By the time a child reaches two, they are typically using more than 50 words and combining 2 words to create phrases such as “want milk” or “mommy[‘s] hat.” By the age of three, they are talking back and forth with others, answering and asking questions, and generally talking a lot more! For children with delayed or disordered language, speech therapy may focus on receptive language (what a child understands), expressive language (what a child uses), or a combination of the two.

Social communication, also known as “pragmatics,” encompasses the how of language use. It is the way that we understand and apply the unspoken rules of interactions, particularly when making and keeping friends. Pragmatics can be particularly difficult for children with Autism who may not pick up on these “rules” on their own and may not understand the perspectives of others when they break them. Speech therapy targeting social communication in children with Autism is designed to help them better understand the expectations and perspectives of others, their own personal comfort zones, and effective ways to practice self-advocacy in social scenarios.

Alternative and Augmentative Communication, also known as AAC, is any form of communication used to supplement or replace verbal communication. AAC can be "No-Tech” or “Low-Tech,” as with use of sign language or writing, or it can be “High-Tech,” usually as tablets with communication programming. Regardless of its form, the key to successful AAC use is consistency and education both for the AAC user and the listener. With the support of Beetle and Hare, AAC can be a wonderful bridge to communication for children of all ages and abilities.

Speech Sound Disorders, also know as Articulation and Phonological Disorders, impact a child’s ability to pronounce particular sounds and reduce their ability to be understood by their listeners. This can look like a difficulty in correctly placing all the moving parts, such as with a frontal or lateral lisp, or a pattern of errors, such as when a child uses the /d/ sound to replace the /g/ sound resulting in “dough” for “go.” Beetle and Hare can help to address speech sound disorders of either nature and support your child’s progress with a home program.

Stuttering is the tense and arrhythmic production of speech sounds due to differences in the speaker’s brain and body. Sounds can be repeated, stretched, or stopped entirely; however, being a person who stutters does not mean being an ineffective communicator. Strength-based stuttering therapy focuses on building strong foundations of communication, education, and self-advocacy.