The Speech Therapy Garden
Information Library
Speech Sound Disorders
Speech sound disorders arise when children have trouble saying certain sounds the correct way, which can make their speech hard to understand. Speech therapy can help them speak more clearly and confidently.
Language Delays
Language delays occur when a child develops speech and language skills more slowly than expected. They may use fewer words, struggle to combine words, or have trouble understanding others. Speech therapy helps build these skills so children can communicate effectively.
Gestalt Language Development
Some children are Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs), which means they learn language in chunks or scripts instead of one word at a time. Speech therapy helps these children move from using memorized phrases to creating their own flexible sentences, supporting meaningful communication at their own pace.
Motor Speech Disorders
A motor speech disorder occurs when a child has difficulty planning, coordinating, or executing the precise movements required for clear speech. These challenges stem from how the brain communicates with the muscles of the mouth, lips, tongue, and jaw to produce speech. Speech therapy helps children learn how to coordinate the muscles needed for speech.
Fluency Disorders
A fluency disorder is when a child has difficulty speaking smoothly, without interruptions or unintentional pauses. The flow of speech is disrupted in ways that can make communication feel effortful or frustrating. Speech therapy teaches strategies to make speech smoother and easier. It also supports emotional confidence, helping children feel good about communicating, even during moments of disfluency.