Pediatric Speech Therapy

Symptoms:

• Substituting one sound for another (e.g., "wabbit" instead of "rabbit")
• Omitting sounds (e.g., "nana" instead of "banana")
• Distorting sounds (e.g., slurred or unclear pronunciation)
• Adding extra sounds to words
• Difficulty being understood by others
• Pediatric Considerations: Articulation disorders in children can affect early literacy and social interaction, impacting school readiness and confidence.

Symptoms:

• Refusal to eat or limited diet variety
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing different textures
• Gagging, coughing, or choking during meals
• Extended mealtime duration or fatigue while eating
• Food aversions or strong preferences for certain textures
• Weight loss or poor growth
• Pediatric Considerations: Children may struggle to transition to solids or show strong preferences for specific food textures, impacting nutrition and growth.

Symptoms:

• Difficulty opening the mouth fully (trismus)
• Limited facial movement or expression
• Impaired speech articulation
• Trouble chewing or swallowing
• Tightness or pain in the jaw, lips, or cheeks
• Slurred or muffled speech
• Drooling or food escaping from the mouth

Symptoms:

• Consistent errors, such as omitting final consonants (e.g., "ca" for "cat")
• Substituting sounds in predictable patterns (e.g., "tat" for "cat")
• Difficulty organizing sounds into words correctly
• Speech that is difficult to understand
• Pediatric Considerations: Children with phonologic disorders may struggle with literacy skills and have difficulty being understood by peers and adults.

Symptoms:

Difficulty pronouncing sounds or speaking clearly

• Trouble forming sentences or using appropriate grammar
• Limited vocabulary for age or developmental level
• Difficulty following directions or understanding conversations
• Struggling to read, write, or express thoughts verbally
• Social or behavioral challenges related to communication difficulties
• Pediatric Considerations: Children may have delayed speech development or fail to meet language milestones, such as babbling, saying first words, or forming simple sentences by expected ages.

Symptoms:

• Coughing or choking while eating or drinking
• Difficulty chewing or moving food around the mouth
• Pain while swallowing (odynophagia)
• Drooling or leaking of food from the mouth
• Feeling of food stuck in the throat
• Weight loss or dehydration
• Wet or gurgle-sounding voice after eating
• Pediatric Considerations: In children, swallowing disorders may present as difficulty transitioning from breastfeeding to solids, refusing certain textures, or chronic respiratory infections related to aspiration

Symptoms:

• Hoarse, raspy, or breathy voice
• Loss of vocal range or vocal fatigue
• Strained or effortful voice production
• Frequent throat clearing or coughing
• Pain or discomfort when speaking
• Changes in pitch or volume
• Pediatric Considerations: Children may develop voice disorders from vocal strain, nodules, or congenital issues, and they may be more likely to misuse their voice during play or loud speaking.