Speech Therapy for Children Living in Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, and Surrounding Illinois areas

Speech Therapy Near Skokie, IL

I provide in-person speech therapy to children with articulation disorders, language difficulties, challenges in executive function and fluency disorders (including stuttering).  I enjoy working together with my clients to create goals so that therapy can be tailored for them and with their goals in mind.    ​

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I travel to areas near Skokie, Illinois including: Evanston, Highland Park, Lincolnwood, West Rogers Park, and Wilmette.

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If you live in the Illinis area, but not in the areas listed above, please contact me.  If you live in New York or New Jersey, I also provide online speech therapy.  

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Signs/Symptoms of an Articulation Disorder in Children

1. Substituting Sounds: Using incorrect sounds in place of specific sounds (for example, saying "wabbit" for "rabbit")

2. Omitting Sounds: Leaving out certain sounds in words (for example, saying "bu" for "bus")

3. Distorting Sounds: Producing sounds in an unclear or imprecise manner (for example, slushy of mumbled speech)

4. Difficulty Being Understood: Others frequently having trouble understanding your child's speech.

5. Limited Speech Sound Repertoire: Using a limited range of speech sounds appropriate for their age.

6. Persistent Errors: Errors in speech sounds that persist beyond the expected age.

7. Avoidance of Certain Words or Sounds: Child actively avoids using words or sounds they have difficulty producing.

8. Frustration: Child shows frustration when trying to communicate or when not understood.

9. Social and Academic Impact: Speech difficulties may impact social interactions and academic performance (if, for example, the child writes the way they speak).

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Signs/Symptoms of a Language Disorder in Children

1. Limited Vocabulary: Difficulty learning and using new words appropriate for their age.

2. Difficulty Following Directions: Trouble understanding and following spoken and/or written directions.

3. Limited Use of Complex Language: Challenges in using age-appropriate language structures.

4. Receptive Language Challenges: Trouble understanding spoken language including concepts, questions, or instructions.

5. Expressive Language Challenges: Difficulty expressing thoughts, ideas, or needs clearly and effectively.

6. Social Communication Challenges: Difficulty engaging in conversation, maintaining topic, or interpreting social cues.

7. Frustration: Children may show frustration, withdrawal or behavior challenges secondary to communication difficulties.​

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Signs/Symptoms of Executive Function Challenges in Children

1. Difficulty with Planning: Struggles to plan and organize tasks, such as homework, porjects, or daily routines.

2. Poor Time Management: Difficulty estimating and managing time effectively, leading to incomplete tasks or missed deadlines.

3. Impulsivity: Acts without thinking through consequences, at times leading to risky behaviors

4. Trouble with Flexibility: Difficulty adjusting to changes in routines.

5. Poor Working Memory: Difficulty holding information in their minds while completing tasks.

6. Procrastination: Habitual delay in starting or completing tasks.

7. Inconsistent Performance: Performance varies across different settings or tasks due to executive function challenges.

8. Challenges with Multitasking: Difficulty managing multiple tasks and/or switching between tasks efficiently

9. Social Challenges: Turn taking during conversations and understanding social cues may be more challenging for someone with executive function challenges.

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Signs/Symptoms of Fluency Disorders in Children

• Signs/Symptoms of Stuttering Disorders

  • Repetitions: Repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words.

  • Prolongations: Drawing out sounds or syllables.

  • Blocks: Involuntary pauses or interruptions in speech, where the child struggles to produce sounds.

  • Tension or Struggle: Visible tension or effort in the face or body while attempting to speak.

  • Secondary Behaviors: Use of physical movements to manage stuttering.

  • Avoidance Behaviors: Avoidance of certain words or situation where stuttering is more likely.

• Signs/Symptoms of Cluttering Disorders

  • Fast Rate of Speech: Speaking too quickly, making it difficult for others to understand.​

  • Irregular Speech Rhythm: Speech may sound choppy or uneven.

  • Excessive Disfluencies: Interruptions in speech such as repetitions, revisions or hesitations.

  • Lack of Awareness of Speech Difficulties: Children may not realize they have a problem with their speech clarity.

  • Poor Intelligibility: Others may struggle to understand your child's speech due to rapid and disorganized delivery.

  • Co-occuring Language or Learning Difficulties: Cluttering may be associated with other communication or learning difficulties.

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Benefits of In-Home Speech Therapy

1. Comfort and Convenience: Therapy sessions can take place in the comfort of your own home, reducing the stress of bringing your child to a clinic.

2. Observation of Home Dynamics: Speech Therapists can better understand family dynamics and communication patterns, offering targeted support and guidance.

3. Personalized Environment: Speech Therapists can tailor activities in the home environment, making therapy more relevant and practical for daily life.

4. Family Involvement: Family members can learn strategies to support the child's progress.

5. Increased Comfort and Familiarity: Being in a familiar setting can help reduce anxiety and increase comfort levels, which can positively impact therapy progress.

6. Improved Generalization of Skills: Skills learned during in-home speech therapy sessions are more likely to generalize to real-life situations and interactions within the home setting.

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