Our Speech-Language Pathologists provide speech and language therapy for receptive and expressive language, communication and articulation impairments related to any variety of disorders and syndromes, such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Speech or Language Delay, Apraxia or Dysarthria. Speech therapy can range from the correction of specific sound production to increasing a child's understanding and use of language. Speech therapy entails increasing a child's communication skills, such as for a child under two years of age who is not saying words, or a child who needs assistive technology. Use of sign language, picture boards, switches, and voice-output devices are all examples of assistive technology. Speech therapy can also address increasing range of motion and strength of oral musculature to improve sound production or feeding skills. Our Speech-Language Pathologists have extensive augmentative communication experience. Augmentative communication devices are assistive technologies such as switches or computers that can produce voice output to facilitate communication. Therapists assess the need for a assistive technology device and identify the proper technology to best facilitate communication while considering the child's mental and physical capabilities and environment settings. Speech-Language Pathologists can screen, evaluate and treat without a physician's referral. Many insurance companies do require a referral to cover speech and language therapy benefits and we routinely provide parents with screenings and evaluations to determine if there is a need for therapeutic intervention then, if needed, contact the physician for the referral.