What Does A Speech Language Pathologist Do?
Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) work with individuals with communication needs. Whether you are concerned about your own communication or your child’s, it is always best to seek out the advice of a professional. We provide speech and language assessments and therapy, both in-person and via tele-practice. We understand that the process – and even the lingo – can feel overwhelming at first, but we are here to help guide you every step of the way.
Assessment / Evaluation
An assessment helps us understand you or your child’s communication strengths and areas of need. It may include interviews, questionnaires, and play- or task-based activities. You’ll receive a written report with results, recommendations, and a personalized treatment plan for next steps.
Treatment / Therapy / Intervention
Speech-language therapy is where our trained Speech-Language Pathologists work with you or your child to support communication goals. At Speakable, therapy is offered in-clinic or online through tele-therapy. Sessions for children are often play-based and designed to be fun and motivating. For teens and adults, sessions are tailored to be practical, engaging, and relevant to real-life communication needs.
Tele-practice / Virtual Services
Both assessment and treatment can are available via tele-practice, which can be a great fit for many clients. Our clinicians know how to keep children engaged through the screen using interactive materials and digital speech therapy games. For adults, sessions are tailored to be practical and relevant.
If you are unsure if tele-practice is a good fit for your little one, we are happy to try a short session. If they cannot participate, the session ends after a few minutes with no charge. We also offer shorter sessions for children who may have limited attention spans.
Areas We Assess and Treat?
Speech-language pathologists assess and treat a wide range of communication needs. Below are some key areas:
Articulation / Speech
This refers to the pronunciation of speech sounds and overall clarity. Simple sounds like ‘B’ and ‘P’ usually develop by the age of 3, while more complex sounds like ‘R’ and ‘TH’ may continue developing until about age 8. Some individuals may have distortions, omissions, or substitutions, and a speech-language pathologist can determine if therapy is needed.
Expressive and Receptive Language
Receptive language is understanding words and sentences.
Expressive language is using words meaningfully.
These skills are closely linked. A child cannot say a word until they understand it. Language delays can impact school performance, reasoning, vocabulary, and higher-level skills. Adults may also need support with language for work, social communication, or cognitive-linguistic goals.
Emergent Language / Early Intervention
The clarity and content of a child’s speech and language continue to emerge until 3 (and beyond). If a child is not meeting their early language milestones or saying their first words, a speech-language pathologist can help. Some children are “late talkers” and simply develop their expressive language skills more slowly than peers. It is not always possible to predict who will catch up on their own and who may continue to experience difficulties. Regardless, all children can benefit from language stimulation and parent strategies provided by a speech-language pathologist.
Social / Pragmatics
These include verbal as well as non-verbal communication skills , such as initiating conversation, joining groups, reading body language and understanding the subtle nuances of language (like humour and idioms). Social communication support is especially important for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, though anyone with social challenges can benefit.
Oral Motor / Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Our lips, tongue, jaw and palate (also known as our articulators) all require a great deal of strength, motion and coordination in order to produce speech. Weakness of the articulators, or poor coordination of brain signals to the articulators, can cause a breakdown in clarity. Our speech-language pathologists can assess oral motor function
and determine if therapy is needed.
Fluency/ Stuttering
This refers to the smoothness of connected speech. Some stuttering is
typical in preschoolers, but a speech-language pathologist can assess whether
intervention is needed based on stuttering frequency, type, and secondary behaviours. Common stuttering patterns indicative of a disorder include prolongations (i.e.,“sssssock”), repetitions (i.e., “s-s-s-s-s-ock”) and blocks (i.e., “—–sock”).
Literacy / Reading / Phonological Awareness
Before a child can read, they develop skills such as identifying and manipulating sounds, producing rhymes, and blending phonemes. Weakness in these areas can make reading difficult or frustrating. Therapy can strengthen foundational literacy skills, supporting reading, comprehension, and enjoyment.
Adult Services
Speech-language pathologists also work with adults to improve communication skills in personal, academic, and professional settings.
Accent Modification
For adults who want help to enhance their speech for clearer, more effective
communication in English, our speech-language pathologists provide individualized strategies to improve pronunciation, intonation, and speech clarity.
Communication Enhancement Strategies
Adults may seek support with professional communication, social skills, or confidence in presentations and conversations. Therapy focuses on practical, goal-based strategies to help communicate more effectively in real-life situations.
Sessions can be in-person or via tele-practice, tailored to your schedule and goals.