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How Feeding Therapy Helps Children with Autism Overcome Mealtime Struggles
For many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mealtime can be a daily struggle. Sensory sensitivities, difficulty with textures, and challenges with oral motor skills often make eating a stressful experience. Parents may find themselves dealing with picky eating, food refusal, or even nutritional deficiencies. Feeding therapy offers a structured, evidence-based approach to help children with autism develop healthier eating habits, improve food acceptance, and make mealtimes less stressful for the entire family. At The Way You Say LLC, we specialize in feeding therapy that is tailored to meet the unique needs of children with autism. Below we’ll explore how feeding therapy works, why it’s beneficial, and how parents can support their child’s progress at home. Understanding Feeding Challenges in Children with Autism Many children with autism experience feeding difficulties due to a combination of sensory, behavioral, and oral motor challenges. Some of the most common feeding struggles include: Extreme Picky Eating: Children may limit their diet to only a few familiar foods and reject anything new. Sensory Sensitivities: Certain textures, temperatures, or even colors of food may cause distress or aversion. Oral Motor Challenges: Some children have difficulty chewing or swallowing food properly, leading to choking concerns. Food Rigidity: […]
Is Your Toddler a Late Talker? How Speech Therapy Can Help
As parents, we eagerly await our child’s first words. But what happens when those words take longer to come? If your toddler isn’t speaking as much as their peers, you may wonder: Is my child a late talker? Should I be concerned? How can speech therapy help? Below, we’ll explore what it means to be a late talker, when to seek help, and how The Way You Say LLC can support your child’s speech development. What Is a Late Talker? A late talker is a toddler who has a limited spoken vocabulary for their age but is otherwise developing normally in areas like understanding, motor skills, and social interaction. Speech and Language Milestones for Toddlers Every child develops at their own pace, but here are some general speech milestones to keep in mind: 12 months: Says simple words like “mama” or “dada” and responds to their name. 18 months: Uses at least 20 words and begins to imitate words. 24 months (2 years old): Says 50+ words and starts combining words into two-word phrases (e.g., “more milk”). 30-36 months (3 years old): Can form short sentences, ask simple questions, and be understood by others. A child may be considered a […]
From Stuttering to Success: Adult Speech Therapy in New Jersey
Communication is a fundamental part of life, yet for many adults in New Jersey, speech and language challenges can create barriers in both personal and professional settings. Whether it’s stuttering, articulation difficulties, or issues stemming from an injury or illness, adult speech therapy offers a pathway to clearer communication and greater confidence. At The Way You Say LLC, we specialize in helping adults overcome these challenges. Based in New Jersey, our dedicated team provides customized therapy plans to help individuals unlock their full potential and succeed in all areas of life. Understanding Stuttering in Adults Stuttering, also known as a fluency disorder, involves disruptions in the flow of speech. It can manifest as: Repeated sounds, syllables, or words Prolonged sounds Blocks, where no sound comes out despite the effort to speak While stuttering often begins in childhood, it can persist into adulthood or emerge later in life due to neurological conditions or trauma. For many adults, stuttering affects self-esteem, workplace performance, and social relationships. However, with targeted therapy, significant improvements are possible. How Adult Speech Therapy Helps Speech therapy isn’t just for children. Adults can benefit immensely from therapy, especially when sessions are tailored to their unique challenges and goals. […]
AAC Evaluations 101: How They Can Transform Communication for All Ages
Communication is a fundamental part of human connection, but for individuals with speech or language impairments, expressing themselves can be challenging. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems offer a bridge to effective communication, enabling individuals to share their thoughts, needs, and emotions. At The Way You Say LLC in New Jersey, we specialize in AAC evaluations, offering in-home, in-office, and teletherapy options tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Below, we’ll delve into the importance of AAC evaluations, the process involved, and how they can transform lives. What Are AAC Evaluations? AAC evaluations are comprehensive assessments conducted by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to determine the most suitable communication tools and strategies for individuals with speech or language impairments. These tools can range from low-tech options like picture boards to high-tech speech-generating devices. The evaluation process ensures that the selected AAC system aligns with the individual’s specific needs, preferences, and abilities, fostering meaningful communication. Why Are AAC Evaluations Important? 1. Empowering Communication AAC evaluations identify tools that empower individuals to communicate effectively, fostering independence and reducing frustration. 2. Tailored Solutions Every individual is unique. AAC evaluations provide personalized recommendations based on the individual’s abilities, environment, and communication goals. 3. Enhancing […]
Rebuilding Communication After a Stroke: How Speech Therapy Supports Recovery
Experiencing a stroke can be life-changing, and for many, it impacts the ability to communicate effectively. Speech therapy plays a crucial role in helping stroke survivors regain essential communication skills, restore confidence, and improve quality of life. At The Way You Say, we specialize in providing speech therapy services in New Jersey, helping individuals rebuild their communication abilities and adapt to new challenges. Below we’ll explore how speech therapy supports stroke recovery and answer common questions families may have. Understanding Communication Challenges After a Stroke When a stroke occurs, blood flow to certain parts of the brain is disrupted, which can affect speech and language centers. Depending on the area and severity, stroke survivors may experience: Aphasia – Difficulty understanding or producing language. Aphasia affects different types of communication, including speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension. Dysarthria – A motor speech disorder that impacts control of the muscles used in speech, leading to slurred or slowed speech. Apraxia of Speech – Difficulty coordinating the movements needed to produce speech sounds, resulting in inconsistent speech errors and struggles with articulation. Cognitive-Communication Deficits – Problems with memory, attention, or reasoning that impact effective communication. Each of these challenges can feel isolating, but […]
5 Signs Your Child May Need Speech Therapy in New Jersey
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech and language development, understanding the signs that indicate a need for speech therapy is crucial. Many parents wonder whether their child’s speech patterns are just part of a natural process or if they might need professional support. Early intervention in speech therapy can make a significant difference in helping children build strong communication skills, confidence, and social connections. Here are five signs that may indicate your child could benefit from speech therapy. At The Way You Say, we specialize in providing customized, compassionate speech therapy services to families across New Jersey. 1. Limited Vocabulary for Age One of the earliest indicators that a child may need speech therapy is a limited vocabulary. While every child learns language at their own pace, certain milestones give clues about expected language development. By the age of 2, children generally use around 200 words, and by age 3, they should be able to string simple sentences together. If your child’s vocabulary is limited or they struggle to form sentences appropriate for their age, a speech therapist can assess their development and help build these foundational skills. 2. Difficulty Pronouncing Certain Sounds Children typically go through phases of […]
Testimonials
Read what our clients are saying
The speech therapist Michelle worked with my son. She really helped him to build on his language skills. She was incredibly kind and patient when working with him. When he was retested, his scores fell within the average range! She worked with him at our home so we didn’t have to travel...
Julie Goldberg
Miss Joanne from The Way You Say LLC is amazing! She is very patient, engaging, and very thoughtful. Miss Joanne would always take her time to listen to our concerns and work with our daughter and provide us with her assessment on work needed. With Miss Joanne's hard work, our little...
Grace Chang-Wang
My son has had a great experience receiving speech therapy from The Way You Say LLC! Lauren was very informative in answering all questions and getting us started. My son's therapist, Tara, was wonderful! She was very pleasant and very patient with my son and provided helpful tips...
