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Topics in Speech Therapy
Welcome to the Speech Language Play NYC Blog. Each week we share a new blog post about topics in speech, language, play, and social development.


What counts as a true first word?
Learning words is a milestone in a child’s development. Before words develop for Analytic Language Learners, though, children frequently...

Meghan O'Grady
Aug 3, 20232 min read


What counts as a first word?
It's an exciting time when children start to say their first words! For Analytic Language Processors (word babies), they initially babble, maybe use jargon, and then eventually produce their first word(s). Sometimes it's obvious when a child says one of their first words, and other times, it may be unclear. As speech therapists, we use a set of criteria to guide us when determining if a child is using a "true word" or not. Here is what we look for to determine if a child is p

Meghan O'Grady
Aug 3, 20232 min read


How many words should my child say?
A common question many parents ask is “How many words should my child be saying?” There is a range and that range is vast, so this can be...

Meghan O'Grady
Jul 27, 20231 min read


Getting face-to-face with your child to support language development
A quick and simple tip to support language development in young children

Meghan O'Grady
Jul 20, 20231 min read


There are Two Ways to Develop Language
There are two ways a child can learn language. An understanding of both allows those in a child’s life to better understand and support a...

Meghan O'Grady
Jul 6, 20231 min read


Stages of Natural Language Acquisition
People who learn language by first producing words, building a repertoire of single words, and then producing phrases are considered...

Meghan O'Grady
Jun 29, 20232 min read


Echolalia and Gestalt Language Development
Gestalt language processors use echolalia to communicate. It's their natural way of developing language and should be acknowledged and...

Meghan O'Grady
Jun 22, 20231 min read


Common Speech Sound Errors
Speech sound errors are patterns in the way a child produces a sound or sounds. Oftentimes these speech errors are developmentally...

Meghan O'Grady
Jun 15, 20233 min read


Collaborative Board Games
Collaborative board games are designed to encourage collaboration, teamwork, and cooperation. The games maintain the general structure of...

Meghan O'Grady
Jun 8, 20231 min read


What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech
CAS is a speech sound disorder in which a child has difficulty with the planning and programming of motor movements needed for speech...

Meghan O'Grady
May 11, 20231 min read


Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhymes are passed down from generation to generation. We sing them to our children, teach them in early childhood education. But...

Meghan O'Grady
Mar 23, 20231 min read


Targeting the R Sound
Speech therapy to work on the R sound.

Meghan O'Grady
Mar 10, 20231 min read


Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Assessment and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech

Meghan O'Grady
Jan 1, 20232 min read
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