Anna Dubiak, M.S., CCC-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC What is AAC? AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. Ok… but what does that mean? There are all types of AAC ranging from use of low tech such as printed pictures with wants and needs, to robust high tech systems such as an iPad application...
Author: Tami Teshima
Bilingualism and children
Hannah Blackwell, M.A., CF-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy Many are worried about the possible negative effects on language development that raising their child to be bilingual may have. However, there is no evidence indicating that bilingualism causes language delays, nor that it worsens already existing speech problems. Just as all children are unique in their...
Body awareness and mindfulness in fluency therapy
Bethany Barber, M.A., CCC-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC If you were a fly on the wall during my sessions with fluency clients, the first few minutes might look more like I’m leading a preschool physical education class, or a mommy and me yoga hour than a speech therapy session. You’d witness silly dancing, “animal”...
Stuttering – an iceberg
By Hannah Blackwell, M.A., CF-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC Have you ever seen a picture of an iceberg? It floats on the water as this giant chunk of ice. There’s no denying that what you see of an iceberg above the water is huge, but below the waterline looms an even larger mountain of...
Your Health Insurance Policy SparkNotes
By Leah Arundel, Clinic Administrator Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC Navigating insurance coverage for specialized services can be quite confusing. Here are some helpful tips to help you understand insurance at our private speech therapy office: Know your plan type! Different types of health insurance plans have different coverage options for speech therapy services. Some...
What is a Voice Disorder and Who is likely to Have One?
By Anna Dubiak, M.S., CCC-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC A voice disorder is when there is an inappropriate discrepancy between vocal quality, loudness, or pitch and a person’s age, gender, cultural background, or geographic location. In short if your voice is not matching your expectation it might be a disorder impacting you. Voice disorders...
Sensory processing in children (a graduate intern post!)
By Katelynn Harris, St. Mary’s College Duncan Lake Speech Therapy Graduate Intern Sensory processing is the way in which the body processes internal and external sensory information. When part or parts of the sensory system are not working properly, a child can become dysregulated. This means they are not in a state of optimal arousal...
Tongue tie or not? Past signs and symptoms to help guide your treatment.
Written by Tamiko Teshima, M.A, CCC-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC It seems like tongue ties are one of those things that swing back and forth like a pendulum – for a decade or so, they are identified, and then for a decade, the identification fades away. This happens with many disciplines in the...
Primary vs. secondary insurance – does it really matter?
Written by Leah Arundel, knower of all things insurance Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC Insurance is a confusing world. When it comes to primary vs. secondary insurance, though, does it really matter to know the difference between the two? Answer: DEFINITELY! As a healthcare provider, it is inevitable that we will come across patients that...
Speech at home: Using bubbles!
Written by Aisha Boone, M.A., CCC-SLP Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC As parents, it can be hard to find ways to engage your child in speech activities at home. As SLPs, we find that the most successful practice can occur during the most basic of everyday activities. Here at the office, bubbles have always been...