Why Your Child May Struggle with Certain Speech Sounds

Have you ever wondered why your child struggles to say certain words, even after practicing them over and over? It might seem like a simple problem, but speech is a surprisingly complex process that involves tons of different body parts. My name is Jessica Abawag, and I’m the owner and Speech-Language Pathologist of Fluens Children’s Therapy in Tacoma, Washington, and Columbia, Tennessee. Today, we’re going to talk about why your child may struggle with certain speech sounds. Most People Don’t Realize How Complex the Act of Speaking Is The reality is that most people don’t realize how complex the act of speaking is. And that’s totally understandable, because speaking comes naturally to most people. It’s not something that you would intentionally think about. But if you’ve got a child who is struggling to produce certain speech sounds, it becomes really important for you to understand some of the challenges that they’re facing. This is because … Keep Reading…

How Parents Can Help a Child with a Speech Delay

It can be frustrating and worrying for parents if their child isn’t reaching their speech milestones. The good news is that there are simple, everyday strategies you can start using right away to support your child’s speech development at home. My name is Jessica Abawag, and I’m the owner and Speech-Language Pathologist of Fluens Children’s Therapy in Tacoma, Washington, and Columbia, Tennessee. Today, we’re going to talk about how parents can help a child with a speech delay. Many Parents Ask How Their Child Developed a Speech Delay One of the most commonly asked questions we get from parents, especially on the first meeting, is how their child developed a speech delay. I totally understand where they’re coming from and why they want these answers. Unfortunately, the research isn’t great right now in terms of pinpointing what causes a speech delay, unless there’s some known incident, such as an injury to the brain, or another … Keep Reading…

Why You Should Use a Pacing Board

Karaoke! Isn’t karaoke the best?  No matter what happens, it’s always fun.  Wincing inside but clapping wholeheartedly for the people who just don’t have it.  Watching in fascination when someone truly talented sings, someone who may even sound better than the original singer! And then it’s your turn.  You try to get out of it, but everyone eggs you on until you have no choice.  Nervously you choose your song and tell the deejay.  You grab the mike, stare at the screen, and now it’s the moment of truth: do you come in at the perfect time?  Do you start slow and continue to drag behind?  Are you singing so fast you sound like an auctioneer?   Can you sing the melody, but no one understands what you’re saying?  Or are you following the words as they change color, at just the right tempo, all while carrying a tune? The pitfalls of karaoke are not … Keep Reading…