Pediatric speech pathologists can assist children with disabilities from cerebral palsy to Down Syndrome and other disorders that affect speech. Children’s Speech Pathology, or speech pathology as it is also known, is a specialized field of medicine that addresses disorders in the speech pathway in children. One of them is the best speech pathologist in all of New Jersey. Some of these disorders include:
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Syndrome is a type of brain damage that occurs in children that results in a speech deficit and other communication issues. The child with cranial cruciate ligament syndrome often shows no outward symptoms other than difficulty chewing and swallowing. As the child ages the child can be subject to more serious complications such as seizures and other motor impairments. Because of this the child must have his or her head moved to the side where it is not possible for him or her to look into a mirror to see whether they are having any symptoms.
A pediatric speech pathologist can evaluate the child for this disorder and recommend any treatment that may be necessary. The speech pathologist will look for evidence of inflammation on the child’s scalp and the presence of fluid within the nasal cavity and on the teeth. If the fluid is present, it should be drained before treating the child because if the fluid is allowed to stay in the throat or the nasal cavity it can cause a narrowing of the airways, which can result in the child having difficulty speaking.
A pediatric speech pathologist will also examine the child’s neck and voice to determine whether or not the child is suffering from mandibular advancement syndrome. This condition is characterized by the growth of bones inside the jaw joint, which is a common disorder in children and can cause the child to be unable to open their mouth wide enough for speech. If you believe your child may be suffering from this condition, then you should consult a speech pathologist as soon as possible. After diagnosing the disorder, a speech pathologist can recommend treatments that can be used to help the child.
A pediatric speech pathologist will also evaluate the child’s hearing and can diagnose them based on the results. When a child does not have good hearing the speech pathologist can use hearing aids or cochlear implants to aid in speech development. A child’s cochlea can collapse as a result of damage to the inner ear or because of the child’s hearing impairment.
Once your child’s speech has been evaluated by a speech pathologist he or she can choose between various treatments including the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants or medications. that are available for speech development in children.