Communication skills are targeted through play and daily activities and routines. Therapeutic techniques to promote motor imitation and other communication prerequisites are utilized by therapists with preverbal children. Therapy may utilize sign language, picture systems, and communication devices to support verbal communication. These nonverbal modes of communication may be used with hearing children, as well as children with hearing impairments. As a child’s verbal skills improve, therapy addresses vocabulary, sentence length, appropriate language use, and the overall quality of speech. Families are encouraged to incorporate strategies throughout their daily lives to support their child’s communication development.

Feeding and oral motor skills are also targeted. Children with oral motor difficulties frequently show delays in feeding and communication skills. The same muscles necessary for speech affect feeding abilities. Feeding therapy frequently involves collaboration with occupational therapists.

UCP therapists benefit from collaboration with teachers and therapists from other disciplines to provide holistic services to children and their families.

For more information about Speech/Language Therapy, please contact UCP at (816) 364-3836 or send an e-mail.