FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Articulation refers to how we physically produce speech sounds using the lips, tongue, teeth, jaw, and palate. An articulation difficulty means one or more sounds are hard to produce clearly, which can affect how well a speaker is understood.

Visit the Resources Page

Phonological processes are patterns of sound simplification that young children commonly use as they learn to talk — for example, leaving off the ends of words or replacing one group of sounds with another. Most patterns fade as children develop. When patterns persist beyond the expected age, speech therapy can help address them.

Visit the Resources Page

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder in which a child has difficulty planning and coordinating the precise movements needed for speech, even though the muscles themselves are not weak. Diagnosis requires evaluation by a speech-language pathologist. If you have concerns, a consultation is a good first step.

Stuttering is a communication difference that affects the flow of speech. It can include repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongations of sounds; and blocks where sound or air gets stuck. Stuttering can also involve physical tension and feelings about speaking. Speech therapy can help build strategies and confidence for easier communication.

Speech sounds develop gradually, and different sounds are typically mastered at different ages — some early (like p, b, m) and others later (like r, s, th). If you're unsure whether your child's speech sounds are on track, a consultation or evaluation can give you a clear answer for your child specifically.

Visit the Resources Page

Every child develops at their own pace, but there are general expectations for each age. If your child is harder to understand than peers of the same age, or you find yourself frequently "translating" for them, it may be worth talking with a speech-language pathologist. A free consultation is an easy, no-pressure way to ask.

Intelligibility — how much of a child's speech listeners understand — typically increases with age, with unfamiliar listeners understanding more and more of what a child says as they grow. If your child's speech seems much harder to understand than expected for their age, an evaluation can help identify why and what to do about it.

Stuttering affects the forward flow of speech and can include sound and word repetitions, prolongations, and blocks — sometimes accompanied by physical tension or avoidance of certain words or situations. Stuttering is not caused by nervousness or a lack of intelligence, and people who stutter can become confident, effective communicators.

Visit the Resources Page

Common myths include the ideas that stuttering is caused by anxiety or shyness, that it reflects intelligence, or that people who stutter simply need to "slow down" or "relax." None of these are true. Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental difference, and unhelpful advice like "take a breath" often makes speaking harder, not easier.

A superbill is an itemized invoice or statement designed for out-of-network clients who are seeking possible insurance reimbursement. It lists the services provided to the client, along with the charges and payments associated with those services.

Private-pay clients whose insurance plans include out-of-network benefits for speech therapy may be eligible to use a superbill. Not every insurance plan offers out-of-network benefits, so clients should contact their insurance provider to confirm their coverage.