallowing
  • Reduce stuttering
  • Boost Confidence
  • Improve Accent and make it more understandable

Comprehensive treatment methods have made us one of the best speech and language therapy providers in Baltimore, Maryland. We ensure to give our best and work towards the betterment of your child’s speech and language barrier until he/she comes with a normal, loud, and clear accent. Feel free to consult our principal Speech-Language Pathologist Yasminah Abdullah, M.S., CCC-SLP at 410-696-3301.

Speech pathology is the clinical practice specializing in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of communication, cognitive communication, voice, and swallowing disorders. Speech pathology plays a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of people along the autism spectrum. Not only focused on correcting a person’s sound articulation, speech pathologists address a broad scope of speech language, swallowing, and voice issues including the following:

 

  • Word finding and other semantic issues
  • Stuttering
  • Social communication skills
  • Autism
  • Swallowing disorders such as dysphagia and feeding issues
  • Apraxia of speech
  • Dysphonia, hypophonia and abnormal vocal quality
  • Language-based learning disabilities
  • Structural language impairments
  • Literacy impairments
  • Cognitive impairments 

Among the most effective and caring speech pathologists in Maryland, Total Speech Therapy’s highly experienced speech pathologists provide exceptional adult and pediatric speech therapy for patients throughout Maryland.

Children especially can sometimes experience difficulty understanding the uses of various parts of speech and master all the intricacies of the spoken word. A professional speech therapist addresses the parts of speech that are difficult for a child to comprehend and focuses on those areas that will enable the development of vocal and literacy skills as the child grows up. Total Speech Therapy’s speech pathologists are fully licensed, certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and have received a certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology.

Understanding that not every patient can visit the offices for their treatments, Total Speech Therapy brings treatment to them. For homebound patients or those at adult living centers, in the hospital, or at school or daycare facilities without transportation, the practice visits patients where they are to deliver treatments and care.

Total Speech Therapy is a professional speech and language therapy practice located in Towson, Maryland. The innovative practice is committed to providing the best possible care and results for people who suffer from speech, language, cognitive, or swallowing disorders. Its team of experienced professionals offers individualized, comprehensive, top-quality outpatient services design to achieve optimum results.

The study of the disorders of speech, language, voice & swallowing and its corrective treatment is called speech and language therapy. These disorders are very common in children and adults also. There are several causes of speech and language disorders. These include hearing loss, brain injury at an early age, neurological disorders, and intellectual disabilities. People with these disorders must contact a speech therapist Maryland, a state in the United States of America having a population of 6.042 Million, has many children and adults suffering from speech and language disorders.

“Total Speech Therapy” provides the best possible care for people with speech, language, or swallowing disorders. Our team comprises of young, dedicated and professional speech and language therapists and speech pathologists. Led by Ms. Yasminah Abdullah, M.S. CCC-SLP, the team is committed to put in best efforts and cure speech and language disorders. Our team leader is our inspiration. She takes a personal interest in each case and tries to come up with the best solution.

Our team of speech therapists have eliminated geographical limitations. We reach our patients and bring therapy to them. Whether the patients are in school, daycare centers, or adult living centers we reach them to address their needs.

No two persons require the same type of treatment and we are aware of the fact. Our treatment plan is individualized and is designed in conjunction with other health care providers to ensure that the treatment suits best to the individual. Some therapists devise group treatment plans which may or may not cure the disorders.

In order to get the best services of speech pathologist Maryland you should contact us now. We also offer brain injury and stroke therapy, neurological disorder therapy, cleft lip, and palate therapy to the clients. Language and Speech disorders grow with the age and it becomes difficult to cure then. If there are signs that your child has these sorts of disorders, don’t take it as a cute thing. You should not waste time as this can become very serious and cause embarrassment to your child as he/she grows. It can easily be cured at an early age.

You can also contact us online or call 410-696-3301 to get an appointment. We can also guide you on call after knowing all the signs, if your child really needs a speech or language therapy. You can also visit our center in Maryland located at the York Road Towson.

Are you a resident of Maryland and in need of speech therapy, or do you know someone who does? There is a team of speech therapists that have been doing an excellent job for the past several years. The speech therapists are ready to deploy their wealth of experience to serve you. Their areas of specialization are speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders.

While other speech pathologists in Maryland will have you come to them, this team of speech therapists is ready to come to you for your convenience. Whether it is your home, daycare facilities, assisted living, at school or even in the hospital, they will gladly travel to you upon your request.

The numerous benefits of speech therapy makes these speech pathologists in Maryland very important. Speech therapy helps to build a person’s communication skills. While many people think speech therapy is only about speech, it is also about language. It helps the patient to understand spoken language and to also express himself better.

Speech therapy also goes beyond articulation of speech. It also helps to develop the patient’s social skills. When the patient’s speech improves, good reading ability typically follows because both communication skills work together. Speech therapy also enhances alternative communication methods, such as using gestures, picture cards, communication books, or speech generating devices to communicate wants and needs.

This team of therapists is led by a highly experienced mobile therapist that has been providing speech therapy for over ten years. For several years she has been working with patients who suffer from speech and language impairment due to dysarthria, aphasia, dysphagia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, dementia and stroke with expertise, experience and in-depth knowledge of augmentative communication methods.

