Mother with her children having creative and fun time

Speech-Language Therapy at Beyond the Spectrum ABA (BTS)

Speech-language therapy plays a vital role in addressing challenges with communication, including both verbal and nonverbal skills. Our goal is to help children communicate in ways that are practical, meaningful, and functional, improving their ability to express needs, engage socially, and navigate daily life.

For verbal children, speech therapy focuses on improving phonemic awareness, sound manipulation, auditory processing, and speech clarity. Depending on the child’s developmental stage, therapy can also enhance literacy skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing abilities (including grammar, sentence structure, and organization), and articulation. If articulation delays affect communication with peers or teachers, we address those challenges as well.

For non-verbal children, speech therapy helps develop alternative communication methods, such as sign language, gestures, or using tools like picture boards or communication devices.

Some speech-language pathologists (SLPs) at Beyond The Spectrum ABA Therapy (BTS) are specially trained to work with feeding and swallowing issues, which are common among children with autism. These professionals assess the specific challenges a child is facing and create individualized treatment plans to improve feeding and swallowing skills.

Child with speech therapist on therapy

Speech Therapy Can Support:

  • The development and enhancement of sensory, motor, perceptual, and functional processing
  • Managing muscle tone, positioning, and mobility for community integration
  • Sensory integration and improved balance, strength, and coordination for play and vocational activities
  • Enhancement of self-regulation, coping skills, and fine motor skills
  • Building an understanding of sensory-behavioral connections
  • Support with visual-spatial awareness
  • Assistance with technology needs and assistive technology solutions
Child with speech therapist on therapy

Speech Therapy Developmental Milestones

At BTS, we monitor and support children’s progress based on developmental milestones for speech. Here’s what you can expect at various stages:

  • By 6 months: Your child will begin babbling, imitate sounds, and respond to sounds with excitement or displeasure.
  • By 12 months: They will consistently use words like “mama” or “dada,” imitate sounds, identify basic body parts, and follow simple directions with demonstration.
  • By 18 months: They should be able to say or imitate 8-10 words, shake their head “no,” and follow simple one-step directions.
  • By 24 months: Expect them to use 15-20 words, point to pictures when named, and understand basic questions like “Where’s your shoe?”
  • By 3 years: They should use 50-100 words, respond to “yes/no,” “what,” and “where” questions, and count to 3. They will also enjoy playing with peers.
  • By 4 years: They begin using more complex sentences (4-8 words) and can count to 10 while discussing feelings.
  • By 5 years: At this age, children should be able to articulate most speech sounds correctly, name letters and words, follow directions in a classroom setting, and engage in conversations.

Sources for Developmental Milestones:

This information is compiled from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Pathways, Skillbuilders, CDC, Arvedson and Brodsky (2006), Toomey and Associates, Inc. (2002), Richmond, M. (2006), and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

To learn more about our services, click here.