Colligo Speech-Language Pathology, P.A. offers flexibility in meeting your family's and child's needs. Services provided include comprehensive evaluations, screenings/consultations, and/or direct therapy if recommended. There are various areas addressed under speech-language pathology including speech, receptive language, expressive language, social communication, feeding and orofacial myofunctional skills.
There is often confusion between speech and language skills. Speech, commonly referred to as articulation, is the ability to produce speech sounds accurately and fluently. Language is a complex system of symbols used for thought and communication. Language takes many forms including verbal, written, sign and picture-based communication systems.
Receptive Language refers to understanding language. Expressive Language is how language is used to express oneself. Difficulties with receptive and/or expressive language skills can involve semantics (vocabulary), morphology (how words are formed) and/or syntax (putting words together following grammatical rules).
Social Communication involves the appropriate use of language for social interactions, reciprocity and other skills. It includes communicating for different purposes, adjusting how one speaks to the listener, following the rules of a conversation and staying on topic.
There are various building blocks necessary for children to develop language that speech-language pathologists also help to address. These include attention, concentration and behavior. Pre-language skills such as using gestures, eye contact and joint attention, as well as a child's play skills are important indicators of a child's language development that are frequently overlooked.
Further training also equips speech-language pathologists with specialized skills to address feeding and swallowing disorders. Sometimes babies may have difficulty transitioning from breast/bottle to eating solid foods. As kids get older, it is not uncommon to hear parents say, "He's just a picky eater" or "She's just lazy when it comes to eating." However, it can be more than that if a child's repertoire is significantly limited and/or mealtimes have become more stressful than enjoyable as a family.
Krisann has spent years continuing her education and training in this area including several Talk Tools courses, Beckman Oral Motor, and SOS Approach to Feeding.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is another specialized area that addresses the relationship between the lips, tongue and jaw to improve or correct functional patterns and resting posture. In many cases, an orofacial myofunctional disorder may develop from a combination of factors including: a restricted nasal airway due to enlarged tonsils/adenoids and/or allergies; prolonged use of bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups and/or thumb-sucking; and possible structural or physiological abnormalities such as short lingual frenulum (i.e. tongue-tie).
Krisann has undergone advanced training in OMT through the International Association of Orofacial Myology.