Connecting Us to Others
Training in Evidence-Based Approaches
At Bridge to Communication, it is vital in our everyday practice to provide the highest standard of care. This is why we only implement therapy approaches that are evidence-based and backed by research. Below, you can find the programs we are trained in and are currently offering to our families.
It Takes Two to Talk
We provide parent coaching based on the ITTTT program, which is designed for parents with children (birth to 5 years) with a language delay. This program is to teach families how to facilitate language development naturally in their everyday life and routines.
This program supports families in recognizing their child’s stage and style of communication and the things that are motivating to them, so they can implement strategies that fit their child’s specific stage and style of communication. This may include learning how to adjust daily routines to add and teach language, creating opportunities for interactions and how to keep it going, and adjusting the way toys are played and books are read.
PROMPT
PROMPT stands for PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. This is a multidimensional approach used to facilitate motor control and planning during speech production. PROMPT is great for children with severe motor involvement and those who need an extra level of support.
This approach integrates all the systems and provides the child with supports in a hierarchical way. Using PROMPT, we may help with airflow and sound production, movement of the articulators, such as jaw, lips, and tongue to help with placement, manner, transition, and timing for speech.
Lidcombe Program
We are trained in the Lidcombe Program, which is a stuttering program for children 6 years of age and younger. It is a behavioural treatment where we work closely with the family to teach and implement treatment in the child’s natural environment. This program involves commenting directly on the child’s speech in specific times during the day to provide them with positive feedback.
Fluency Plus
We offer a comprehensive treatment program for school-aged children and teens 9 and up, who stutter. Throughout this program, we will teach your child fluency facilitating skills, help your child overcome speech fears through cognitive restructuring, and implement effective procedures for transferring their new skills into everyday life. We will also help support long-term maintenance and planning.
LSVT LOUD for Kids and Adults
We also provide LSVT LOUD, which is an effective speech and voice treatment for children with neurological conditions. It was first used for people with Parkinson’s disease and now widely used with children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. This program is an intensive and high-effort treatment program that targets vocal loudness and generalization of skills so your child can speak with a voice and volume that improves other people’s ability to understand them. Research has also shown that LSVT subjects have seen spillover effects to articulation and overall intelligibility as well.
Natural Language Acquisition (NLA)
Did you know that there are two types of language learning? Analytic and Gestalt Language Learners. Most Autistic individuals are Gestalt Language Processors. Our understanding of how to identify GLPs and the stage they are in help us tailor our approach and language modelling to suit their language learning needs.
If you have any questions regarding these programs or approaches, please do not hesitate to reach out.