West Texas Speech
& Myofunctional Therapy
NOW HIRING
Speech & Occupational Therapists
SPEAKOUT!®
West Texas Speech Therapy is pleased to offer a two-part speech therapy program to help individuals with Parkinson's regain and maintain effective communication: SPEAK OUT!® followed by SPEAK OUT!® Speech Group Therapy Programs. (we don't host yet/ TBD).
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The SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project, helps people living with Parkinson's and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. Using the principles of motor learning, this evidenced-based program combines education, a specialized workbook, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice, and regular follow-up sessions. SPEAK OUT!® Therapy trains patients to "speak with INTENT" by transitioning speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.
Articulation:
Speech sound disorders refer to difficulties with perceiving, producing, or organizing speech sounds, including the rules that govern sound patterns in a language. These challenges can affect a child’s ability to communicate clearly. Our therapists have extensive experience evaluating and treating these disorders to help patients improve their speech clarity.
Articulation involves producing specific speech sounds, which develop gradually with age. Some sound errors are typical for younger children who have not yet reached the expected developmental stage. However, an articulation delay or disorder may be present when a child is not producing age-appropriate sounds or has multiple sound errors that make their speech difficult to understand.
Signs and symptoms of functional speech sound disorders include the following (ASHA,2022):
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omissions/deletions—certain sounds are omitted or deleted (e.g., “cu” for “cup” and “poon” for “spoon”)
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substitutions—one or more sounds are substituted, which may result in loss of phonemic contrast (e.g., “thing” for “sing” and “wabbit” for “rabbit”)
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additions—one or more extra sounds are added or inserted into a word (e.g., “buhlack” for “black”)
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distortions—sounds are altered or changed (e.g., a lateral “s”)
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syllable-level errors—weak syllables are deleted (e.g., “tephone” for “telephone”)
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Errors producing single speech sounds
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Phonological errors producing speech sounds where a pattern of errors is present
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Errors with the perception and motor production of speech sounds either due to oral-motor weakness (oral-motor disorder) or due to motor-based difficulties (apraxia)
Language Disorders:
Do you or your child have trouble communicating? Is your child a late talker, nonverbal, or struggling in school due to communication difficulties? Challenges such as difficulty following directions, understanding questions, learning new words, or forming sentences may indicate a language disorder. Language includes speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, and deficits in these areas often affect academic performance. A comprehensive evaluation by a Speech-Language Pathologist is the first step in identifying and addressing these concerns.
A language disorder occurs when someone has difficulty understanding language (receptive) or expressing thoughts and ideas (expressive). These disorders can affect both children and adults and may result from medical conditions, such as stroke-related aphasia, or have no known cause. ASHA defines language as the ability to understand or use spoken, written, or symbolic communication systems.
Language skills fall into three main areas: receptive (listening and reading), expressive (speaking and writing), and pragmatic (social use of language).
Fluency (Stuttering):
Do you or a loved one struggle to speak fluently—stuttering, repeating sounds, or getting stuck on words? Is this affecting confidence, relationships, school, or work?
Stuttering involves disruptions in the flow of speech and may include physical tension, secondary behaviors, or avoidance of communication. Our therapists provide individualized, patient-centered fluency therapy designed to support each person’s unique needs in a positive, encouraging environment.
Autism:
Has your child been diagnosed with autism? Are they nonverbal or experiencing delays in speech development?
Autism is a neurobehavioral condition that includes a range of symptoms affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior. Many individuals on the spectrum have difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication, forming friendships, and navigating daily social situations. Repetitive or rigid behaviors may also affect everyday functioning.
Speech therapy can help improve communication skills, supporting stronger relationships and greater independence in daily life.
Specific goals of speech therapy include helping the individual with autism:
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Communicate both verbally and nonverbally
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Initiate communication without prompting from others
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Know the appropriate time and place to communicate something; for example, when to say “I need help”
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Develop conversational skills
Please note, our office does NOT diagnose autism. If you have concerns regarding your child, please contact their pediatrician directly regarding developmental or psychological evaluations.
Feeding/Swallowing:
Is your child a picky or anxious eater? Are they rejecting familiar foods, refusing new ones, or causing concerns about proper nutrition?
We help distinguish typical picky eating from more serious feeding issues. Our team provides feeding therapy, parent guidance, and specialized support from experienced Speech-Language Pathologists and feeding specialists.
A swallowing disorder (dysphagia) involves difficulty eating or swallowing and can occur in the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal phases of the swallow. Challenges in any phase can impact a person’s ability to get adequate nutrition.
Rehabilitative Therapy:
We can help you manage a wide range of conditions that affect speaking or swallowing.
Whether caused by a traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumor, dementia, epilepsy, surgery, medications, radiation, or neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, our therapists provide personalized exercises and strategies to improve your quality of life.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders:
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders involve abnormal tongue positioning during speech, swallowing, or rest—often referred to as a tongue thrust. This can contribute to malocclusion, speech sound errors, and may be linked to prolonged oral habits such as thumb sucking. Therapy focuses on facial and tongue exercises and behavior strategies to improve tongue posture, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and articulation. We also offer newborn orofacial assessments to identify tongue, lip, or buccal ties that may affect breastfeeding.
Accent Reduction:
Accent assessments involve recording and analyzing speech samples. The speech-language pathologist then creates an individualized, research-based program. Training may include auditory discrimination, word and sentence practice, and applying skills in everyday conversation. Session frequency and focus depend on the number of sounds targeted and the client’s progress.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy services are provided by skilled professionals who specialize in the intervention of infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with disorders that effect development of motor, sensory and behavioral skills. Occupational Therapists encourage and work towards the independence of activities of:
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Daily living
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Hyperactivity
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Body Awareness
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Safety Awareness
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Handwriting
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Vision
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Feeding skills
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Body awareness
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Environment safety
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Sensory integration
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Self-regulation skills
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Upper body strength and coordination
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Fine motor skills
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Handwriting skills
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Motor planning and praxis
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Bilateral coordination skills and balance
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Visual motor skills
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Visual perceptual skills
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Facilitation of developmental milestones
AOTA's Learn More
Specialized Services
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Beckman Approach to Oral-Motor Therapy
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The PESL Accent Modification Method
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Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
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Myofascial Release for Dysphagia
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Tethered Oral Tissues/Tongue tie and lip tie assessments
Are you wondering if our services are right for you or a loved one?
Do you have any questions regarding the services we offer?
Are you interested in becoming a patient?
Does your child or loved one have difficulty communicating?
Do they express frustration when struggling to communicate?
Does your child have difficulties trying new foods?
Were you or a loved one diagnosed with a medical condition impacting speech or swallowing abilities?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Please fill out the information below or call our office today!
