OUR SERVICES

Speech-Language Therapy
Occupational Therapy

Little Big and LOUD provides comprehensive speech-language and occupational therapy evaluations to assist in planning personalized speech-language and occupational therapy plans.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE SERVICES

CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH

Recognized by Apraxia Kids.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is characterized by highly unintelligible speech where the brain struggles to communicate the plans needed to make speech sounds and words.

The treatment approach for Childhood Apraxia of Speech is intense where sessions are shorter in duration (20-30 minutes), but greater in frequency, and the number of practice trials per session is maximized. The Principles of Motor Learning serve as the foundation for treatment and guide clinical decisions. Therefore, treatment focuses on practicing towards habituation of the movement pattern for speech, and not the individual sounds. A multi-sensory approach is implemented throughout to facilitate motor learning, where maximum cues are provided initially, then faded over time to promote generalization and carryover. The goal is to provide functional and/or meaningful therapy for the child, one that will aid in improving their quality of life. Movement activities and reinforcers are introduced throughout sessions as a means to motivate or interest the child, but chosen carefully as not to direct their attention away from the goal of treatment.

EARLY INTERVENTION

The first three years of life are the most crucial years for a child's growth and development. Early intervention is for children ages birth to 3 years and their families. Early intervention promotes a child's age-appropriate growth and acquisition of developmental skills. It's designed to enable parents/caregivers to incorporate therapeutic strategies within every day routines. The primary focus of early intervention is family education, training and support.

ARTICULATION/PHONOLOGY

Speech sound disorders are the inability to correctly form the sounds of words.
Articulation disorder is a speech sound disorder that affects individual sounds. The child has trouble making specific consonants and/or vowels.
A Phonological Disorder is a speech sound disorder that affects the organization of speech sound patterns. The child's errors are rule-based and follow predictable patterns.

RECEPTIVE AND EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE

Receptive language refers to our understanding of language and meaning. A receptive language disorder is one in which a child struggles to understand and process the information they receive from others and their environment. This might look like a child who struggles to follow directions or answer questions appropriately.

Expressive language refers to our use of words and gestures to convey meaning. An expressive language disorder is one in which a child struggles to communicate their message effectively so they are understood by others. This might look like a child who struggles to put words together, leaves words out, and/or has a low vocabulary.

PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE

Also known as social communication. It is the way in which we communicate within social situations. A pragmatic language disorder may look like a child who struggles to make eye contact, initiate and maintain conversations, play cooperatively with others, and/or understand other's feelings and point of view.

STUTTERING

Stuttering is a Speech Disorder, also referred to as a Fluency or Disfluency Disorder. Stuttering refers to a disruption in the normal flow of speech. It is characterized by sound, syllable, or word repetitions, prolongations, and/or pauses.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES

FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT/HAND SKILLS

Fine Motor Development/Hand Skills refers to how children use their hands and fingers as well as their ability to grasp and control objects while using just one hand. This is a foundational skill that assists with hand-writing, scissor skills, clothing management, tying shoes, engaging in play, and so much more. Examples of hand skills would be putting a coin in a piggy bank or crumbling up a sheet of paper using one hand.

SENSORY PROCESSING

Sensory Processing is the way the body receives and organizes input from the environment and then responds to the input. It is how the body perceives and organizes noises, textures, smells, tastes, or being touched. If a child is sensitive in one of these areas, his body might respond in a nontraditional way to a certain noise or certain texture. Sensory Processing plays a huge role in how a child's behaviors are affected by the environment.

SELF-REGULATION

Self-Regulation is the ability to calm one's self in order to respond appropriately to the environment. Self-Regulation is a primary component of understanding and acting on emotions in an appropriate way.

SOCIAL INTERACTION SKILLS

Social Interaction Skills encompass how a child responds to and interacts with peers and adults. This includes how a child engages in play with peers, and how a child manages behaviors when interacting with adults or peers. Social Interaction Skills include improving attention and following diretions in order to create relationships.

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