• Children
  • Intergrated Developmental Preschool
  • Primary Development Program
  • Child Care
  • Child Check
  • Speech, Language and Hearing
  • Early Intervention Evaluations
  • Early Care and Education Council
  • Pre-K Counts
• Adults with Special Needs
  • Community Homes
  • B.E.S.T./Adult Training Centers
  • Community Outreach
  • Speech, Language and Hearing
• Older Adults
  • Geriatric Adult Day Health Services
  • Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group
  • Seniors in Transition
• Families
  • Early Identification/Crisis Intervention Program
  • Home-Based Family Support Program
  • Families Forever
  • Pediatric Independent Evaluation Services
• Community
  • Information and Referral
  • Advocacy
  • Public Awareness/Professional Education

Speech and Language Evaluations

The evaluation begins with an interview of the parent or guardian to obtain the client's history in this area. The speech pathologist administers the appropriate test or battery of tests for the purpose of determining the nature and extent of the problem. Depending on the results of the evaluation, the client may be referred to another agency, enrolled in a therapy program at Lifesteps, or there may be no need for therapy or referral at this time.

Speech and Language Therapy

Preschool children, school-aged children and adults may be eligible for speech and language therapy services. Clients generally have articulation problems, language delays, stuttering, voice disorders or other speech problems. Using the results from a Speech, Language and Hearing Screening, the client’s strengths and weaknesses are determined and long and short-range goals are established. Appropriate techniques are then utilized to maximize their communication abilities.

Speech diagnostics consist of the assessment process in the areas of speech, language, hearing, developmental and social skills. The diagnostic evaluation includes parental interview, behavioral observation and the administration of a variety of diagnostic tools to determine eligibility for early intervention services. Referrals come from parents, physicians, screening programs and the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit. This program primarily serves children two years-ten months to five years. Upon completion of the assessment, the parents are presented an Evaluation Report (ER) and available services are discussed.

Puretone threshold screening is completed at 20 decibels for the following frequencies: 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 hertz 25dB for 500hz in both ears. Tympanometry results are obtained for both ears. If a client does not pass this battery of screening measures, results may be rechecked in two or four weeks or the client may be referred for an audiological evaluation and/or a medical examination.