Some children have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds; others have difficulty understanding the words they hear. Since 1987, SPS has been helping children do both— that is, helping them communicate more effectively.

Led by founding director Mindy Cohen, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, SPS aims to provide the most efficient and effective diagnosis, treatment, and integration of services for every child. SPS staff, specialists in pediatrics, utilize multidisciplinary diagnostic tools to form a comprehensive picture of the child’s strengths and weaknesses. They then design a program specific to his or her needs and work with the family to integrate that program into the child’s life.

Some children have an articulation disorder. They may mispronounce just a few sounds, or they may have difficulty being understood in general. For example, the four-year-old who still says, “tup” for “cup,” or “wed” for “red.” Other children have language-comprehension problems: the four-year-old who answers, “In the kitchen” to the question, “When did you have breakfast?”

Still others have difficulty properly using vocabulary and grammar to clearly express ideas. For instance, the five-year-old who says, “I want that, you know, that thing,” instead of naming the specific object. For these children, following oral directions, understanding questions, and learning new words and concepts are a challenge.

Early intervention during a child’s formative stages can be critical to his or her success in communication.

Additional communication problems, which are often misunderstood, include stuttering and voice disorders. The latter is manifested in hoarseness, lack of inflection, and an inappropriate pitch or volume level.

In all of these communication disorders, early intervention and parent participation are critical. SPS works from a family-centered model and routinely involves the parents as partners. We do that not only through such programs as Toddler Talk and Parents at Play, but also through continuous and scheduled communication with the family and with medical and educational professionals involved in the child's life.