Pediatric Speech Therapy (Speech Language Pathology)

Communication bolsters a child's ability to learn and helps them interact with others. Our pediatric speech therapist evaluates a child’s current communication skills so they can improve their verbal and/or nonverbal skills appropriate for their age.

Speech therapists work with families, caregivers and physicians to develop a treatment plan and establish goals. This helps children feel more confident and discover how to communicate in a more functional way.

Speech therapists also help children experiencing difficulties with social communication disorders, cognition, articulation disorders, stuttering disorders, and oral motor and feeding disorders.

Music Therapy at Golisano Children’s Hospital

With each strum of her guitar, Tracey Failla is making a difference in the lives of the patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “Music has been shown through research to help with your mood and can help with some of the chemicals in your brain like dopamine,” said Failla.

The position is philanthropy funded. Failla mostly works with long-term patients, using music to address non-music-related goals. “We work on pain management, providing opportunities for self-expression, whether that’s through songwriting or instrument playing, supporting positive coping, normalizing the hospital environment.”

By giving her patients an opportunity to create through music, she can reach kids who may not be verbal. “I’ve had interventions where we play how we feel, so show me what is angry sounds like, or sad and let’s talk about some times we may feel that way and what are some things we can do to help ourselves,” said Failla.

Failla’s sessions are an opportunity for the patient to have some autonomy and control in a stressful environment. “It’s just kind of a normal positive experience for them and you can see that change in their affect. You know and parents say this is the happiest I’ve seen them all morning.” Helping kids through the power of song.

View More Health Matters video segments at LeeHealth.org/Healthmatters/

Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care.

Visit LeeHealth.org

Does your child need a different specialist?

Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Pediatric occupational therapy promotes activities that enable children to learn and develop life skills, be creative, and enjoy and thrive in age-appropriate Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

Diagnostic services include:

Articulation Disorders
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Disorders
Language Difficulties Associated with Auditory Processing Disorder
Receptive and Expressive Language Delays
Social Communication/Language Problems Due to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Stuttering

Common Pediatric Speech Therapy Treatments:

Pediatric Language Therapy
Language therapy helps improve the understanding and use of age-appropriate language including vocabulary, concepts and syntax. Many patients are seen starting at an early age to help starting to develop communication skills.

Pediatric Articulation Therapy
Articulation therapy helps children with the physical production of individual speech sounds, through exercises and activities.

Language Therapy for Auditory Processing Disorder
Children with APD or Auditory Processing Disorder have difficulty processing discrete sounds or whole words or phrases.

Voice Therapy
Your speech therapist will develop a treatment program with your pediatric ENT to help improve your child's vocal quality.

Stuttering Therapy
Stuttering treatment includes stuttering education and instruction for both child and parents along with active management of the stutter.