The lead pathologist offers several comprehensive treatment packages for geriatric patients and adults in the healthcare industry wherever they may be. Despite the high quality of their rehabilitation services, charges are reasonable. The speech therapists are result oriented and they have a proven track record within Maryland and beyond.

These speech therapists’ doors are always open for medical consultation whether you are their patient or not, you are free to contact them for consultation. Every patient has a unique case, so these speech therapists work in conjunction with other healthcare providers to deliver individualized treatment plans.

They are highly professional, courteous and respectful. They offer patients a great amount of empathy, understanding and emotional support.

Speech Therapy for Older Persons Living in Assisted-Living Homes

Blog, Speech Impairment, Speech Therapist, Speech Therapy Cognitive Disorder, Speech Therapy Senior Citizens

It is known too many healthcare providers who have worked with us in the past few years that Total Speech Therapy’s lead SLP Ms. Yasminah Abdullah’s has placed a particular focus on treating older indivisuals with speech irregularities or impairment. Because of Ms. Abdullah’s training, past work experience and community involvement we’ve been heavily involved in evaluating and treating patients in assisted-living communities and from the geriatric population.

The evaluation and treatment services we provide to adults in assisted-living homes covers diagnosis such as:

  • Stroke
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Neuromuscular speech disorders resulting from Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and other conditions (F e., Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome)
  • Geriatric-related conditions (patient/family education and counseling for Dementia)

We Understand our Patient’s Needs

Here at Total Speech therapy, we understand that the process of adapting to and overcoming communication challenges can seem overwhelming, both for the person dealing with the affliction, as well as for his or her family. This keen awareness is demonstrated in our compassion for people and trying our best to help them achieve optimum communication.
Through years of clinical experience, we’ve achieved excellent treatment results especially in the areas of the brain and nervous system disorders that inhibit communication, motor speech disorders, difficulties with swallowing, and cognitive-communication issues.
We Travel To You!

In our years of experience, we have seen significant treatment results when we are able to work with patients in their own environments. Traveling to the patient allows us to interact and work with them in a comfortable and familiar setting, which produces optimal results. Another benefit of having mobile therapists is that we have an opportunity to communicate with the primary healthcare providers, which enables us to work effectively within the targets set for the patient.
Credentials

Total Speech-Language Pathologists, hold the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) certification of clinical competence (CCC-SLP) and are licensed by the state of Maryland to provide speech-language pathology services, we participate in continuing education in order to ensure the most up-to-date knowledge, skills and abilities; in order to provide the highest quality therapy services.
Financial Arrangements

Total Speech Therapy Services participates in Medicare and most of the major insurance carriers, managed care organizations, etc. An office manager can answer any further questions patients/physicians have regarding insurance at the time of the referral.

Disorders that Require Speech Therapy?

Blog, Speech Therapist, Speech Therapy Cognitive Disorder,

Speech is an integral part of communication and without clear speech and voice, people find it hard to fit into the society. It makes them suffer from self-esteem issues along with many communication complexities as well. It may be inborn or caused by a physical injury, a disease or a disorder the person might be suffering from (e.g. stroke, autism, neurological issues etc). This is where a speech therapist can come to help.

Who needs speech therapy?
Voice, pitch, phonation, articulation, breathing, are all parts of speech. Problem with either one of them can affect the quality of the speech. So who really needs Speech Therapy Owings Mills MD?

People with voice disorders
These kinds of disorders occur when something causes the voice to sound breathy, harsh, and/or may affect its pitch and loudness too. Even speech therapy can be used to help with the voice’s resonance which may make people sound as if they are talking through their nose. The voice disorders often cause irritation and discomfort.

People with speech disorders
These problems may be inborn or caused due to some impairments in the vocal channels of the human body. In some cases of impairments that are affecting the speech, a surgical intervention is often needed which is followed by extensive speech therapy to help with the speech issues. Some of the most common speech disorders include articulation, dysarthria, fluency, oral feeding, and apraxia.

People with language disorders
Language disorders often causes problems in listening, expressing, and even remembering words. The speech therapy in such cases should be individualized, targeting the language needs and the condition of the person.

If you are looking for Speech Therapy Owings Mills MD then log in to our website. We provide a variety of speech therapy programs to adults and children.

Cleft Lip and Palate Therapy

Speech Therapist

A cleft lip or cleft palate occurs when either the upper lip doesn’t close properly or the palates inside your baby’s mouth don’t bond correctly during your baby’s gestation period. Speech impediments and feeding problems can occur depending on the severity of the cleft. Many parents opt for cleft surgery after birth and in turn, the child does not experience impediments, however if the cleft is not visible you may not see signs of a problem until later on.

A palate cleft can make feeding difficult because there could be a clear opening between the nose and mouth, which means milk could end up in the wrong place. Through therapy you can relearn how to feed your baby so that doesn’t happen, a very common mistake is allowing a child to lay flat on his back when drinking the milk – this should never happen, cleft palate or not.

As your child begins down the road to speech you may notice something curious about the tone of her voice. She may speak in a nasal tone which is one of the indications of a cleft palate. She may begin to develop incorrect ways of breathing and placing her tongue when making sounds due to the cleft. Speech-language therapy helps in correcting speech issues related to cleft lip and palate through teaching her how to correctly formulate sounds and breathe while doing so.