Have you ever asked your child a simple question and gotten an answer that seemed completely unrelated? Or watched your child struggle to explain something they clearly understood? Maybe they know the answer but cannot find the right words, tell a story in the right order, or explain their thinking. These challenges can be confusing for parents—and they can be even more frustrating for children.

From an SLP perspective, these difficulties may involve language processing and expressive formulation. These are complex neurological processes that allow children to take in information, make sense of it, organize it, and formulate a response.

We all have different kinds of relationships in our lives, from the people we are closest to and share the most with to people we barely know. These relationships can change over time, which can make it tricky to know where someone fits—and what we should or shouldn’t talk about with them. For children, understanding these differences can be especially challenging.

Summer vacation is here!!! While vacation is great, some parts can be boring at times. It can be hard to keep children occupied and happy in a car, train, or plane (or even at home on rainy days!). Here are some FUN games to pass the time and build language skills. No materials needed except your mouth, ears, and brain (though books can be helpful for jokes and Would You Rather). Enjoy!

When our children are struggling in some way, we usually start with some basic adjustments: talk to their teacher, tweak sleep/food/activity schedules, talk with them directly, and wait to see if it’s a passing phase. When these first-level supports don’t work, the next steps often involve formal evaluation of some kind. We’re going to walk you through the kinds of evaluations you might consider and what to do with that whopping report when you receive it so you can be a strong advocate for your child.

There’s a new (old?) trend in town, and it’s making the rounds on social media. Parents are noticing and are understandably confused, concerned, and wondering if “myo-therapy” is right for their child.

At Stewart SLP, we believe learning happens best when kids are moving, exploring, and having fun. Ever notice how your child seems to learn a new word while they’re climbing, spinning, or running — not sitting still at a table? That’s because speech and language are deeply connected to how their bodies experience the world.

When you need a response to, "I'm bored!"

It can sometimes be difficult for kids to talk about their day, much to their parents’ frustration. We want to know it all!

Parents sometimes think speech-language therapy is only for young children.

When children are struggling, these support providers can help.

At school, work, and in the community, you’ll find groups of people doing fun things that you want to join. Here are some helpful ways to enter social groups and make new friends.

It’s not always easy to make new friends at school, work, or in the community. This guide for all ages offers helpful suggestions for how to get started.

There are lots of opportunities for local community outings with your children during the last month of summer.

Jump into July with these fun, local activities for all ages!

Many children experience dysfluency during their early language years. You will typically see this occur between the ages of 2-5 years of age. At this time in a child’s life, they are going from using 1-2 word phrases to short and simple sentences, asking and answering questions, and understanding a wide variety of vocabulary that they may or may not be able to explain yet. If your child begins to stutter, here are a few things to ask yourself.

Your vocal cords are two bands of muscle in your larynx (mid-throat area) that rest at the top of your trachea (see picture). They function to protect us from choking on foods/liquids. They also vibrate to produce our voice. Vocal cord tissue is resilient but can be damaged. The first line of defense in keeping your vocal cords healthy is to practice good vocal hygiene. If difficulties persist after several weeks of implementing vocal hygiene strategies, a consultation with an ENT would be warranted.

Neurodiversity (“neuro” = brain + “diversity” = varieties) is a term used to describe differences in the ways individuals’ brains work. This is in contrast to neurotypical brains that function within an established range of expected development. So, what falls under neurodiversity? Any person with a brain difference is neurodivergent, including those who are gifted, autistic, and/or have genetic variations, ADHD, learning difficulties, mental health challenges, and more. It is important to understand that not all brains function the same way; they are diverse.

Your child needs speech-language support – but where do you go??? Speech-language evaluations and therapy can be delivered in a variety of settings including schools, private clinics, and outpatient facilities. Qualifications for therapy depends on the setting you are seeking.

Speech-language therapy can support your student at any point in their academic career. Language is an essential element of communication and learning at school. Students in nearly all grades and subjects rely on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and social skills. Higher-level language skills, like inferencing, connecting, problem-solving, organizing, and more, become more important as students advance through grade levels. When students have strong communication skills with the adults and children around them, they are much more likely to be successful in school. Here are a few ways in which a speech-language pathologist can help:

Learn about the benefits of private-pay services.