FAQ

Who do you help?

I specialise in working with:

• children with unclear or unintelligible speech due to a speech sound delay or disorder,
• children with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders.

What is a Speech Sound Disorder?

Speech sound disorder (SSD) is an umbrella term used to describe the difficulty or delay some children have in the development and/or production of speech. Most children make some mistakes as they learn to say new words, but a child who does not say sounds by their expected ages may have a speech sound disorder. If a 3-year-old isn’t understood by strangers about 75% of the time (90-100% for 4-year-olds) then a speech assessment would be recommended. There are different types of speech sound disorders depending on the cause of the difficulty and the type of difficulty the child is experiencing.

It is important to note that ‘speech’ is different from ‘language’. Language refers to a whole set of communication skills both verbal and non-verbal and includes speaking, gesturing, understanding – and later reading and writing. Speech refers to the sounds a child creates while speaking.

What is an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder?

According to the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT), “Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly, sleep apnea, facial skeletal growth and development, breathing, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, posture, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, restricted facial and lingual frenum, forward head posture, incorrect oral habits and more.” See https://aomtinfo.org/orofacial-myofunctional-disorders-omds/ for more details.

Where and when do you work?

I see children in their own homes or educational settings within a 10 mile radius of my base in Thame, Oxfordshire. I work on Tuesdays and Thursdays during school hours and school term times.

How many therapy sessions will my child need?

Therapy is not a ‘quick fix’, often requiring multiple sessions over months. The best results come from close collaboration between the therapist and family. Therapy includes strategies and tasks to be carried out between therapy sessions. These are as important as the therapy sessions themselves for positive outcomes. Please think carefully about whether you are able to commit to this practice before you engage in the assessment and therapy process.

Please also note, I may recommend referrals to other professionals to address the underlying reasons for the concerns you may have. I value a team approach and look to other professionals that will best help meet my clients’ needs.