Help for Speech Sound Disorders in Dixon, CA

Expert articulation therapy to help your child speak clearly and confidently.

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ASHA-Certified SLPs

Highly qualified therapists

Evidence-Based Therapy

Proven treatment methods

Most Insurance Accepted

Making therapy accessible

Serving Dixon & Solano County

Convenient local service

What Are Articulation Disorders?

Articulation disorders occur when children have difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, making their speech hard to understand.

Articulation Disorders

Difficulty physically producing specific speech sounds. The child knows what to say but struggles to make their mouth, tongue, and lips coordinate to produce the sound correctly.

Examples:

  • Saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit" (R sound)
  • Saying "thun" instead of "sun" (S sound)
  • Saying "tat" instead of "cat" (K sound)

Phonological Disorders

Difficulty understanding and using the sound patterns of language. The child can physically make the sounds but applies incorrect patterns or rules.

Examples:

  • Leaving off all final consonants ("ca" for "cat")
  • Making all sounds at the front of the mouth ("tat" for "cat" AND "gat")
  • Simplifying consonant clusters ("top" for "stop")

Common Sounds Affected

Early-developing sounds (by age 3-4): P, B, M, N, T, D, W, H

Middle-developing sounds (by age 5-6): K, G, F, V, NG

Late-developing sounds (by age 7-8): S, Z, SH, CH, J, L, R, TH

Important milestone: By age 4, your child should be understood by unfamiliar listeners at least 90% of the time. If not, an evaluation is recommended.

Signs Your Child May Need Articulation Therapy

Early intervention leads to better outcomes. Watch for these common signs:

  • Hard to understand - Family members or strangers frequently can't understand your child
  • Sound substitutions - Consistently replaces certain sounds ("wabbit" for "rabbit," "tat" for "cat")
  • Leaving off word endings - Says "ca" instead of "cat," "do" instead of "dog"
  • Sound pattern errors - Makes all sounds from the front of the mouth or backs of sounds to front
  • Frustration when not understood - Child becomes upset or gives up when others can't understand them
  • Awareness of speech difference - Child knows they sound different from peers and may avoid talking
  • Behind age expectations - Speech is less clear than other children the same age
  • Speech hasn't improved - Errors that should have resolved by a certain age are still present

When to seek help: If your child is hard to understand by age 3, or if specific sound errors persist beyond the expected age of development, schedule an evaluation. Early intervention prevents frustration, builds confidence, and sets the foundation for reading and writing success.

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Speech Sound Conditions We Treat

Our ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists provide expert treatment for a wide range of articulation and speech sound disorders.

Speech Sound Production Disorders

Individual sound errors (R, S, L, TH, K, G) and distortions. Specialized therapy techniques for persistent sound errors.

Phonological Disorders

Sound pattern errors including fronting, stopping, final consonant deletion, and cluster reduction.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Motor planning disorder affecting speech production. Learn more about apraxia therapy

Cleft Palate Speech

Specialized therapy for children with cleft lip/palate, addressing resonance, articulation, and compensatory patterns.

Cochlear Implant Therapy

Supporting speech development for children with cochlear implants, focusing on auditory skill building and articulation.

R Sound Therapy

Specialized treatment for the most challenging speech sound. Multiple techniques for vocalic and consonantal R.

Our Evidence-Based Approach

We use proven, research-based techniques tailored to your child's age, needs, and learning style.

Evidence-Based Therapy

We use proven treatment methods backed by research:

  • Traditional articulation therapy for individual sound errors
  • Phonological approach for pattern-based errors
  • Cycles approach for multiple sound errors
  • Motor-based techniques when needed
  • Multi-sensory cuing (visual, tactile, auditory)

Play-Based for Young Children

Therapy should be engaging and fun:

  • Games and activities your child enjoys
  • Natural, interactive learning environment
  • Reinforcement systems that motivate
  • Age-appropriate materials and methods
  • Building confidence while building skills

Home Practice Activities

Parents are essential partners in therapy:

  • Simple, practical activities for home
  • Clear instructions and demonstrations
  • 5-10 minutes of daily practice
  • Fun, not frustrating for you or your child
  • Regular communication about progress

Progress Monitoring & Data

We track progress systematically:

  • Objective data collection each session
  • Regular progress reports
  • Adjusting therapy based on response
  • Clear goals with measurable outcomes
  • Celebrating milestones together

What to Expect from Articulation Therapy

Initial Evaluation Process

Your child's therapy journey begins with a comprehensive evaluation:

  • Parent interview: Developmental history and current concerns
  • Standardized testing: Formal assessment of all speech sounds
  • Speech sample: Conversation and play to hear natural speech
  • Stimulability testing: Can your child make the sound with help?
  • Results & recommendations: Clear diagnosis and treatment plan

Duration: 60-90 minutes

Therapy Frequency & Schedule

Treatment intensity depends on your child's needs:

  • Typical frequency: 1-2 sessions per week
  • Session length: 30-60 minutes
  • Mild errors: Often 1x/week is sufficient
  • Moderate-severe: 2x/week recommended
  • Flexible scheduling: After school and weekend options

Parent Involvement

Your participation enhances your child's progress:

  • Learn techniques during therapy sessions
  • Practice activities provided for home
  • 5-10 minutes of daily practice recommended
  • Regular communication with therapist
  • Reinforcing correct sounds in daily life

Research shows: Children make faster progress when parents are actively involved.

