Getting Started
Complete Contact or New Patient Request Form
Once your inquiry is received, our administrator will contact you within 48 business hours to schedule a free consultation and/or your child's initial evaluation. If the speech therapist is unable to meet your child's needs, you will be notified and provided with 2-3 referral options.
Free Consultation
(optional)
We provide a free, 15-minute consultation for caregivers to ask questions, discuss concerns, determine if an evaluation is recommended, and/or suggest additional referrals. Consultations are offered via phone and virtually.
Individualized Evaluation
An evaluation is required to begin therapy services. This 1:1 opportunity allows the speech therapist to use formal and informal assessment measures to assess strengths, areas of growth, and tailor the child's treatment to their individual needs. An evaluation is also essential to establish patient-centered and family-centered goals. Evaluations are only offered in person at this time.
Personalized Treatment
Treatment recommendations (including frequency, length of treatment, etc.) are provided after the initial evaluation. Ongoing treatment appointments may occur in office or virtually. Virtual therapy sessions may be considered for qualifying children. Recommendations for virtual therapy will be discussed with caregivers upon completion of evaluation.
Speech Sound Disorders
Phonological Processing
Consistent, repetitive errors that occur within a child's speech often used to simplify sounds. The error patterns occur naturally as the child's speech develops. Speech intervention is highly recommended if the error patterns persist beyond the age at which the pattern should be mastered, or significantly impact a child's speech intelligibility.
Speech Sound Disorder(s) is an umbrella term used to describe articulation deficits and/or additional speech disorders that impact a child's overall speech intelligibility. Please see specific examples of disorders that directly impact a child's ability to speak clearly.
Articulation
Clear speech is produced by combining actions of articulators (i.e. lips, teeth, tongue, vocal cords). Inability to coordinate, place, or combine these features leads to unintelligible speech indicating presence of an articulation disorder.
Speech Sound Delay
Speech sounds begin to develop throughout infancy until the child reaches 8 or 9 years old. If a child is not meeting speech sound development milestones, they may exhibit a speech sound delay.
Motor Speech
Movements for articulation are produced by neurological signals from the brain. If those signals have difficulty reaching articulators or articulators do not respond appropriately due to neurological factors, a motor speech disorder may be present.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech - Difficulty planning precise movements for speech sounds.
Dysarthria - Difficulty executing and making the precise movements for speech sounds.
Receptive Language
Pragmatic Language
Expressive Language
Language Disorders
The ability to understand and apply spoken language. Receptive language challenges may appear as difficulty answering questions, following directions, identifying items or people, and comprehending language concepts (i.e. pronouns, verbs, etc.).
The ability to use and express spoken language. Expressive language challenges may appear as difficulty increasing vocabulary, labeling, creating sentences, and using language concepts (i.e. pronouns, verbs, etc.).
The ability to understand and apply social rules of spoken or unspoken language. Pragmatic language challenges may appear as difficulty playing with others, engaging in conversation, following nonverbal social cues, and forming relationships with peers
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
We believe all children deserve access to communication and a voice. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a multimodal approach that utilizes various forms of communication to support children as they express their wants and needs. There are low technology and high technology options the child can trial to determine the best fit for them.
Examples of AAC include but are not limitde to: pictures, sign language, electronic devices, and more.
Sparks of Speech DFW provides assessment and treatment for children who do not have access to a primary form of communication. An evaluation and trial period are required in order to pursue an AAC device
If your child already has an AAC device and you would like for them to receive additional support, please complete the contact form and we will be happy to assist you.
Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
Difficulty chewing or moving the tongue for adequate chewing may indicate oral dysphagia.
The likelihood for oral dysphagia increases if a child has difficulty progressing from liquids to varying textures (i.e. purees, soft solids, regular solids) as age/development increase.
Oral Dysphagia
Pediatric Feeding Disorder
- Picky Eating
- Limited Variety
- Difficulty Adding New Foods
- Prolonged Mealtimes
- Sensory Aversions
Difficulty swallowing.
Pharyngeal Dysphagia
*Coming Soon*