Speech Language Therapy Charlotte

February 2012 is an important month for

this member of the pediatric therapy team

at Child and Family Development:

·         Melinda Bumgardner, Speech-Language Pathologist – 1 year

Melinda joined the team in 2011, but it seems like she’s been part of the team for much longer. While she’s practiced in the Charlotte community for about 13 years, C&FD gives her the ability to collaborate directly with other professionals and be holistic in her approach. She was accustomed to treating along with Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, this has been her first opportunity to work closely with Psychology and Education practitioners. She enjoys using our blog to share information and suggestions with the public. She completed Hanen training a few months ago and is hoping to offer parents groups this year. Melinda stays busy outside of the office too and is teaching a Junior Roller Derby class starting this month. 

You are an important part of our mission- to provide comprehensive, quality and integrated services to children and families.

For a long time, therapists at Child and Family Development have helped children and adolescents with feeding difficulties or swallowing problems.

Now, we are starting a new service: Feeding Groups using the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach.

This approach, developed by Kay Toomey, Ph.D., targets feeding, oral motor and sensory skills. This program teaches differences and similarities between foods, helps kids learn to appreciate a variety of tastes and textures through exploration and play.

Two tenured therapists have advanced training and expertise:

• Barb Hartshorn, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Therapist, has over 20 years of experience
• Marion Wilm, OTR/L, C/NDT, Occupational Therapist, has over 25 years of experience

• Call

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• Schedule

January 2012 is an important month for

these members of the pediatric therapy team

at Child and Family Development:

·         Gail Fennimore, Physical Therapist – 18++++ years

Gail has been part of C&FD since the very beginning in the early 80’s. She tells me that she still loves what she does after all of these years. It is important to her to pay attention to the small details- the things that help a child do well and have fun outside of the physical therapy session. This spring, she is pursuing an APTA Certification for Pediatric Specialist. She will also become a grandmother in 2012.

·         Barb Hartshorn, Speech Therapist- 5 years

Barb has been practicing for more than 20 years. She strives to make the most of speech therapy time with parents and a child. Barb says she ‘treats individually’ and we all see that philosophy in action daily. Over the past few years, she has developed a new clinical skill helping kids with feeding difficulties. Her SOS training and case experience is a highlight of her work. Right now, Barb and her family are hosting an exchange student from Italy. 

·         Martha Knight, Educational Specialist- 4 years

Martha describes herself as a detective. It’s her job to discover the strength in every student, despite the academic challenges they may face. Martha loves to see how educational therapy- more than tutoring- can help a family approach learning, school and homework in a positive and constructive way. She is very involved in the local Ronald McDonald House.

·         Jessica Hoffarth, Occupational Therapist- 1 year

Jessica believes that occupational therapy should always be child-focused. She loves a clinical challenge and helping families deal with tough behaviors. Her C&FD blog about her own sensory processing difficulties as a child and an adult is a inspiration and insight for our team and others. She and her husband are expecting their first child in April.

Each of you are an important part of our mission- to provide comprehensive, quality and integrated services to children and families in Charlotte.

•Happy New Year•

In 2012, Child and Family Development

will continue to participate in these Insurance plans:

Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy

Aetna

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Cigna

Med Cost

NC Medicaid
Primary Physician Care

SC Medicaid (OT, PT)

United Healthcare

Behavioral Health (Psychology) Services

Aetna

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Primary Physician Care

Educational Services

(not filed to insurance)

We will file to other plans on an out-of-network basis.

The front office team is available
to assist in determining network coverage.

• Avoid caffeinated beverages and drink lots of fluids (water).
• Learn how to use an indoor speaking voice.
• Going into the room of the person you want to talk to instead of yelling to the next room.
• Turning down the TV or radio before talking to someone.
• Waiting until it's your turn to talk.
• Giving your child time to do quiet activities (drawing, puzzles) to rest their voice.
• Identifying and treating any medical conditions such as reflux or allergies.

Established in 1980, Child and Family Development is a multi-disciplinary pediatric therapy practice with a mission to provide comprehensive, integrated and quality services.  Our team of more than 35 therapists spans Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Education and Psychology. 

Currently, there is a full-time position for an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist available at our Midtown office.

Visit the Careers tab on our website, www.childandfamilydevelopment.com, for more information.

Most often it is the more severely involved or neurologically injured child who is referred to physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy at an early age.  However, an increasing number of infants and toddlers have mild to moderate developmental issues that will greatly benefit from the therapeutic expertise of a skilled pediatric therapist. 

Some infants may have a known diagnosis or medical condition.  However, some toddlers may simply be experiencing delays in walking, talking or overall socialization. We believe that once a child is identified, time becomes the most critical component.

When we are able to begin treatment with these children before the age of 3, progress often occurs more rapidly.  Families find their stress and concern lessened because of the support they receive from our team of clinicians.  There are agencies in the area that offer services in a home or natural environment, but Child and Family Development offers clinic-based therapy.

