Spanish Speech Therapy

Why is Spanish Speech Therapy Important?

Many children suffering from communication difficulties can benefit greatly from speech therapy. Children learning both English and Spanish at the same time may require speech therapy in one or both of their languages. For children raised in bilingual English/Spanish households, the value of Spanish speech therapy cannot be overstated.

Certain language patterns are commonly found in bilingual English/Spanish children. For example, some children may ‘code switch’ by substituting Spanish words for English words or vice versa. Others may mix up rules of syntax by ordering English words as they would be ordered in a Spanish sentence.

To properly develop language skills in English and Spanish at once, professional Spanish speech-language therapy is essential.

Transform Your Child’s Bilingual Language Development in Just 12 Weeks!

Feel empowered to support your young child with Bilingual Speech Online, our done-with-you parent coaching program designed for Spanish-English families.

Bilingual Speech Online is an online parent education and training program that supports bilingual (Spanish-English) children ages 1-3 who may have speech-language delays or disorders.

Different Children Learn Differently

A child raised in a Spanish-speaking household, for example, may learn to refer to foods and kitchen items in Spanish. However, that same child may attend an English-language school and learn to refer to school-related words in English.

Additionally, some children experience communication difficulties in one language; others in both languages at the same time. What’s more, it may not be immediately obvious whether a bilingual child’s communication problems arise from their English skills, Spanish skills, or some combination thereof.

In order to properly address and treat language or communication difficulties, each child’s individual learning needs must be meticulously examined and taken into account.

That is what our Spanish speech therapy services in Chicago are all about.

How Our Spanish Speech-Language Therapy Works

We begin by conducting a bilingual evaluation to determine the cause of your child’s communication difficulties. Are the problems arising from their second language? From their first language? Are the problems ‘true’ communication difficulties that arise independently of any particular language? These are all crucial questions to consider.

Once the diagnosis has been completed, our Speech therapy in spanish methods work to identify and treat communication issues across all of your child’s language skills.

Our Spanish speech therapy focuses on the following core areas:

Code-Switching:

Some bilingual children alternate between their two languages when trying to express certain ideas. While this is a normal part of a bilingual child’s development, excessive code switching can result in communication difficulties. Spanish speech therapists can correct these instances of code switching effectively.

Language Differences:

Different languages have different rules of grammar and syntax. To properly provide Spanish language therapy, the therapist must understand the rules of both English and Spanish grammar. They must recognize which language errors pertain to which set of grammar rules.

Accents and Phonetics:

True Spanish speech therapy focuses on the phonetics (i.e. sounds) of the Spanish language. For example, the ‘ñ’ sound does not exist in English. If a child is struggling with this particular phonetic, only Spanish speech therapy can help.

Language Loss:

Some bilingual English/Spanish children may lose skills in their primary language while developing skills in their secondary language. To develop healthy communication skills, a bilingual child must learn to cultivate vocabularies and skills in both English and Spanish.