Areas of Specialization
All of these areas of specialization can be applied to adults or pediatrics as Intercoastal Speech Solutions has experience in both populations. If you’re unsure which assistance you or a loved one needs, reach out to us today!
Speech
Articulation focuses on the production of speech sounds. This may involve targeting individual phonemes- such as the /r/ or /s/. Intervention can be tailored to correct a single sound or to enhance overall intelligibility, ensuring clear communication with family and friends.
Language
Language is a building block of speech and is how we choose to communicate. Addressing language involves learning how to follow directions, communicate wants and needs, enhance reading comprehension, formulate sentences, and increase overall communication skills (e.g., gestures, verbalizations, or utilizing augmentative and alternative communication) to successfully access natural environments.
Fluency
Fluency disorders can manifest as stuttering or cluttering, characterized by disruptions in the flow of speech. The main types of dysfluencies include repetitions, prolongations, interjections, and blocks. Treatment for fluency disorders may involve learning strategies to minimize dysfluencies, reducing avoidance behaviors in communication, and gaining insight into when dysfluencies occur, ultimately fostering confidence in communication.
Stroke
Having experienced a stroke—whether hemorrhagic or ischemic—individuals often face challenges with communication, including aphasia, as well as difficulties with language and swallowing. Specialized speech-language pathology interventions help restore effective communication and enhance quality of life.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impair language, cognition, and communication. Specialized interventions address cognitive-communication challenges such as memory, attention, emotional regulation, and problem-solving to help individuals regain effective communication for safe community integration.
Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a type of speech disorder characterized by neuromuscular weakness. This condition can lead to reduced volume, an abnormal rate of speech, difficulties with coordination of oral musculature, and breathiness of voice. Dysarthria may arise from various neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury, among others. Interventions for dysarthria may include respiratory muscle training and communication strategies aimed at increasing speech intelligibility.
Dysphagia & Childhood Feeding Therapy
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can affect the safe and efficient movement of food and liquids. It is typically identified through an evaluation by a speech language pathologist using tools such as an MBSS or FEES. Treatment may include oral motor exercises, dietary modifications, and compensatory strategies.
Oral aversions are sensory-based challenges where individuals may react negatively to taste, textures, or oral stimuli. Intervention usually involves gradual desensitization and structured oral experiences to build tolerance.
Cognition
The areas of cognition include problem-solving, memory, self-regulation, attention, and perception. Who might benefit from focusing on cognition in speech therapy? This approach can help individuals who have difficulty with everyday communication and learning—from children with language delays to adults and seniors facing age-related cognitive changes or neurological impairments.
Autism Spectrum Disorder & Social Communication
People with autism may struggle with communication and social interactions. Treatments should be customized to improve speaking, understanding, and social skills. Social communication involves both spoken and body language. Speech therapy aims to boost conversation skills and socialization for better communication.