What is speech therapy?
Speech therapy is more than just learning how to say words—it’s about giving children the tools they need to connect with the world around them. It is a specialized clinical service designed to improve a child's ability to communicate effectively, covering everything from the physical act of producing sounds to the complex social rules of conversation.
At Vivid Voices, we use evidence-based techniques disguised as play to help children find their voice, build confidence, and reduce the frustration that comes with being misunderstood.
Articulation
Articulation refers to how speech sounds are made. Children with articulation difficulties may have trouble producing certain sounds correctly, which can make their speech harder to understand.
You might notice your child:
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Substitutes one sound for another (like “wabbit” for “rabbit”)
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Leaves out sounds in words
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Has speech that is difficult for others to understand
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Becomes frustrated when not understood
Therapy focuses on teaching correct sound production in a fun and supportive way, helping your child speak more clearly and confidently.
Expressive Language
Expressive language is how a child shares their thoughts, ideas, and needs with others. Children with expressive language difficulties may know what they want to say but have trouble putting it into words.
You might notice your child:
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Uses shorter or simpler sentences than expected for their age
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Has trouble finding the right words
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Leaves out important parts of a sentence (like verbs or small connecting words)
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Gets frustrated when trying to communicate
Speech therapy helps children build vocabulary, form sentences, and confidently express themselves so they can be understood and feel heard.
Receptive Language
Receptive language is how a child understands what others are saying. When a child has difficulty in this area, they may struggle to process language, even if they can speak clearly.
You might notice your child:
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Has trouble following directions
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Seems confused when spoken to
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Needs things repeated often
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Has difficulty answering questions
Therapy focuses on improving understanding of words, directions, and concepts so children can better participate at home, in school, and with peers.
Social Communication (Pragmatic Language)
Social communication is how we use language in everyday interactions—like taking turns in conversation, understanding body language, and knowing what to say in different situations.
You might notice your child:
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Has difficulty starting or maintaining conversations
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Struggles with turn-taking or staying on topic
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Has trouble understanding social cues (like facial expressions or tone of voice)
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Seems unsure how to interact with peers
Speech therapy helps children develop the skills needed to build friendships, navigate social situations, and communicate with confidence.