The specialists at Children’s Speech Therapy Center (CSTC Therapies) are dedicated to helping children develop and improve their communication skills. Speech, language and occupational therapists identify and treat disorders that can impair a child’s full participation in life.
In a recent interview, Dani Waters, Director of CSTC, explained the Center’s focus and philosophy.
Ms. Waters discovered the field of speech therapy while studying at the University of Alabama. Initially an education major, a roommate introduced her to speech pathology. From that point on, she has never veered from her dedication to the field.
Ms. Waters has always known she wanted to work with children; she baby sat as a teenager and was a nanny before going to college. She has practiced in both public (schools) and private settings. She assumed management of CSTC in the summer of 2005.
How is CSTC different from other clinics?
CSTC is solely focused on diagnosing and treating the unique needs of children with communication disorders. Every tool and technique we use is designed for children. Our staff trained specifically to work with patients ranging in age from infants to late-teens.
Moreover, we do not isolate the patient’s condition from his or her environment. We engage the family in our treatment plans, building a network of care around the child.
Families whose only experience with speech, language or occupational therapy has been in a school setting will find that there are more resources available at CSTC. We can take the time to thoroughly explore a child’s individual situation before designing a treatment plan. We have a wide spectrum of tools to help with therapy sessions. We help parents and caregivers understand every phase of progress and actively involve them in their children’s improvement.
What kinds of conditions does CSTC handle?
CSTC diagnoses and treats the full spectrum of speech, language and occupational disorders.
A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds. This could include:
- Articulation disorders—difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly (to the point that others can’t understand).
- Fluency disorders—such as forms of stuttering.
- Resonance or voice disorders—problems with the pitch, volume or quality of a child’s voice that distract listeners from what’s being said. These may also cause the child pain or discomfort.
Speech disorders largely could be considered physical deficits. Swallowing problems also fall under the heading of speech disorder.
A language disorder involves neural or processing disconnects. It can be either receptive or expressive:
- Receptive disorders—difficulties understanding or processing language.
- Expressive disorders—problems putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way.
Language disorders can also include cognitive communication impairments such as attention, memory and problem-solving dysfunctions.
Additionally, our Occupational Therapist helps children improve their ability to perform daily living tasks. These conditions can be mentally, physically, developmentally or emotionally disabling.
- Fine motor skills—grasping and releasing toys, using eating utensils, handwriting, etc.
- Hand-eye coordination—recognizing letters and being able to replicate them, playing ball games, etc.
The focus is not only on improving basic motor functions and reasoning functions, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function.
Speech, language and occupational problems can be the result of a variety of congenital, developmental or acquired causes. These can include:
- Stroke
- Brain injury
- Developmental delays or disorders
- Learning disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Cleft palate
- Voice pathology
- Mental retardation
- Hearing loss
- Emotional problems
And because these conditions can encompass many systems—muscular, neural, emotional—our staff can work as part of a team of other professionals, including physicians, social workers, psychologists or other therapists.
When should we bring our child to CSTC?
We accept patients ranging in age from 12 months to adolescence. If you are concerned about your child’s communication skills, we invite you to call to discuss the situation. You may arrange an evaluation or consultation at that time.
For a thumbnail guide to what is considered normal development at any given age, please refer to our website. This also contains a list of common warning signs that may help.
CSTC has found that early intervention can be extremely effective in treating communication disorders in children.
Child development research has determined that the rate of human learning and development is most rapid in the preschool years. Thus, a child runs the risk of missing an opportunity to learn during this state of maximum readiness.
Early intervention also has a significant impact on the families of patients. Having an “outside-of-normal” child can cause stress on people who are used to high achievements. By engaging the services of CSTC’s professionals, parents discover the facts about their child’s condition, participate in a treatment program, and learn techniques for coping with such emotions as disappointment or frustration that can surround communication disorders.
We can develop treatments for speech and language disorders in children as young as nine to ten months. In the case of occupational therapy, we can begin working with infants as young as one or two months.
As a child grows, we can help with developing or on-going disorders that could limit his or her ability to participate fully in academic and social life. This could even include study and organizational skills.
How does CSTC’s approach treatment?
We begin by reviewing the child’s medical, developmental and educational history. We then use one or more tests, observation, interviews and play-based activities to evaluate the child’s skills. We discuss the evaluation results with the parents and then create an individualized treatment plan.
In addition to regular sessions between child and therapist, the plan includes ongoing consultations with parents and other caregivers. We help them understand what’s going on, and encourage them to participate in their child’s progress with specific activities aligned to the treatment.
Inviting the child’s family to be part of the treatment eases ease anxieties or apprehensions by setting realistic expectations and eliminating unknowns. We also help parents distinguish between developmental play and activities that pressure the child to perform.
What are CSTC’s credentials?
We are committed to providing the best services to our patients. In addition to government-mandated requirements (Master’s degree in an appropriate discipline, and licensing by the Virginia Department of Health Professionals), we ensure our specialists keep updated on therapeutic advances. Our clinicians attend conferences and take courses regularly to continuously improve their knowledge and technique.
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