Speech and Communication Support at Shriners Children’s Erie

Every child develops at a unique pace, and while many progress naturally, some may benefit from extra support to grow, learn and connect with others.

At Shriners Children's Erie, speech therapists provide specialized therapy services tailored to each child's needs. These services support children who experience difficulties with speech, language, social communication, feeding and swallowing.

The speech therapy team works with children as young as 12 months old, addressing a wide variety of challenges including speech sound disorders, fluency disorders such as stuttering, language delays, voice disorders and feeding concerns. For children who require additional support, therapists also provide evaluation and intervention for augmentative and alternative communication. By combining a play-centered and family-focused approach, the team helps children build the skills they need to communicate effectively, eat safely and thrive in their daily lives.

Some children have difficulty producing sounds clearly or may struggle with stuttering, which can result from neurological differences or structural conditions such as cleft lip or cleft palate. Others may find it challenging to express themselves, understand language or engage socially, which may be related to autism spectrum disorder, medical conditions or injuries. For many families, feeding and swallowing are also areas of concern, since difficulty eating safely or receiving adequate nutrition affects every aspect of a child's growth and development.

To address these challenges, Shriners Children's Erie speech therapists often use play as a foundation for therapy.

"Play fosters cognitive, social, emotional and physical development, encourages creativity and helps build problem-solving skills. It also provides natural opportunities for children to use language, whether by communicating their wants and needs, expressing feelings, or learning new words to expand their vocabulary. These are all critical skills for speech and language development."

In addition to supporting communication, play vital in feeding therapy, where speech therapists and occupational therapists work together to create collaborative, play-based strategies that help children build safe and positive mealtime experiences. "Both speech therapists and occupational therapists have extensive knowledge in evaluating and treating children with feeding concerns," explained Christiansen. "At Shriners Children's Erie, speech therapists and occupational therapists within our department work together to determine the best treatment approaches and goals for each patient."

Noticing delays in a child's communication or overall development should be taken seriously and guidance from a professional is recommended. Addressing speech and language delays, disorders or other concerns promptly can have a meaningful impact on a child's progress. Christiansen explains, "It is always better to have any concerns evaluated rather than using the 'wait and see' approach." Starting services as soon as concerns are identified helps children develop strategies to overcome challenges, leading to earlier gains in communication skills and improvements in overall quality of life.

At Shriners Children's Erie, the goal of speech therapy is to empower children to reach their full potential. By providing individualized, play-centered and collaborative care, the therapy team supports not only communication and feeding skills but also overall growth, confidence and independence.