Difficulties producing speech accurately and efficiently can be broken into specific areas under the umbrella of “speech sound disorders.”

An articulation disorder refers to difficulty with producing specific sounds (or “phonemes”). For example a child may say “fank you” instead of “thank you” (see here for a chart of when a child should be able to produce each sound).

A phonological disorder is linguistic and pattern- based. In a phonological disorder, a child exhibits patterns such as fronting (“tootie” for “cookie”), gliding (“wing” for “ring”), weak syllable deletion (“nana” for “banana”), final consonant deletion (“ca” for “cat”), and more (see here for an expanded list of phonological processes and descriptions).

Apraxia of speech (AOS, known in children as Childhood Apraxia of Speech or CAS) is a motor planning disorder in which children or adults have difficulty moving between sounds in words, have inconsistent errors on the same words, distort vowel sounds, and say shorter words more clearly than longer words (learn more about CAS [children] here and AOS [adults] here).

Dysarthria is a motor execution disorder characterized by difficulties speaking due to muscle weakness in the face, lips, tongue, throat, and muscles for breathing. Signs of dysarthria can include slow or slurred speech, speaking softly, and speaking too quickly, and sounding “mumbled”. Dysarthria can affect children and adults with brain damage from stroke, brain injury, tumors, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Huntington’s disease, MS, and muscular dystrophy (learn more about dysarthria here).

It is critical to tailor speech intervention strategies to each individual’s strengths and challenges. Here at Blue Tide Therapy, we take a range of factors into consideration when developing a treatment plan that is right for each client. Click below for details about our speech intervention strategies.

Language and literacy development is a critical component of childhood development, and speech therapists play an important role in assessing and treating difficulties in these areas. At our speech therapy clinic, we offer a range of language and literacy assessment and intervention services to help children overcome any challenges they may be facing.

When it comes to language assessment, our speech therapists use a variety of tools to evaluate a child's receptive and expressive language skills. This includes assessing their comprehension of spoken language, their ability to follow directions, and their ability to express themselves using language. We also evaluate a child's phonological awareness and speech sound production, as well as their ability to use grammar and syntax correctly.

Our literacy assessment services focus on identifying any challenges a child may be experiencing with reading and writing. This includes assessing their letter recognition skills, phonics skills, fluency, comprehension, and written expression. By identifying any weaknesses in these areas, we can develop a tailored intervention plan to help the child improve their literacy skills.

Our speech therapists use a range of evidence-based intervention techniques to help children improve their language and literacy skills. This may include individual or group therapy sessions, as well as home-based exercises and activities. We work closely with parents and caregivers to ensure that the child is making progress both during and outside of therapy. Click below for further information on our intervention techniques for language and literacy.

Myofunctional therapy involves assessing and treating the function and strength of the orofacial muscles, which include the tongue, lips, jaw, and cheeks. One of the primary concerns that myofunctional therapy can address is tongue ties, which can affect speech and feeding outcomes in children. A tongue tie is a condition in which the piece of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too tight or short, leading to difficulty with tongue movement and positioning.

In addition, myofunctional therapy can also address issues related to mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing. Mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth, bad breath, and an increased risk of dental cavities. It can also negatively impact speech, as nasal breathing is necessary for proper resonance and articulation. Sleep-disordered breathing occurs when an individual experiences disruptions in their breathing pattern while sleeping, which can lead to snoring, sleep apnea, and daytime fatigue. Myofunctional therapy can help address these issues by improving nasal breathing and strengthening the muscles necessary for proper airway function.

During a myofunctional assessment, the therapist will evaluate the patient’s muscle function, breathing patterns, and tongue positioning. Based on the results of the assessment, the therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan, which may include exercises to strengthen specific muscles or improve breathing patterns. Treatment for tongue ties may include a referral to a specialist for a surgical procedure to release the tongue tie.

With consistent practice, myofunctional therapy can lead to improved speech outcomes, better breathing patterns, and a higher quality of life for patients. We are committed to providing comprehensive myofunctional therapy services to help clients of all ages achieve their full potential. For more information about myofunctional therapy, click below.

Feeding and swallowing disorders can occur in children of all ages and can prevent them from getting the nutrition they need to thrive. At Blue Tide Therapy, we offer comprehensive assessments and treatments to address these issues and help children achieve their feeding goals.

One issue that can impact feeding is a tongue tie. This occurs when the tissue connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is too tight, limiting the tongue's range of motion. This condition can make breastfeeding and bottle feeding difficult for infants and cause feeding challenges down the line. Our therapists are trained to identify tongue ties and provide recommendations for tongue tie release providers, which can improve feeding success and quality of life for children with this condition.

We recognize the importance of breastfeeding and encourage parents to seek support and guidance on ways to help their child breastfeed comfortably. When it comes to bottle feeding, our therapists can recommend different bottles and feeding techniques to reduce the risk of choking and ensure proper nutrition. We also work with families to transition their child from liquid to solid foods, providing guidance on textures and techniques that can encourage safe and successful eating experiences.

