Speech Services

• Speech sound impairments – difficulty pronouncing sounds
• Language delays – difficulty understanding what they hear as well as expressing themselves with words
• Social-pragmatic communication disorders – difficulty with thinking skills including perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, judgment, intellect and imagination
• Stuttering (fluency) – interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations, repetitions, prolongations of sounds or words
• Voice – quality of voice that may include hoarseness, nasality, pitch or loudness

Professionals with Douglas ESD’s speech-language therapy program provide services to all school districts in Douglas County.  Personnel include licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and certified speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs). At any point in the school year, more than 800 students receive therapy services as specified on their Individualized Education Plans.

Services are customized to each student’s needs using research-based practices, and are offered through individual or small group sessions, classroom collaboration, or consultation with teachers and families. Referrals begin with a school’s Student Services Team. If parents have concerns about their child’s communication skills, they are encouraged to speak with the child’s teacher.