Speech Therapy Gets a Makeover

By Mindy Payne

“Hi, how are you today?” “Hey, what’s new?” “What are you doing tonight?” Sometimes we take for granted the impact communication has on our everyday lives. In addition to talking, non-verbal communication -- such as the use of gestures, body language and facial expressions -- are also a vital part of interaction. When a child is unable to communicate with others, verbally or non-verbally, his or her opportunities for social interactions can be limited.

Some children may have difficulty communicating and playing with peers, while others may know how to use language but have trouble in the back-and-forth nature of conversations. Many children go to speech therapy. The experiences gained in speech therapy not only help a child communicate, but also carry over into other facets of a child’s life, such as problem-solving and skills necessary for friendship development. While many children and families benefit from traditional therapy services, numerous providers are offering more diverse, less traditional approaches, such as social skills training and peer groups. Social skills groups often use role-playing and games to stimulate social thinking. Some providers take trips in the community to allow children to apply their social skills in real-life situations. Kids learn to make conversations, listen, focus and stay on topic. Based on practical aspects of a child’s day to day routine, speech therapy can truly bridge the gap between therapy and community by honing the strengths that are applicable to multiple situations in a child’s life.

One local therapy provider, River Speech and Educational Services, Inc., incorporates a child’s natural environment as well as the family into the therapy process. After each session, Amy Shrayber, a speech and language pathologist at River Speech, provides written and verbal feedback to parents whose children participate there. She also welcomes feedback from the parents, as this helps her develop lessons for the weekly socialization groups she leads. Ms. Shrayber will gear the group lesson to address any specific social or communication concerns families are having. “The kids who participate in the socialization group have different skill levels, so they use their strengths to help one another,” Ms. Shrayber said.

River Speech and Educational Services offers speech, occupational, physical and group therapy, as well as evaluations and other services. In addition, the River Kids Gym is an inclusive educational gym, where the skills kids learn from therapy carry over into a recreational setting. According to Ms. Shrayber, the importance of having an inclusive recreation facility is that it allows both kids with and without disabilities to see what peers have to offer and how to communicate and play with one another. “Peers are natural models for socialization. Repetition and frequent opportunities to interact increase the chances that the skills gained from speech and social groups will be functional in a variety of settings.” Improved communication can result in better educational, social and emotional experiences for a child.

Be sure to watch for a flyer with more information on our May 17 workshop and tradeshow, The Bridge Between Therapy and Community. This evening will be a perfect opportunity for families to learn more about inclusive recreation and unique therapy providers in the area. We hope to see you there!