When parents contact me with concerns about their child’s ability to speak well, I start with an evaluation of the child’s speech and language skills. I evaluate the child’s strengths and weaknesses and use differential diagnosis to determine the type of speech sound disorder (ex. childhood apraxia of speech, dysarthria, phonological disorder), and to rule out other possible causes. This step is crucial in order to determine the best therapy approach for the child.

Next, I write a comprehensive evaluation report and an intervention plan. The parents and I meet to discuss the results, and determine a therapy schedule. My preferred treatment approach for childhood apraxia of speech is Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC). I use principles of motor learning to help children learn to say words and sentences and transfer those skills to conversation. Together with the parents, we select meaningful and functional targets that align with the child's interests (ex. names of important people or pets, favourite toys, fun activities, social communication opportunities).