Word articulation Unit

  1. Articulation or pronunciation disorders: Articulation disorders, traditionally called dyslalia, are very common throughout childhood development. There are several indicators that will require special attention and may lead into a stimulatory treatment. For instance, a child that does not pronounce the phoneme /K/ at two years of age or two years and a half, may raise an alarm. A  child’ s scarce spoken intelligibility in relation to their age group may also raise an alarm. The phoneme /r/ or /s/ are usually the final phonemes to be acquired. It is quite a common sign of functional neurological organisation (i.e. verbal dyspraxia) when a child does not acquire a phoneme spontaneously at the same time as his/her age group.  In these cases, it is vital to begin treatment without delay. The use of the self-perceptive stimulation by means of the sensible bombing and “Chuch-Impact” is very effective.
  2. Soft Palate fissure: Phoniatric and Speech Therapy activity in the area of soft palatal fissures is always implemented in collaboration with the maxillofacial surgeon. The final objective is to achieve the entire functionality throughout the tissue to accomplish normal functioning. Results are long term, but they are very satisfactory.
  3. Other dysglosia: The existence of any other lip, tongue and mandible pathologies provoke diverse articulatory disorders. Excellent results are obtained with a good diagnosis and a good work team (maxillofacial, otorhinology).
  4. Dysrhythmia or fluency disorders (motor coordination) or stuttering: Many people believe that stuttering is caused by a personal- psychological imbalance. However, the scientific explanation is that a disorganisation at a brain level, in the basal nucleus that often reduces the information confluence (as if it was a smaller roundabout). This causes a blockage when a large quantity of information arrives at the same time. An early childhood treatment, in patients younger than seven years of age, optimal results are obtained; between seven and fourteen years of age the results require a big effort and time investment; above fourteen years of age results are difficult to obtain and depend greatly on individual effort. In spite of this, well treated stuttering always improves even though it may require a longer treatment period. The “Rocking Method”, developed and implemented in our centre, has helped a myriad of patients.
  5. Dysarthria: A dysarthria is always a sign of neurological injury. A collaborative work with the neurologist will implement a better use of the affected neurological system. Results in dysarthrias are slow to obtain, but improved when combining the Sensible Bombing with counter resistance movement (Feed- Back Motor)