We know that feeding and swallowing disorders can be incredibly challenging for families. That's why we provide personalized treatment plans and collaborate with other healthcare providers to give children the best possible care. Our goal is to support children in reaching their feeding goals and improving their quality of life. Click below for additional information about our feeding and swallowing therapies.

We offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment services for individuals with voice disorders, including those caused by vocal misuse or abuse, as well as those resulting from medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and age-related changes.

Vocal misuse and abuse can result from a variety of behaviors, such as screaming, yelling, or speaking in a loud or harsh voice. Over time, these behaviors can cause damage to the vocal folds, leading to nodules or polyps. Nodules an polyps can cause hoarseness, throat pain, difficulty speaking, breathy voice or a loss of vocal range.

In addition to vocal misuse and abuse, individuals with Parkinson’s disease and age-related voice disorders may experience changes in their vocal function. These changes can include a softer, weaker voice, a loss of vocal range or control, and difficulty speaking clearly. Our speech-language pathologists are trained to identify these changes and develop individualized treatment plans to help improve vocal function for these individuals.

We use a variety of techniques and approaches to treat voice disorders, including traditional voice therapy techniques, mindfulness-based therapies, and vocal exercises to strengthen and improve vocal function. We work closely with our clients to develop individualized treatment plans that address their unique needs, goals, and challenges. By providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment services, we are committed to helping individuals with voice disorders achieve improved vocal function and a better quality of life. Click below for more information on voice treatment approaches.

We provide early intervention services to children who are experiencing difficulties in speech, language, social interaction, feeding, and oral motor abilities. Early intervention services are designed to identify, assess, and treat problems as early as possible, to prevent them from becoming more serious and affecting a child's development and learning abilities. Click below for more information about our early intervention services.

Speech therapy services focus on helping children to develop their speech sounds, making them clearer, and more understandable. In this process, Blue Tide Therapy team works with children to help them produce sounds accurately and strengthen or stretch their oral muscles. Depending on each child's individual needs, the therapist may use different techniques such as play-based activities, multi-sensory exercises, and strategies that support the child's interest in learning.

Language therapy is another service offered at Blue Tide Therapy that helps children develop their language skills. Children who come to Blue Tide Therapy for this service may have difficulty understanding, expressing, or using words and sentences appropriately. The language therapy program includes activities such as games, books, and songs, to help improve communication skills such as vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure.

Social interaction services are provided to help children who have trouble interacting and communication with others in their environment. These children may have difficulty with nonverbal communication, taking turns, initiating conversation, or following social rules. The therapy program focuses on activities that encourage interaction with peers, such as games or group activities, as well as teaching skills such as turn-taking, sharing, and social problem-solving.

Feeding and oral-motor abilities services address difficulties in oral motor skills, swallowing, and feeding. For children who have these difficulties, eating and drinking can become challenging and stressful. The therapy program includes activities that focus on improving strength and coordination of the muscles used for eating, drinking, and speaking. The therapist may also work with parents to develop customized mealtime strategies that support their child's growth and development.

Blue Tide Therapy is a speech-language pathology clinic that offers fluency disorder evaluation and treatment services for children with stuttering and cluttering. Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects the fluency and rhythm of speech. It is characterized by repetitions of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases, as well as prolonged sounds, blocks, and pauses. Cluttering, on the other hand, is a speech disorder that affects the speed and clarity of speech. It is characterized by rapid and irregular speech, as well as excessive and unnecessary pauses or repetitions.

The evaluation process for fluency disorders at Blue Tide Therapy involves a comprehensive assessment of the child's speech, language, and communication skills. This includes a thorough case history, standardized tests, and observation of the child's speech and language abilities in various contexts. After the evaluation, the therapist will discuss the results with the child and their parents and develop an individualized treatment plan.

Treatment for fluency disorders may include a combination of approaches such as speech therapy, counseling, and parent training. The therapist will work with the child to improve their speech fluency, reduce stuttering or cluttering behaviors, and increase their confidence in their communication skills. The therapist may also provide strategies for managing stress and anxiety related to the stuttering or cluttering. Click below for further information about our fluency treatment approaches.

We offer specialized social communication services for autistic individuals to enhance their communication abilities and promote social engagement. We believe in the importance of advocating for autistic individuals by providing a safe and inclusive space that is guided by neurodiversity-affirming language and approaches.

We work closely with each individual to create personalized therapy plans that cater to their unique needs and strengths. We provide evidence-based interventions, including social and emotional learning, play-based therapy, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to aid in communication difficulties.

We understand that communication goes beyond just speech, which is why we also focus on developing non-verbal communication skills, such as body language, prosody, and gesturing. Our therapists also work with families and caregivers to provide strategies and resources that can be used in both the clinic and at-home settings to foster communication growth and social connection.

At Blue Tide Therapy, we strive to empower autistic individuals to express themselves in their own unique ways. We believe in fostering a sense of pride and self-acceptance in autistic individuals, and we work to create a supportive and inclusive environment for them to thrive in. Click below for resources related to autism and social communication.