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.