Our clinics are equipped with the tools, toys and equipment that are needed to evaluate and treat children. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate in the sessions and are trained to promote continuous progress in the other settings.  We find that many children benefit from working directly with a therapist in a therapeutic setting which is designed to support new learning techniques.  

 We have about 30 physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists on our staff with two locations to serve the Charlotte region.  Every staff member has specialized and advanced training in pediatric therapy with over 400 years of combined pediatric therapy experience across the practice.  Many staff members also have advanced training in treating infants to address issues of respiration, feeding and movement. 

Our practice accepts NC Medicaid, SC Medicaid, BCBS, Aetna, United Healthcare, Medcost and many other insurance plans. 

Infants and toddlers are given a priority at our practice and we are able to schedule evaluations, and treatment within just a few weeks. 

Contact us to learn more about our early intervention services for infants and young children. 

• Mr. Potato Head
• Puzzles
• Blocks
• Books
• Play sets (i.e. Fisher Price - Farm set or house set)
• Cars with toy garage
• Kitchen play set with toy foods
• Dress up clothes
• Board games

As your child begins to use more complex language, you may notice an increase in dysfluent speech patterns. Preschool-aged children will go through periods of time of what is called normal dysfluencies. Dysfluencies that are common for this age are:

1)      revisions: children revise what they have just said

2)      interjections: um, uh, like, etc.

3)      word repetitions: the-the

4)      phrase repetitions: the dog-the dog

As you child nears school age, these dysfluencies should be less frequent. Below is a list of warning signs which may signify a true dysfluency.

1)      frequent sound repetition: d-d-dog

2)      frequent syllable repetition: do-do-dog

3)      syllable repetition in which the vowel “uh” replaces the correct vowel in the word (i.e. “cuh-cuh-cat” rather than “ca-ca-cat”)

4)      frequent prolongation that becomes longer in duration (i.e. “mmmmmmy” rather than “my”)

5)      secondary characteristics: distracting sounds, facial grimaces, head movements, movements of the extremities

6)      tension and struggled behavior while attempting to get out words

7)      avoidance in saying certain words

8)      a look of fear when trying to say the word

9)      stutters for 6 months or longer

10) stutters for more than 10% of speech

If you notice any of the above behaviors, here are some general rules to follow:

1)      do not rush the child when they are speaking

2)      do not interrupt the child  

3)      do not talk about the child’s stuttering in front of them

4)      do not ask questions and pressure the child to speak

5)      do speak in a slower, more relaxed voice around your child  

6)      avoid telling your child to slow down, take it easy or repeat without stuttering

7)      relieve tensions in the home

8)      reassure your child with comments, such as “It’s ok. Many people get stuck.”

9)      avoid finishing your child’s words or sentences

10)  ensure that your child is getting proper rest and diet

If you think your child may have a stuttering disorder, please contact your local speech-language pathologist.

**Information taken from pro-ed (If you think your child stutters) and Disfluent Speech Behavior in Children, by Daniel DeJoy, Ph.D. 

• Help you to keep track of the words your child can use.  Parents are often surprised that their child is using more words than they think.
• If your child has difficulty producing sounds clearly, writing down the way your child says a word along with the meaning can help other caregivers understand what your child is saying (this is especially helpful for children with apraxia).
• Understand how your child is communicating.  Your child may not just be using words, but pointing, gestures, signs and other forms of communication.
• Keeping a journal can help you see your child's progress as they begin to use more words and help you report more accurate information to your child's speech therapist.
• Can be a keepsake that you put away and share with your child later.

A speech-language evaluation measures a child’s communication skills.  It is completed by a Speech-Language Pathologist. A referral from the primary care physician is typically required prior to the evaluation.  

Before your child is seen for an evaluation, information is gathered, including medical history, developmental history, family history, educational history, therapeutic history, and primary concerns. 

Formal tests may be completed during the evaluation, which is a way to compare your child to other children of the same age. A Speech-Language Pathologist may also informally assess your child. Informal tasks can include parental interview, discussion with other professionals (i.e. teacher, occupational therapist, etc.), observing how the child plays, and observing how the child interacts with adults/peers. 

During a speech-language evaluation, the following areas may be assessed:

1)      Receptive language-what the child understands

2)      Expressive language-what the child says

3)      Articulation-production of speech sounds

4)      Pragmatic language-social use of language

5)      Voice

6)      Fluency

7)      Oral peripheral examination-looks at structure and function of the face, lips, teeth, tongue, and palate

8)      Hearing screening

A written report will follow the evaluation, and may include the following information: child’s history, speech-language testing results and recommendations. 

At Child and Family Development in Charlotte, NC, an Interpretive Parent Conference is held after the evaluation to discuss findings, recommendations, and discuss normal speech-language skills. The Speech-Language Pathologist and parent/s are present during the meeting. 

If you suspect that your child has a communication disorder, please contact your local Speech-Language Pathologist.