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SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES
The Ability to Communicate is one of Life's Most Precious Gifts
For over 30 years, Easter Seals Northern Ohio has provided speech-language therapy services throughout the region. Services are available year-round for children birth through school age, promoting early identification, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders. In addition to year round services, we offer specialized summer programs designed to maintain or increase skills learned during the school year.
WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM EASTER SEALS SPEECH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM?
Children with any type of communication difficulty may benefit from the speech-language program at Easter Seals. Speech-language difficulties may be present at birth, may not follow typical developmental progression or may be due to disease, illness or accident. Many conditions can be corrected if parents recognize them early and seek help. Services are available for children from birth through school age.
Our licensed and certified speech-language pathologists identify, evaluate and treat all types of communication difficulties such as:
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Language deficits in the development of skills such as vocabulary and grammar necessary for expressing and understanding thoughts and ideas, difficulty with auditory processing or listening skills or concerns with reading and written language skills.
Articulation difficulties with the way sounds are formed or put together, sometimes characterized by substituting or leaving out sounds.
Voice difficulties, inappropriate pitch, too high, too low, never changing or interrupted by breaks; loudness, too loud or not loud enough; or quality, harsh, hoarse, breathy, or nasal.
Fluency difficulties such as difficulty speaking without hesitations or demonstrating stuttering behaviors such as repetitions, blocking, or extremely long pauses.
Communication disorders related to diagnosis such as stroke, head trauma, cerebral palsy, autism and developmental difficulties. |
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YEAR ROUND SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY SERVICES:
Screenings
Speech-language and hearing screenings are available for individuals as well as at preschools and daycare centers and other school settings. Screenings are scheduled at the family or facility's convenience. Results are available to teachers and parents.
Diagnostic Evaluations
Complete speech-language evaluations are provided to individuals with communication problems. Evaluation results are analyzed and discussed with the client, parent or guardian to determine whether further intervention is needed. If a speech or language deficit is determined, recommendations are made concerning the type of intervention needed for the individual. This may include a home program, individual or group therapy or periodic consultations.
Therapy
In planning a therapy program, the speech-language pathologist evaluates the child's speech-language skills and develops an appropriate treatment plan to improve the communication program. Goals are determined with the parent or guardian to meet each child's individual needs. Clinical methods are selected depending on the nature and severity of the problem and the age of the child. Both individual and group therapies are available. |
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Parent Information and Consultation
This service accompanies therapy to assist in understanding speech-language disorders and in supporting intervention.
Information and Referral
Our Speech Department regularly provides information and referrals to help people quickly connect with programs not available through Easter Seals. |
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Contract Services
Contract services may be requested by other agencies including Head Start child development centers, public schools, health departments and other community facilities. Easter Seals' staff members are available to speak to parent, civic and social groups regarding speech and language development.
About Our Staff
Our speech-language pathologists are licensed by the state of Ohio and hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
Cost
Fees are available by calling the Easter Seals office in your area. Easter Seals accepts payment from private insurance, Medicaid and BCMH. A sliding fee scale is also available for families who financially qualify.
Locations
Services are provided at preschools, day care centers and other school settings with groups of children or individually. Our center-based program is offered at various sites across the northern Ohio region. Please contact your local Easter Seals Northern Ohio office for specific site locations and availability.
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