Speech and Language Therapy – Preschool

Speech and Language services are provided to children who are having difficulty with: clear speech, using words, expressing thoughts, understanding language, following directions, interacting with others, stuttering, voice, and/or early literacy. Speech and Language therapy uses a variety of techniques to help improve a child’s ability to communicate.

Who We Are:

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) are regulated healthcare professionals who work with Communicative Disorders Assistants (CDA) to help children develop communication, literacy, and feeding/ eating skills.

SLPs have a master’s degree and must be registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario.

CDAs have a post-secondary diploma and provide therapy under the supervision of an SLP.

What We Provide:

Speech and Language Pathologists and Communicate Disorders Assistants may provide:

• Assessments which may include a review of your child’s history, a clinical observation of your child’s skills, a standardized test, and caregiver observations/ interviews.
• SLPs work with the family to identify goals that are important to the child and their caregivers
  • Goals may include:
    • Feeding and swallowing
    • How your child is communicating with others
    • How your child expresses themselves
    • How your child understands what others say to them
    • How your child moves their mouths to make sounds
    • How clearly your child’s speech is to others
    • Development of early literacy skills
    • How fluently your child speaks
• Individual and/or group therapy sessions
• Consultation and home programming for the family
• Consultation and recommendations to school teams and community partners

Learn More About:

Early Words

Early Words is the CTC-CK’s Preschool Speech and Language Program and provides speech and language services for babies and children up to 6 years of age. Through Early Words, the speech and language team help parents, caregivers and professionals learn what they can do to help children learn to talk, understand, and use language.

Families may receive:

• Assessment of speech and language skills
• Consultations in childcare centres, kindergartens, and Ontario EarlyONCentres
• Education opportunities for parents, caregivers, and service providers
• Speech and language therapy

Children can be referred by their doctor, specialist, or the family can self-refer.

On Track

On Track is an accelerated service provided to families with children who display possible signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Your child’s On Track team will be based on your child’s needs and goals.

The On Track team can help with:

• Assisting with early identification and intervention
• Providing family support and resources
• Connecting families with appropriate community partners

Together with your child’s primary therapist, a referral to On Track may be determined to be the best path for your child.

On Track is only available to children who are active clients on the CTC-CK caseload. Please speak with your child’s therapist directly or contact the Centre, 519-354-0520.

Speech and Language Therapy – School Age

The School Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS) program provides Speech Therapy for students grades 1-12, in the following publicly funded school boards: Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB), St. Clair Catholic District School Board (SCCDSB), and Conseil scolairecatholique Providence.

The consultative therapy support provided aims to build capacity within the student, family, and school staff to implement strategies and recommendations that will support the student’s learning, function, and participation at school.

Who We Are:

Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP) have a master’s degree and must be registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario.

Communicative Disorders Assistants (CDA) have a post-secondary diploma/ certificate and provide therapy under the supervision of a Speech and Language Pathologist.

What We Provide:

School Based Speech-Language Pathologists assess children and youth who are experiencing difficulties with communication skills. They recommend and offer supports to help children who are having difficulty with: clear speech, stuttering, resonance, voice quality and augmentative communication. 

Speech-Language Pathologists consult with parents, teachers, and other school staff on a regular basis.

School Based Rehabilitation Services Speech-Language Pathologists focus on:

• Motor speech
• Articulation
• Phonological
• Voice production
• Fluency
• Resonance

*Note: Support for language disorders is the role of the school board Speech and Language Pathologists. Please speak with your school principal if you have any questions.