Speech therapy is not always easy.
For some kids, it’s years of work to gain control of their lips, tongue, and jaw to form words and sentences clearly.
Apraxia of speech is one diagnosis that can keep a kid in therapy for years!
However, this is a story of perseverance and joy that all started with a board game and a dash of creativity.
Speech is not always easy, but it can be fun!!
Sarah’s Conquest
Sarah came to Family First Speech Therapy on a quest to conquer her speech difficulties. Enter our brilliant speech language pathologist, who we’ll affectionately refer to as “The Wizard of Words” (or Hannah)! Armed with a treasure trove of oral exercises and a heart full of compassion, they set out to unlock Sarah’s speech superpowers.
To make the therapy sessions engaging and exciting, they traveled through the sugary landscapes of Candy Land, The Wizard of Words and Sarah encountered lollipop forests, gumdrop mountains, and even a river made of chocolate syrup. At each stop along the way, they would pause in front of a mirror to complete a special oral activity. The mirror allowed Sarah to watch and learn how her mouth moved but was also a place to see the confidence blooming within her.
The journey didn’t end there because we know that true mastery must go past the therapy room.
Sarah’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she embarked on scavenger hunts! Articulation and speech production was practiced once she found the item containing the sounds she made in error.
The therapy sessions were not only educational but also filled with laughter, making Sarah feel at ease even in the face of challenges.
Successful Speech Therapy Is Not Boring
I share this tale with you to highlight the power of creativity, playfulness, and personalized therapy. Sarah’s journey reminds us that with the right guidance, even the largest obstacles can be defeated.
I know it is not easy to watch your child be frustrated when their friends can’t understand them. Oral movements paired with speech production can make therapy move faster and stick once out of the therapy room!
You and your child CAN DO THIS!
We can help make it playful and fun!!
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash