Customer service is our top priority at Colorado Springs Therapy Center. This means exceptional, individualized patient care in a family-centered environment. We treat a wide range of communication, feeding, and swallowing disorders for children and adults. We are known for providing innovative speech therapy techniques including our popular aquatic speech therapy model. Our loyal, highly trained staff relentlessly strives to provide you and your loved ones with the best speech therapy possible. We provide services in both English and Spanish.
Speech Therapy
Child Speech Development Milestones
Understands “no”
Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
Waves goodbye and plays patacake
Asks “what’s that?”
Uses two word negative phrases such as “no want”.
Has a 450 word vocabulary
Can tell a story
Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
Has sentence length of 4-5 words
Uses past tense correctly
Has a vocabulary of nearly 1500 words
Has a sentence length of 5-6 words
Has a vocabulary of around 2000 words
Defines objects by their use and what objects are made of
Services
Apraxia of speech is a motor planning disorder. This means body movements needed for speech are interrupted on their pathway from the brain to the mouth, making it difficult to accurately produce speech sounds. There are two types of apraxia: childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). CAS refers exclusively to apraxia diagnosed in childhood. AOS can occur when the brain experiences trauma such as a stroke or TBI. At Colorado Springs Therapy Center we focus on research proven apraxia treatment methods. We provide frequent and intensive therapy that focuses on planning, sequencing, and coordinating muscle movements to produce speech. We implement positive and encouraging support and integrate naturalistic speech with specific therapy trials.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain resulting from a blow or jolt to the head. Complications resulting from TBIs vary on a case by case basis. Their severity and longevity depend on how the TBI was acquired (i.e. car accident vs. sports-related concussions). At Colorado Springs Therapy Center we work with clients with mild to severe traumatic brain injuries. Therapy looks different depending on the stage of recovery each client is in, but all therapy is geared toward creating improved communicative functioning and increasing independence.
Voice disorders consist of symptoms that impact the quality of one’s voice including pitch, loudness, and quality of sound. Speech therapy assists in reducing symptoms and improving quality of communicative interactions in daily life. Our approach at Colorado Springs Therapy Center consists of guiding patients through vocal hygiene, behavior changes, and exercises to target specific, individual outcomes.
A communication disorder or delay is an impairment in one’s ability to process, send, receive, or comprehend written or spoken language. Communication disorders can range from mild to severe and can be developmental or acquired. With children, studies show early intervention is key. The sooner communication therapy begins, the greater a child’s progress will be. Whether you have a child that is a late bloomer or you are person with an acquired speech condition, Colorado Springs Therapy Center will work with you to create a developmentally appropriate and effective intervention plan.
AAC is a term that includes assistive, adaptive, alternative, and rehabilitative devices/materials. These devices and materials allow those who do not or cannot communicate verbally to communicate with those around them. This may look like a large electronic box mounted to a wheelchair, a picture book for a person with autism, or even just writing something down on a piece of paper. At Colorado Springs Therapy Center we routinely use assistive technology for specific therapy purposes and to aid in communication. Our trained therapists will work with you to decide the most effective, functional way of communication and provide support in navigating this avenue.
Aphasia is a condition that impairs one’s ability to communicate. It can affect the ability to understand language, both verbal and written, and can affect the ability to speak or write. Aphasia usually occurs suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. Treating aphasia requires expertise and patience. Aphasia symptoms will vary in type and severity from person to person depending on how severe their stroke or TBI was. We provide aphasia therapy by augmenting current skills, providing assistive technology options and training, and developing specific, functional speech and cognitive programs for clients and their families.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of disorders that are characterized by difficulties with repetitive behaviors, social interaction, and a variety of communication disorders including social communication difficulties. Individuals with ASD can have a very wide variety of ability levels and needs. At Colorado Springs Therapy Center we treat people with ASD of all ages and at all different parts of the spectrum. Our aquatic speech therapy program has been a very popular and effective treatment model for our clients with ASD. Many clients can better attend to therapy tasks when their body is in water due to total body hydrostatic pressure (water pressure).
Our Aquatic speech therapy is an extension of our land-based therapy. Aquatic speech therapy is appropriate for a variety of clients as it provides increased motivation and attention to task. Additionally, it assists in strengthening musculature supporting respiration, a precursor to speech (i.e. chest, shoulders, head, trunk). It is a perfect environment for people with positioning challenges and sensory needs. Aquatic speech therapy also improves oral function performance in a variety of activities such as blowing bubbles to target lip rounding and holding breath underwater to support increased lip and mouth closure. Aquatic therapy is held at local pools in our community.
Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the normal flow of speech is interrupted, preventing individuals from speaking in a fluent manner. Stuttering can be characterized by repetitions, breathing irregularities, and a variety of avoidance behaviors. While many children outgrow stuttering behaviors, research shows that early detection and therapy is critical for meaningful progress. At Colorado Springs Therapy Center we use a combination of stuttering modification and fluency shaping techniques as well as compensatory strategies to increase a client’s confidence and comfort with speaking.
Feeding and swallowing disorders include problems chewing, moving, swallowing, or trying new food. Dysphagia is an umbrella term that encompasses all swallowing difficulties, but dysphagia in one person can look extremely different in another. Dysphagia can occur in children and adults alike at various stages of eating. Swallowing treatment consists of compensatory strategies, adaptive equipment, and exercises to strengthen oral and pharyngeal structures and enhance their function. Regarding feeding and picky eaters, we believe in making feeding fun. We encourage patients to explore new capabilities while feeling safe and in control. We currently provide individual swallowing and feeding therapy and are exploring the option of feeding groups.
Speech and Swim
If your child has not been treated by one of our therapists in the past, the first step is to have your child’s doctor provide a referral for speech therapy evaluation and treatment. An evaluation will be scheduled after we receive the referral. Let your therapist know during the evaluation you are interested in aquatic speech therapy. The first several swim sessions are considered trials to ensure the pool is a good fit for your child. If limited progress is made or the environment is too distracting your therapist may recommend office visits instead.
The pool is a highly motivating environment where your child will learn new vocabulary, signs, receive abundant oral motor intervention, and be inspired to communicate!
Craving some deep pressure? Hydrostatic pressure gives the body 360 degrees of deep pressure providing an outstanding environment to breathe, move, focus, and learn!
Children with a variety of physical, sensory, developmental, or neurological challenges are prime candidates for aquatic speech therapy. Among those we have successfully treated in the past are people with: autism, sensory processing disorders, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, hypotonia, apraxia, hydrocephalus, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, articulation disorders, and general learning and language disorders.
Our aquatic speech therapy program is a year-round, afternoon program. It is based out of local pools around the city of Colorado Springs. Each 30-minute session is led by a speech therapist and assisted by trained swim therapy assistants for your child’s safety and enjoyment!
