What we do - We provide evaluation and treatment for disorders in all areas of communication and oral-motor functioning. These include:
We are certified to provide the FastForWord® family of products to enhance auditory and language processing abilities, and reading skills. We also use the LiPS® program for reading and spelling. We are also trained in the PROMPT® technique for speech sound production. We also have training in the Monterey Fluency Program® for stuttering.
Where we are - Our office is located at 258 Sixth Avenue at the corner of Garfield Place in Brooklyn, New York. We also provide some services in local schools and at home when scheduling permits.
Whom we service - We work with people of all ages, whenever any problem in communication skills is noted. Communication begins in infancy, from a very early age, through eye contact, vocalizations, and vocal inflection. Therapy may begin, even at this early stage of language development, even before the age at which we expect to see true words. Research has shown that the earlier intervention begins, the better the outcome. This holds true for language disorders, articulation disorders, stuttering, in fact, any area that falls under the umbrella of communication.
How we begin - You may contact us via email, at info@parkslopespeechtherapy.com, or by telephone, at 718.768.3526. Generally, we schedule an evaluation first in order to determine the need for therapy and how often treatment should be provided. The evaluation varies, depending on the client's age and area of examination. For example, for a very young child, we may assess a spontaneous speech and language sample obtained by interacting using play activities. For an older child or adult, a battery of formal, standardized tests may be administered. Thus, the time required to perform the evaluation will vary depending on the tests we need to perform.
What happens then? - Sometimes, we give parents a home program because we feel that will be the most effective way to help their children. At other times, we schedule therapy once, twice or three times a week. Therapy sessions range from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the need. We work hard to accommodate our clients' schedules. Often, home practice is provided so that clients may benefit as expeditiously as possible, from the therapy experience. We are often asked, "what happens in therapy?" For babies with oral motor difficulties, we may work on feeding skills. For young children with a language delay or disorder, we may utilize play techniques which facilitate specific vocabulary, sentence structure, or speech sound production. For older children, adolescents and adults, we work in a more structured fashion using specific, directed tasks, which incorporate carry-over activities to be done outside of the therapy setting.
How do we determine that we are done? - In general, we use the criteria of 90% correct production, for three consecutive sessions. At times, we gradually reduce the number of visits over a period of several weeks or months.
Please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions. In the future, we'll be posting questions and informative articles on this site.