What is Speech Therapy (Speech-Language Pathology) for Children?
Speech therapy (provided by a speech-language pathologist, or SLP) supports children in developing the skills they need for communication, feeding, social connection, and participation in daily life. Speech therapy can support children whether they are just beginning to communicate, refining their speech clarity, or building advanced social communication skills.
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At the Neurodevelopmental Collective (NDC), we may recommend speech therapy after a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation when our screening suggests your child may benefit from targeted support in speech sounds, language understanding, expressive communication, or feeding skills. We also help families determine whether speech therapy alone is the right next step or whether a full evaluation will give the most complete picture of their child’s needs.
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What Speech Therapy Can Help With
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Articulation and Speech Sounds
Articulation refers to how clearly a child can produce speech sounds. Therapy in this area helps with:
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Correctly pronouncing sounds (e.g., “r,” “l,” “th”)
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Improving clarity so others can understand them
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Reducing speech sound errors or patterns (e.g., lisps, leaving off sounds)
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It’s common for young children to mispronounce sounds as their speech develops, but if errors continue past the expected age range, therapy can help.
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Expressive Language
Expressive language is how a child uses words, sentences, and grammar to communicate their thoughts. Therapy may focus on:
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Expanding vocabulary
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Using correct sentence structures
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Retelling stories or events clearly
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Asking and answering questions
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Building language for academics, play, and social interactions
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Receptive Language
Receptive language is how a child understands words, sentences, and concepts. An SLP may help a child:
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Follow multi-step directions
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Understand vocabulary and grammar
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Answer comprehension questions
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Interpret figurative language and inferences
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Pragmatic/Social Language Skills
Pragmatics refers to how we use language in social situations. An SLP may help with:
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Starting and maintaining conversations
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Understanding tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language
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Taking turns in conversation
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Staying on topic and adjusting communication for different situations
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Understanding and using humor appropriately
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Participating in group activities or play
Some SLPs also offer social skills groups outside of school, which can be helpful for practicing these skills in a supported setting.
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Gestalt Language Processing
Some children learn language in “chunks” (scripts or phrases) before breaking them down into individual words — this is called gestalt language processing. Gestalt language development is common in autistic children, and recognizing it early can help families respond in affirming and supportive ways. SLPs familiar with this approach can:
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Recognize and value a child’s scripts as communication
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Support the process of moving from whole phrases toward flexible, self-generated language
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Help caregivers respond in ways that encourage language growth without forcing “typical” patterns
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AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
AAC includes any tool or system that helps a child communicate, from picture boards to high-tech speech-generating devices. A child may benefit from AAC when:
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They have limited or no spoken language
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They rely heavily on gestures, facial expressions, or vocalizations without clear words
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Their speech is difficult for others to understand consistently
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Communication breakdowns are frequent and cause frustration
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They need an additional way to express themselves while spoken language develops
An SLP can evaluate which AAC system fits a child’s needs, teach the child and caregivers to use it effectively, and adjust the system as skills grow. AAC can (and should) be used alongside spoken language. Research shows it supports, rather than prevents, speech development.
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Feeding and Oral-Motor Skills
Some SLPs also work with children who have difficulty with chewing, swallowing, or transitioning to new foods. This may include:
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Building oral-motor strength and coordination
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Expanding food textures and flavors
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Supporting safe swallowing and mealtime routines
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Feeding therapy is not about forcing certain foods — it’s about building comfort, safety, and skills so children can eat with less stress.
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Stuttering and Fluency
Fluency therapy supports children who stutter or have other speech rhythm concerns. SLPs may:
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Teach strategies to make speech smoother and easier
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Reduce physical tension when speaking
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Support confidence and participation in communication
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Early Play Skills
Speech therapy can also target early play skills, which are the foundation for later language and social development. Play skills include:
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Taking turns with toys or games
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Using pretend play (e.g., feeding a doll, building a “garage” for cars)
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Expanding the ways a child interacts with objects and peers
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Play may look simple, but it’s the foundation for communication. When children learn to take turns, pretend, and share play ideas, they’re also practicing language, social awareness, and problem-solving.
Why some children don’t qualify for school speech therapy but still benefit privately
In many schools, a language delay has to be significant to qualify for school-based services — meaning some children who could still benefit from therapy may not meet the school’s eligibility criteria.
Speech Therapy in Schools vs. Outside of School
School-based speech therapy focuses on what a child needs to succeed in the classroom. Private or clinic-based therapy can take a broader approach, targeting skills that matter at home, in the community, and in daily life.
Speech Therapy in Schools
In school settings, SLP services focus on skills needed to access education, such as:
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Correcting articulation errors that affect classroom communication
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Supporting receptive and expressive language for academic tasks
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Addressing social language needs that affect peer interaction
School-based speech therapy does not usually:
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Provide feeding therapy
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Implement specialized AAC systems unless tied directly to classroom access
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Focus heavily on gestalt language processing unless it impacts academic performance
Speech Therapy Outside of School
Private or clinic-based SLPs often have a broader scope and may:
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Work on speech clarity, language, AAC, social skills, feeding, and play in more depth
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Provide specialized approaches for gestalt language processors
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Offer parent coaching to support language at home
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Collaborate closely with caregivers on individualized goals
Not all SLPs provide every type of service (e.g., feeding therapy, AAC, gestalt language), so it’s important to ask before starting
When to Consider Speech Therapy
You might consider speech therapy if your child:
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Is difficult to understand compared to peers
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Has trouble following directions or understanding new concepts
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Uses short or incomplete sentences for their age
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Has a limited vocabulary or difficulty finding the right words
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Struggles with social language (e.g., joining play, staying on topic)
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Relies on scripts or phrases rather than creating their own sentences
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Shows challenges with feeding, swallowing, or safely transitioning to new textures or foods.
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Stutters or has other fluency concerns
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May benefit from AAC to support communication
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Has delays in play skills that affect social and language growth
Why the NDC Might Refer Your Child to Speech Therapy
At the Neurodevelopmental Collective, every evaluation includes a screening for speech clarity, language understanding, social communication, feeding, fluency, and early play skills. If we notice your child may benefit from speech therapy, we’ll help you connect with providers who match their specific needs.
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Sometimes speech therapy is the best first step — especially when the main concerns are communication clarity, language delays, or social interaction.
Other times, language delays may be related to a broader diagnosis, and it is more helpful to consider a full evaluation before starting therapy so we can understand all contributing factors. Speech therapy is not always the first step.
Questions to Ask a Speech Therapy Provider
Because SLP services vary, it’s helpful to ask:
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What ages and needs do you work with most often?
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Are there certain diagnoses or ages you do not work with?
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Do you provide feeding therapy?
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Are you familiar with gestalt language processing?
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Do you evaluate for and provide AAC support?
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Will you complete an evaluation before starting, and how do you set goals?
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Do you offer a home program to support skills between sessions?
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How do you measure and communicate progress?
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What is your current waitlist time?