ISU Speech and Language Clinic, Meridian

Services provided for children include evaluation and treatment of:

Articulation

An articulation disorder is the production of speech sounds spoken with substitutions, omissions, additions or distortions that may interfere with intelligibility.

• Certain sounds are not produced but omitted or deleted (e.g., “cu” for “cup” and “poon” for “spoon”)
• One or more sounds are substituted (e.g., “dood” for “good” and “wabbit” for “rabbit”)
• One or more extra sounds are added or inserted into a word (e.g., “buhlack” for “black”
• A syllable is repeated or deleted (e.g., “dada” for “dad” or “wawa” for “water”

Stuttering

Stuttering affects the fluency of speech. It begins during childhood and, in some cases, lasts throughout life. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds (disfluencies).  Most people produce brief disfluencies from time to time. For instance, some words are repeated and others are preceded by "um" or "uh." Disfluencies are not necessarily a problem; however, they can impede communication when a person produces too many of them.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Difficulty starting a word, sentence, or phrase
• Prolonging a word or sounds within a word
• Repetition of a sound, syllable or word
• Brief silence or pauses within a word

Receptive Language Disorder

This language disorder affects a child’s ability to understand what is being said to them.  This usually is seen in children prior to age four.  In most cases, children with receptive delays also have expressive language disorder.  Children must be able to understand the spoken language in order to properly speak.

Signs & Symptoms can include:

• May not listen when being spoken to
• Inability to follow verbal instructions
• Inability to understand complicated sentences
• Language deficits
• Repeating words that are said to them (echolalia)

Expressive Language Disorder

This language disorder affects a child’s ability to formulate words, speak in complex sentences, and remember words. Most often, the child does understand verbal communication.

Signs & Symptoms can include:

• Limited vocabulary skills
• Improper use of tenses (past, present, future)
• Unable to speak in sentences

Apraxia

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder. Children with CAS have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.

Signs & Symptoms can include:

• Does not coo or babble as an infant
• Problems combining sounds
• Understands language but doesn’t talk
• Difficulty imitating speech
• Is hard to understand

Tongue Thrust

A tongue thrust occurs when the tongue pushes against the front teeth or protrudes through the teeth during swallowing and/orspeech, or while the tongue is at rest.  It is commonly referred to as a reverse swallow and is normal during infancy and toddler stages, but should disappear by the time a child starts elementary school.   

Signs & Symptoms can include:

• Articulation errors can include /s, z, t, d, n, l, sh/
• Orthodontic issues
• Mouth breather
• Messy eater
• Tongue visible during speech and/or swallowing

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) includes all forms of non-verbal communication that is used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.  AAC includes facial expressions, body gestures, use of symbols or pictures as well as the written word.  Many people with severe language deficits rely on AAC to communicate their needs.  The following options are examples of AAC communication:

• Unaided Communication: Relies on the individual’s body to perform gestures, body language, and/or sign language.
• Aided Communication: Relies on additional tools to aid in communication such as paper and pencil, communication boards, and electronic speech devices that produce voice output.

Voice Treatment for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

The ISU Speech and Language Clinic Meridian is the recipient of a grant from the Parkinson Voice Project to support implementation of the SPEAK OUT!® and LOUD Crowd® therapy model developed by Parkinson Voice Project for the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s and Parkinson-plus syndromes. SPEAK OUT!® is the first step in the two-part therapy approach and typically consists of twelve individual speech therapy sessions. Upon completion of SPEAK OUT!®, each patient enters the maintenance phase of the therapy program, The LOUD Crowd®. This maintenance program consists of speech therapy groups to help patients maintain the strength of their voices. The LOUD Crowd® provides ongoing vocal practice, accountability, support, and encouragement. By participating in LOUD Crowd®, patients have shown to maintain their SPEAK OUT!® results for more than five years and counting.

We are currently accepting referrals for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who are seeking Speech Language Pathology Treatment.  Services also available via tele-practice in Idaho and Oregon.  For more information regarding the Parkinson Voice Project visit www.ParkinsonVoiceProject.org.

Adult Swallowing Clinic

The ISU Adult Swallowing Clinic provides diagnostic, treatment, and consultation services for individuals with swallowing disorders resulting from a variety of issues including:

• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Progressive neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.)
• Head and neck cancer
• Difficulties following surgery to the face and/or neck
• Age related difficulties
• Coughing, choking, or difficulty swallowing for unknown reason

Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Clinic

The ISU Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Clinic provides diagnostic, treatment, and consultation services for families with children who are experiencing difficulties in feeding, including:

• Difficulty sucking
• Swallowing
• Chewing
• Children who do not feed themselves at appropriate ages
• Transition from nasogastric or gastrostomy feedings to oral feedings
• Neurological impairments
• Development delays that hinder oral feedings, abnormalities of the mouth and throat that affect eating, difficult transitions from breast-feeding to cup/bottle or pureed foods and behavioral feeding issues.