SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY

There can be many reasons for speech and language development of a child. These include conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, hearing loss, developmental delays etc. Sometimes children may comprehend the language but fail to communicate due to difficulty in their speech in other cases they may find challenge in hand gestures and facial expressions.

Speech and language therapy is a clinical program designed to improve language skills and oro-motor abilities. It involves treatment of speech and communication disorders. Children may have different speech and language problems. For example children who are able to talk but need to work on clearer speech or building language by learning new words, speak in sentences or learning skills. Children who cannot here can learn sign languages.

For hearing impaired children our audiologists use audiometry or BERA test to diagnose the degree or hearing loss. Depending on the diagnosis of the test children are providen with hearing aids. Following this children are given audio-verval therapy depending on their need.

For articulation this orderd speech therapists in our school use various means like-

• Popsicle sticks
• Fingers
• Whistles
• Straws
• Balloons
• Mirrors
• Flash Cards
• Objects like keys, glass, comb etc.

Speech therapists use different methods to work speech and language issues depending upon the challenge.

Articulation Disorders:

For articulation problems speech therapists may use popsicle sticks, fingers, whistles, straws to help child gain control over the muscles of the mouth, tongue or throat.

Fluency Disorders:

it is disruption in the fluency of speech and is also called “disfluencies”. For example some words are repeated and others preceded by “um” or “uh’. It impedes communication when to many of them are produced while speaking.

Physical Therapy also known as physiotherapy focuses on improving gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination and strength and endurance. Gross motor skills include crawling, walking, kicking, jumping, and climbing stairs while fine motor skills include use of smaller muscles of the body like holding spoon or picking stick from the ground.

Physical therapists evaluates the child to assess joint and muscle function, strength, mobility, oral motor skills like feeding and talking. Physical therapy supports children to develop motor skills and improve strength.

Physical therapists use various methods to improve motor skills of children. Some of these used in our school are:

• Teaching and practice of functional developmental, motor, and mobility skills
• Therapeutic exercise for strengthening, endurance, and joint mobility
• Balance and coordination activities
• Support for Recreation, play, and leisure
• Adaptation of daily care activities and routines
• Use of assistive technol
• Home activity recommendations
• Consultation with family, teachers, community agencies, and other service providers

The major goal of physical therapy services is to enhance function and mobility to advance to promote participation in home, school, and community activities.

Physical therapists might guide children through a variety of different exercise routines and activities such as:

• Developmental activities such as crawling and walking
• Flexibility exercises to increase range of motion Balance and coordination activities
• Balance and coordination activities
• Adaptive play

Occupational therapy

Is a therapy which uses activities to improve child’s motor control, coordination, sensory processing, self -care and play skills. The goals of occupational therapy are improve participation and performance of the child in all his/her occupation like self-care, play, school and other daily activities. The occupational therapists assess the child and accordingly modify the environment and working style to better participation of child in the activity. They work with the child to improve child’s specific skills and perform better.

Occupational Therapy helps the children with special needs by:-

• Promoting independence.
• Increasing participation in the society.
• Facilitating motor development and function.
• Improving strength and muscle tone.
• Enhancing learning opportunities.
• Easing care giving.
• Promoting health and well-being.
• Using assistive devices which would result in improved posture, balance and mobility.
• Improving visual perceptual skills which would help in classroom learning and academics.
• Improving handwriting skills.
• Promoting health and well-being.
• Improving oral motor skills.
• Improving communication and socio-emotional skills.