Timeline & Duration

Every child progresses at their own pace:

  • Mild errors (1-2 sounds): 3-6 months typical
  • Moderate errors (3-5 sounds): 6-12 months
  • Severe/multiple errors: 12-24 months
  • Phonological disorders: Often 9-18 months
  • Factors affecting timeline: Severity, age, home practice, attendance

Remember: Progress happens in stages—from learning the sound in isolation, to words, to sentences, to everyday conversation.

Insurance & Payment

Insurance Accepted

We accept most major insurance plans and handle billing for you:

  • Blue Cross / Blue Shield
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • United Healthcare
  • Medicare
  • And many others

Not sure if we accept your insurance? Check our complete insurance list or call us at (707) 366-5246 and we'll verify your benefits.

We also offer private pay options and can provide documentation for out-of-network reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will my child outgrow speech sound errors?

Some children do naturally outgrow minor speech errors, but many do not. By age 4, your child should be understood by unfamiliar listeners at least 90% of the time. If speech errors persist beyond the expected age of development (for example, R errors beyond age 7-8, or difficulty being understood at age 4), they are unlikely to resolve without therapy.

Key point: "Wait and see" beyond age 4 often leads to persistent errors that are harder to treat later. Early intervention is more effective and prevents frustration, social difficulties, and potential impacts on reading and writing.

Q: When should I seek help for my child's speech?

Seek an evaluation if:

  • Your child is hard to understand by age 3
  • Family members or strangers frequently can't understand your child
  • Sound errors persist beyond the expected developmental age
  • Your child is frustrated when not understood
  • Your child is aware they sound different from peers
  • A teacher, pediatrician, or other professional has expressed concern

When in doubt, get evaluated. An evaluation provides peace of mind or catches issues early when they're easiest to treat.

Q: How long does articulation therapy take?

Duration varies based on several factors:

  • Number of sounds affected: One sound error typically resolves in 3-6 months; multiple errors take longer
  • Severity: Mild distortions respond faster than severe substitutions or phonological patterns
  • Age: Younger children often progress faster than older children with entrenched patterns
  • Home practice: Consistent practice at home accelerates progress significantly
  • Attendance: Regular, consistent sessions lead to better outcomes

Typical ranges: 3-6 months for mild errors, 6-12 months for moderate, 12-24 months for severe or multiple errors. Your therapist will provide a personalized estimate after the evaluation.

Q: Do you treat R sounds?

Yes! The R sound is one of the most common reasons children come to speech therapy, and we specialize in treating it. The R sound is particularly challenging because:

  • It's one of the last sounds children develop (expected by age 7-8)
  • It requires very precise tongue positioning
  • There are actually 21+ variations of R in English (initial R, vocalic R, R blends)
  • Some children struggle with the sound even when they're older

We use multiple evidence-based techniques for R, including traditional articulation therapy, shaping techniques, and multi-sensory cuing. Most children make excellent progress with consistent therapy and home practice. R therapy typically takes 6-12 months depending on severity.

Q: What happens in a typical therapy session?

Articulation therapy sessions are structured yet engaging:

  • Warm-up (5 min): Review previous week's practice, check-in with parent
  • Direct instruction (10-15 min): Teaching the target sound using cues, modeling, and practice at the appropriate level (isolation, syllables, words, sentences)
  • Practice activities (15-20 min): Games and activities that provide multiple opportunities to practice the target sound
  • Home practice review (5 min): Demonstrating activities for home, answering questions

Sessions are play-based for young children and include activities your child enjoys. We use reinforcement systems to keep motivation high. Data is collected throughout to track progress objectively.

Serving Dixon & Solano County

We provide articulation therapy services to families throughout Solano County:

Dixon • Vacaville • Fairfield • Davis • West Sacramento • Woodland • Winters

Convenient location: 255 N. Lincoln St. Suite A, Dixon, CA 95620

Help Your Child Speak Clearly and Confidently

Our ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists specialize in articulation therapy, helping children overcome speech sound errors and speak clearly.

  • Free initial consultation
  • Specialized articulation techniques
  • R, S, L, TH sound specialists
  • Response within 24 hours

Or call us directly:
(707) 366-5246

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