Speech & Language Therapy
Our Speech and Language team specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of communication disorders in children.
Speech and Language Therapy involves the use of meaningful and motivational activities to enhance overall communication. We believe in treating the whole child to improve the speech and language skills necessary to be successful in their daily interactions and environment.
What is Speech and Language Therapy?
Speech is the verbal expression of language which includes articulation- (the way that sounds and words are formed), fluency and prosody (the rhythm, intonation, stress, and related attributes of speech) and voice.
Language is the foundational system of giving and receiving information in a meaningful way. It is understanding and being understood in communication. Language includes five areas: phonology (sound structure), morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure and grammar), semantics (vocabulary), and pragmatics (social language).
Speech and language therapy helps children speak clearly and communicate effectively, as well as understand communication and process language.
Additional information about speech and language developmental milestones at:
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart/
https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/
Speech and Language Therapy can address multiple areas of communication including:
Articulation
production of speech sounds
Speech fluency
stuttering
Receptive and Expressive Language
ability to follow directions and answer questions
Reading
comprehension & vocabulary
Apraxia of Speech
difficulty coordinating the movements needed to produce speech
Oral motor
the coordination of the lips, jaw, tongue, and palate required for speech
Pragmatic Language/Social Language Disorders
using language in socially acceptable ways
Executive Function
a set of mental skills that include: organization, time management, planning, working memory, flexible thinking, task initiation, persistence and self-control
Services:
Phonemic Awareness/Early Reading
Many children with speech and language impairments experience the symptoms of weak phonemic awareness. Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the spoken parts of words. The levels of phonological awareness are, from simplest to most complex: syllables, onset–rime, and phonemes. Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. We know that a student's skill in phonological awareness is a good predictor of later reading success or difficulty.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney is trained in The LiPS® Program. This is an evidence based program that teaches students to discover and label the oral-motor movements of phonemes. Students can then verify the identity, number, and sequence of sounds in words. Once established, phonemic awareness is then applied to reading, spelling, and speech.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) are usually very difficult to understand, have many speech errors and don't respond well to traditional therapy. They are struggling with an underlying motor planning issue that requires specialized treatment.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, we use a variety of techniques including PROMPT and a hierarchy of visual/tactile cues and intensive therapy to help our client’s with apraxia gain the ability to express themselves clearly.
Reading Comprehension and Language Processing
Individuals with language disorders and language processing disorders often struggle with reading comprehension. This may be due to underlying struggles with vocabulary, syntax (understanding sentence structure), lack of visualization etc…
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney uses many strategies to increase text (both fiction and non-fiction) understanding. She uses the Visualizing and Verbalizing® (V/V®) program which develops concept imagery - the ability to create an imagined gestalt from language - as a basis for comprehension and higher order thinking. Courtney also uses Story Grammar Marker® which is a manipulative tool for narrative development that supports students development in reading, writing and speaking skills.
Tongue Thrust
"Tongue thrust” is a forward position of the tongue during rest, and a thrust against or between the teeth during swallowing and speech.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney uses a series of oral-facial myofunctional exercises developed by Char Boshart. We also use a tongue thrust program to reduce tongue thrust, in combination with swallowing exercises and articulation therapy (if indicated), to promote mature swallowing and speech production skills.
Writing
Children with language impairments often struggle with written expression. This includes challenges with the writing process—the ability to plan, organize, draft, reflect on, revise, and edit written text; the ability to address specific audience needs and convey the purpose of the text (e.g., persuasion). Difficulties with grammar, phonological awareness (spelling) and vocabulary can also contribute to struggles with writing.
At Connections Pediatrics Therapies, Courtney creates and solidifies the reading and writing connection and uses a step by step process to teach how words are formulated into sentences and then these sentences are organized into larger paragraphs and often into different discourse genres (narrative, expository, persuasive, poetic, etc.).
Vocabulary
Individuals with weak oral language skills often experience direct impacts to their vocabulary development. A limited vocabulary hinders a child's ability to be successful in comprehending grade level text, writing, participating in classroom discussions, and doing well on assignments, quizzes and tests.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney uses a variety of therapy strategies to increase oral language skills and vocabulary including Lincs Vocabulary. LINCS Vocabulary is a Strategy that helps students learn the meaning of new vocabulary words using powerful memory-enhancement techniques. Courtney also uses Expanding Expression Tool (EET) which is a visual and tactile program that keeps students on topic, expanding word choice, and improves organization and overall comprehension.
