QUALITY SPEECH THERAPY AVAILABLE IN MEDFIELD AND PLAINVILLE, MA
We begin with the diagnostic assessment. Our trained professionals provide expert evaluation of a variety of skills to quantify strengths and weaknesses and determine specific areas of remediation. These areas include:
Receptive Language:
We evaluate auditory comprehension and listening in terms of word knowledge (semantics), grammar and syntax, language use and context (pragmatics), and phonological awareness. Receptive language measures are based on developmental factors, cognitive and metacognitive skills, and chronological age.
Reading Comprehension:
We evaluate rate, reading accuracy, ability to formulate Gestalt, and identification of main idea, and detail. We also test for answers that require critical thinking (inferences and drawing conclusions).
Decoding/Reading:
Our staff evaluates word attack, phonemic awareness skills, sight word knowledge, spelling, and fluency.
Expressive Language:
We evaluate the patient’s ability to express his intents and needs verbally and in writing. We asses the quality of verbal expression as well as the application of linguistic concepts (semantic, syntactic, phonological, grammatical, pragmatic). Expressive language measures are also based on developmental factors, oral-motor competence, cognitive and metacognitive skills, and chronological age.
Speech Intelligibility/Articulation/Oral-Motor Planning:
We evaluate the ability to imitate, achieve, and maintain articulatory targets, as well as, rate precision, and intelligibility in words, phrases, sentences and conversation, according to the age of the patient.
Verbal Fluency:
We evaluate the patterns and frequency of stuttering events, as well as the patient’s perceptions of his communication ability to make recommendations for treatment.
METALINGUISTICS:
We evaluate the ability to think critically and non-literally as in making inferences and drawing conclusions. These skills are also based on developmental norms and are necessary for comprehension.
FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION:
For patients with severe communication difficulties, we work toward improving the patient’s ability to make his needs known with maximum success and minimal effort. For some, this may require learning basic signs, Picture Exchange, or other augmentative communication devices.
For more information about Speech-Language & Hearing Associates, or to get started on the road to better communication, please contact our office at 508-359-4532 or 508-695-6848.