Central Delaware Speech-Language Pathology Center (CDSLP)

Comprehensive Speech-Language Evaluations

Our comprehensive evaluations include 2-hours of direct time assessing your child’s specific communicative strengths and weaknesses. We use state of the art diagnostic materials, including leading standardized assessments, to provide you with a detailed analysis of your child’s skills. Included in the evaluation are: 1) a brief pre-test consultation to discuss parents’ specific concerns 2) testing conducted in our specially designed treatment rooms featuring 1-way mirrored windows for observation 3) a brief post-test consultation summary to discuss preliminary findings 4) a professional comprehensive report, including treatment recommendations 5) follow-up services as needed.

Feeding Evaluations and Treatment

Our Feeding Program is based on the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding developed by Kay Toomey. We do not engage in force feeding AT ANY TIME. We use systematic desensitization to help your child progress naturally by exposure and interaction with foods. Goals of the Feeding Program typically include 1) Increasing the variety of foods and textures accepted 2) Increasing willingness to try new foods 3) Improving mealtime behaviors. Services consist of a specialty 1-hour evaluation to assess oral-motor skills, food aversions, behavioral manifestations of the feeding problem, and a mini therapy trial to assess receptivity to the program. A report detailing the results of the evaluation and treatment recommendations is provided. Treatment through our facility consists of an 8-week program that includes weekly 60 minute feeding sessions conducted by an experienced therapist, two 30-minute parent training sessions, ongoing parent support and involvement, and a final summary report detailing progress made and future recommendations. Parents may choose to enroll their children in subsequent 8-week programs as appropriate. For more information, please contact our office to speak with one of our experienced speech pathologists.

Seminars

Central Delaware Speech Language Pathology offers frequent seminars conducted by professionals on a wide range of topics, including school-based special education issues, legal issues pertaining to families and children with special needs, specific communication disorders and treatments, Autism and related disorders, behavior management, and many others. The purpose of these seminars is to provide our families with the most up-to-date information possible on topics relevant to their children’s care. Whenever possible, the seminars are provided at reduced or no cost to our families, and are available to the general public at reasonable prices. Seminars are typically scheduled during evening hours for the convenience of those attending.

Social Skills Treatment Sessions

Our facility offers individual and group social skills instruction led by an experienced speech pathologist. Social Skills sessions may include the child and therapist only, 2 children and a therapist in a dyad communication setting, or 3-4 children and a therapist in a small group communication setting. Children are carefully matched with other children based on age, skill level, and interests. Target skills include greeting others, maintaining topics, taking turns, using positive language, responding appropriately to others, repairing communication breakdowns, and many others. Adolescent social skills groups are also offered and focus on age-appropriate social skills, such as initiating conversations, choosing appropriate conversational topics, joining groups, responding to peer pressure and bullying, using effective body language, repairing conversational breakdowns, and working together as a team. Please speak to a staff member at the reception desk for availability on dyad and small group sessions.

Speech-Language Treatment Sessions

All speech-language treatment sessions are conducted in one of our specially designed therapy rooms. We offer treatment sessions of 30 minutes, unless extreme circumstances render 60 minutes necessary, and schedule at the convenience of our families. Therapy consists of structured activities designed to improve communication skills in a natural and supportive way. We use toys, books, pictures, and other materials to engage your child through play and through natural learning opportunities created by our instructional materials. Parents are welcome to relax in our reception area, or may choose to attend the therapy session by being present in the room or by observing through 1-way mirrored windows.