Helping a child develop clear speech is a journey full of questions and concerns for many parents. Speech sounds are the building blocks of communication, and understanding how children learn to produce these sounds can make a big difference in supporting their growth. As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I often meet parents who want to know what is typical, what might be a sign of delay, and how they can help at home. This post answers common questions about speech sounds in children,...

It's very common to hear that the clients I work with will experience some level of hoarseness. Surprisingy, this can apply to adults and children. As an SLP, hearing hoarseness (without any other underlying medical issues) tells me that the voice has been pushed to its limits with overuse and requires some extra support now in order to heal, recover, and return to normal use. How does the voice work when it's not hoarse? When we speak, we need strong airflow, vocal fold vibration, and to...

A discussion of how and why emotion can affect our communication, as well as how speech therapy can support you to build a stronger voice for yourself or your child.