Children with congenital or developmental problems with speaking, feeding, swallowing, or using languages may need to see a pediatric speech therapist. Speech and language pathologists are licensed professionals who evaluate and treat problems associated with swallowing, speaking, and communication.
Speech-language pathology is a field of expertise in which a licensed clinician treats problems related to swallowing or speaking.
The specialization of pediatric speech-language pathology provides speech therapy evaluations and exercises for young children with communication disorders. For example, some children are born with disorders that hinder or inhibit normal speech, including cleft palate or cerebral palsy. Other children may have injuries or disorders that affect the brain, neurological pathways, or muscular structure. Problems that affect each one of these systems may influence how the brain and body can complete speech or swallowing.
A pediatric speech therapist can provide a treatment plan to help the child overcome these challenges. Congenital or developmental disorders can affect the use of speech and language as well as the ability to use facial or throat muscles to swallow and chew.
These challenges can have a direct impact on pediatric developmental health as well as the quality of life. Each of our speech therapists undergoes rigorous training to provide clinical care for children. This includes graduate-level speech pathology education, over hours of initial clinic experience, and licensure from the Texas State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