Articulation and Phonology
Children with articulation disorders are difficult to understand when they speak. Common articulation difficulties include a “lisp” for the /s/ sound or making a “w” for “r” (example: "wing/ring"). It is likely that children will "grow out" of some speech errors, but others are likely to persist into adulthood.
A phonological process disorder is a form of speech disorder in which there is difficulty organizing the patterns of sounds in the brain which results in an inability to correctly form the sounds of words.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney remediates sounds in error by educating the child about the speech helpers and speech sound characteristics/features. Therapy sessions target sounds in error in an engaging and fun way. Phonological processing sound disorders are corrected through Barbara Hodson’s Cycles Approach using both minimal pairs and maximal opposition.
Early Language
Children with language impairments often demonstrate difficulties with either the understanding of language (receptive language), expressing language (expressive language), or both. They may have a hard time following directions, answering questions, or expressing age-appropriate language, such as correct use of pronouns, plurals, or putting together complete sentences. Receptive and expressive language challenges can be either a delay or disorder.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, we use a mixture of meaningful play-based and structured tasks to target receptive and expressive language skills.
Pragmatics
Pragmatic language deficits are difficulties knowing how and when to use language appropriately. Children on the autism spectrum or with diagnoses such as ADHD can demonstrate pragmatic language impairments when interacting with others. This includes using appropriate eye contact, body language and topic maintenance, and understanding others’ perspectives.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, we use individual and group therapy to target concepts from Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking Curriculum using a hybrid approach of activities.
Fluency
Individuals with fluency disorders “stutter” on sounds, words, and phrases when they speak. They might repeat sounds or words, get “stuck” on words, or take long pauses when speaking. Young children go through typical phases of disfluent speech when they are learning to speak in longer phrases; however, there are a number of indicators of persistent fluency disorders which warrant direct therapy from a speech-language pathologist.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, we use diagnostic tools to determine severity of a fluency disorder and then develop specialized treatment plans for children and adults to help them understand and work through their stuttering.
Executive Function
Executive functions (EFs) are a set of top-down cognitive control processes used to manage thought and behavior. Executive Functions are crucial to the ability to adapt efficiently to changes in the environment and to the ability to manage basic daily tasks, such as planning, decision making, and problem solving. Difficulties with Executive Function cause struggles with note taking and study skills.
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney has developed a very effective study skills and notetaking program that is rooted in Doug Neill’s Verbal to Visual- Sketchnoting in the Classroom.
Natural Language Acquisition
Does your child echo or script to communicate? Do they repeat questions, books, or movies, but have a hard time producing spontaneous utterances?
At Connections Pediatric Therapies, Courtney is trained in Gestalt Language Processing and uses this step by step approach, when appropriate, to support children who communicate using delayed echolalia using the Natural Language Acquisition framework developed by Marge Blanc.
NPI 1316156219 License: SA5013
Courtney Hawkins, MS, CCC-SLP/L
Courtney Hawkins is a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with a passion for helping children develop communication, cognitive, and social skills in a welcoming and engaging therapeutic environment. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Calvin University and a master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Courtney holds her Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed in Florida.
Since beginning her career in 1997, Courtney has gained extensive experience in the school system, Early Steps programs, and private practice. She specializes in treating speech and language disorders, including receptive/expressive language delays andAutism, phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, articulation challenges, fluency disorders, and executive functioning difficulties. Courtney holds certifications in Story Grammar Marker, Natural Language Acquisition, the Lidcombe Fluency Program, Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing, and Myofunctional Training with Char Boshart. She also has extensive articulation training with Wayne Secord.
Courtney is committed to creating personalized, functional therapy goals that support each child’s growth and potential. Outside of work, Courtney enjoys shopping and spending time with her family, which includes her husband, their blended family, and a household of four dogs and two cats.
NPI 1851137392 License: SI7130
Haiven Durham, SLPA
Haiven Durham is a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant at Connections Pediatric Therapies. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of South Florida and has experience in both school-based and clinic settings.
Haiven is passionate about building strong relationships with clients and their families to provide effective and engaging therapy. She specializes in helping school-aged children develop communication skills, fostering progress, and confidence in their abilities.
When not working, Haiven enjoys reading, painting, and spending time with her family, including her husband, Devon, their son, Liam, and their Aussiedoodle, Bonnie.
What Our Speech & Language Clients are Saying...
