Our Services | Sound Achievement

Speech and Language
Treatment Services

At Sound Achievement, we offer personalized speech and language therapy to children through telepractice. Our one-on-one sessions give your child the focused attention they need to make significant improvements in their communication, speech, and language abilities.

Articulation and Speech Sound Disorder Intervention

By the age of 7, most American English-speaking children should be able to produce all speech sounds accurately, according to the latest research. Addressing speech errors in younger children is often faster and more effective, as they have had fewer years to develop ingrained habits.

Articulation therapy helps children learn to produce sounds correctly, improving their speech clarity. This not only enhances their communication skills but also boosts self-confidence and supports success in social and academic settings.

Dyslexia and Literacy Intervention

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) states, "Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction."

At Sound Achievement, we specialize in addressing the root causes of dyslexia and other literacy challenges through Orton-Gillingham Approach-based interventions, focusing on both reading and spelling. Our method goes beyond sound-to-letter correspondence, emphasizing the understanding of word parts (morphology) and how they influence spelling and meaning.

While traditional school-based instruction often centers on sound-to-letter mapping and memorization of irregular words, we take a more holistic approach. English spelling is primarily meaning-based, and understanding the morphology of words—such as prefixes, suffixes, and roots—unlocks the structure of the language. This deeper understanding not only makes spelling and reading more manageable but also more enjoyable.

At Sound Achievement, we integrate phonics, morphology, and meaning to teach children strategies for developing lasting literacy skills.

SpeLL Preschool Program

Research shows that children with strong phonological skills—such as recognizing the sounds represented by letters, identifying letter names, and understanding that words consist of individual sounds—tend to achieve better long-term academic success. These skills are closely linked to a child's exposure to vocabulary through conversation and book reading.

Sound Achievement's Speech, Language, and Literacy (SpeLL) preschool program is designed for 4- and 5-year-old pre-K and TK children, though older and younger children are welcome to join. Using a speech-to-print therapy approach, the program enhances literacy by connecting spoken language to reading and writing. Children learn how sounds, words, and sentences in spoken language correspond to their written forms. Lively Letters® is used to teach children about the sounds and letters. Story Champs® is used to help children learn how to develop and narrate stories, which can enhance their vocabulary, grammar, sequencing, and narrative skills, all of which are crucial for effective communication and academic success.

This enrichment program supports both typically developing children and those needing extra help with speech and language skills. It introduces all English sounds, functional vocabulary, and essential language skills through a year-long curriculum. Parents are encouraged to assist their children as needed during the sessions to ensure the best outcomes. This program is designed to inspire confidence, foster literacy, and set a foundation for lifelong academic success.

Program Details:

Group teletherapy sessions held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.
Each session lasts 30 minutes.
Four 12-week blocks are available throughout the year.

Participation Options:

Attend individual sessions ($30), weekly ($50), or per 12-week block ($500). Private pay only. No insurance billing.
Free participation is available for children already receiving individual speech therapy from Sound Achievement.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Therapy

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that usually becomes apparent as a child starts to learn to speak. Children with CAS encounter significant difficulties with planning and executing the precise movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate required for clear and intelligible speech. This difficulty in motor planning is regarded as the hallmark or "signature" of CAS. As Dr. Edythe Strand states, "CAS is a label for a specific type of speech sound disorder; it is not a medical diagnosis."

Unlike articulation disorders, CAS treatment emphasizes enhancing the movement and coordination of speech articulators rather than merely producing individual sounds. The primary objective is to develop the motor skills necessary for consistent and accurate speech production. Effective CAS therapy requires intensive and frequent intervention. Ideally, children with CAS should receive therapy daily for 20 to 30 minutes. This regular practice is crucial for refining motor planning and programming skills. CAS intervention is particularly suitable for telepractice due to the convenience of attending and participating in therapy each day. There are specific intervention approaches for CAS, with Sound Achievement primarily offering Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) to their clients with CAS. DTTC provides targeted cues and feedback to help children improve their motor planning and coordination. It aims to develop precise speech movements through a structured and supportive process.

Why can't my child say the "r" sound?

Many children struggle with pronouncing the sound "r" correctly. To address this issue, I have created a series of brief videos that explain why this sound can be challenging for kids and how we can improve it in speech therapy.