Service Category: Services

Speech-Language Evaluation and Therapy

Speech and language are an essential part of a child’s life. It is important that children can communicate with others and understand language so they can communicate effectively with parents, peers, teachers, etc. Making a proper diagnosis is essential to identifying speech-language weaknesses and creating a treatment plan. When there is difficulty communicating with others, it is best to address it with speech therapy as early as possible. The sooner therapy begins, the sooner your child will become conversational with their peers.

Speech disorders fall into the following categories:

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Some common signs to look for in children include:
  • Difficulty understanding the child
  • Difficulty with expressing ideas clearly
  • Trouble understanding ideas from others
  • Difficulty putting words together into phrases/sentences
  • Trouble recalling/using new vocabulary
  • Inappropriate grammar usage
  • Reduced vocabulary
  • Incorrect word usage
  • Poor social interaction skills
  • Difficulty understanding the meaning of a word
  • Difficulty reading and sounding words out
  • Difficulty answering questions/following directions
Our approach
We believe that parents are key in a child’s success

At Yakos Therapy, sessions are play based and include parent training and participation. Our team works closely with families to ensure they are able to provide support for home practice activities and provides families with resources and materials to ensure speech-language progress.
 
Information is presented using visual, auditory, tactile and movement activities to help children learn about sound quality and how sounds are produced in speech.

Bilingual Services - Spanish/English

Many variables make each bilingual experience its very own. Speakers with bilingual speech disorders require specific care from a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Bilingual SLPs must be able to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders using the client’s/patient’s language. They must also have the linguistic proficiency to:

  • describe the process of normal speech and language acquisition—for both bilingual and monolingual speakers of that language, including how those processes are manifested in oral and written language;
  • select administer, and interpret formal and informal assessment procedures to distinguish between communication differences and communication disorders;
  • apply intervention strategies for treatment of communication disorders in the language or mode of communication most appropriate for the needs of the individual.   

Our Executive Director, Maria Yakos, is recognized by the Illinois Speech Hearing Association (ISHA) as a Bilingual and Bidalectical Service Provider. She is fluent in both Spanish and English with native proficiency in both and has taken advanced coursework in Spanish language grammar, literature, and writing, as well as, advanced coursework in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of bilingual language learners.  Maria has completed coursework and language proficiency testing and has applied to be certified as a bilingual service provider by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). 

speech therapist practice therapy for child with motor speech disorders.
speech therapist practice therapy for child with motor speech disorders.