SERVICES PROVIDED
For young and old
SPEECH ARTICULATION SUPPORT
This includes difficulty producing specific sounds, e.g. /s/, /th/, /r/. Other people may have difficulty understanding your child. Some children present with phonological processes which affect several sounds simultaneously, e.g. /r/ and /l/ are produced as a /w/ or /y/.
LANGUAGE SKILLS THERAPY
Language can be divided into receptive language (understanding) and expressive language. Difficulties in the receptive area include problems with following instructions or not understanding a question. Difficulties in the expressive area include using short sentences, incorrect word order, limited vocabulary and using the incorrect forms of words.
READING AND SPELLING THERAPY
Children develop the foundation for reading and spelling long before they start Grade 1. Suzanne Kok Speech Therapy can help develop this foundation if the child is in pre-school, or can help strengthen reading and spelling skills if the child is already in primary school. Specific help and techniques are available for learning difficulties, such as dyslexia.
AUDITORY PROCESSING AND LISTENING
Auditory processing is how the brain interprets and processes sounds to make them meaningful - in other words, what the brain does with the sounds it hears. Auditory processing difficulties can result in problems with reading and spelling, auditory memory, and discrimination between sounds and words.
ADULT COMMUNICATION REHABILITATION
Speech therapy is not only for children. Conditions that a speech therapist may treat in adults include communication disorders following a neurological incident, such as a stroke or brain injury. This includes aphasia (problems with understanding or producing language), apraxia (problems with motor-planning of speech), or dysarthria (problems with the quality of speech, e.g. hoarse, slurring, pitch). A speech therapist can also help rehabilitate higher cognitive functions such as reasoning, planning or decision-making.
FEEDING AND SWALLOWING DIFFICULTIES
Feeding and swallowing difficulties are problems with any of the stages of eating such as chewing, swallowing, moving the food around the mouth or keeping the food inside the mouth.
In children, symptoms include fussiness or refusal of food, gagging or choking, limited tastes and textures or taking a long time to finish feeds.
In adults, swallowing difficulties usually develop after a neurological incident (e.g. stroke). Symptoms may include food falling out of the mouth, inability to chew, coughing or choking, or a wet-sounding voice when feeding.
These difficulties increase the risk for aspiration pneumonia, dehydration and malnutrition. Speech therapists are the only specialists who treat feeding and swallowing difficulties.
BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT
I am currently undergoing further training to become a South African Certified Lactation Consultant (SACLC). Lactation consultations are currently available to assist expectant or new moms with breastfeeding difficulties. These may include difficulty latching, pain, inadequate milk supply, expressing and returning to work while continuing to breastfeed.
Get in touch today for my therapy services.