Does your loved one struggle with saying certain sounds? With speech sound therapy, the focus will be on building the sound foundation. Starting with sounds in isolation, building to words, phrases, and sentences. The ultimate goal being conversational level speech. This plan is for those who struggle with one or more sound, at any of the above mentioned levels of communication.

Some clients have difficulty with one sound. They may not qualify for a school based speech therapy program. This is where Sheltered Strategies comes in. Just because they don’t qualify for school based programs, doesn’t mean the sound targets shouldn’t be addressed. Occasionally, clients will work on a single sound, such as a frontal or lateral lisp, or production of their /r/ sound especially in the case of a pre or post vocalic /r/. This therapy typically remains consistent for a short period of time. The dosage will depend on the individual. While some may understand the structure and function of their mouth’s movement quickly, it may take time for others to learn and then implement it. Some SLPs will tell parents to wait until a student is older, as they might not qualify for school based interventions, based on their age. Outside the school system, there is more flexibility for students who are eager and stimulable (capable) of producing target sounds.

While school based speech therapy assists students on their speech sounds, occasionally, the dosage just doesn’t feel like enough. It may be all the therapy an SLP is able to provide. Large caseloads are a limiting factor for many SLPs. While standard practice indicates roughly 30 minutes per week on mild/moderate articulation disorders, and 60 minutes for moderate/advanced articulation disorders- this might not be available, or enough, depending on the specific client need. Group based therapies can work wonders for certain individuals. They may thrive with peer motivation. For others, the group model might mean limited opportunities to practice sounds, as the session time is split within the group. There are a variety of reasons why the school based approach might be appealing. Others may wish to “fast track” their students progress with additional speech sound therapy. This can prove to be beneficial for some, and in other cases could harm the overall success. Some may prefer their student’s therapy to remain private. Private therapy is simply that.

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