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Welcome!
We specialize in the assessment and treatment of children's communication disorders, ages 15 months through high-school, including:- Speech-articulation-oral motor-apraxia
- Receptive and expressive language
- Language-based learning disabilities
- Fluency (stuttering)
- Auditory processing
- Vocabulary
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Services
- Open Monday through Friday for evaluations, therapy, and consultations.
- Hours vary, but include evening appointments up to 7 p.m.
- Therapy is individualized - your child is seen on a one to one basis.
- We are located at 5125 S Kipling Parkway, in Littleton, CO, on the southwest corner of Belleview and Kipling, in the 1st Bank building.
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General Information
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Parents are an important and crucial part of our assessment and treatment processes. We welcome your input, want you to participate in the evaluation/treatment sessions, and encourage you to be present.
Home reinforcement tasks are provided at each session, verbally and/or in written format. Consistent follow-through with activities assigned, suggested, or recommended by the therapist will maximize your child's progress.
Video monitoring is available for times when you have other children with you, or if you feel your child will work better in the session if you are not present in the room.
Use of play, literature, the five senses, and technology, when appropriate, are utilized in treatment.
We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your child's other therapists, including the speech-language pathologist in the school, if he/she is receiving services there.
We currently contract with the following insurance companies:- Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Beech Street
- CIGNA-Great West
- Cofinity
- PHCS & Multiplan, inc.
- Rocky Mountain Health Plans
- United Healthcare/Optum Health
Other insurances may also be billed, if you have out-of-network benefits.
Staff
Cheryl R. Bland, M.S., CCC-SLP
Certified Speech Language Pathologist
Director/Owner
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certification, with multiple continuing education awards
Colorado Department of Education Certifications: Speech-Language Specialist, and Professional Teacher
Cheryl has over 30 years experience in pediatric speech-language pathology, with more than 25 years in this private practice.
Graduate clinicians are occasionally trained here under certified speech-language pathologists. Your permission would be obtained before he/she worked with your child.
Student volunteers may assist in the practice, and observations occur often. Again, your permission would be obtained prior to any contact (direct or observation) with your child.
Definitions of Terms
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What is a communication disorder?A communication disorder is a difficulty beyond normal variances in communicating; an interruption, deviance, weakness, or atypical skill in any one or combination of communication areas. The disorder subsequently interferes with the process of interacting with another person, or with the use of a communicative modality (i.e., reading, writing).
- Language:
A skill basic to all aspects of living and learning, and includes understanding and using language verbally, gesturally, and in writing. It includes aspects of grammar, syntax, vocabulary, reasoning, problem-solving, pragmatics, social skills, and organization.
- Receptive:Understanding of gestural, spoken, and/or written language.
- Expressive:Use of gestural, spoken, and/or written language.
- Speech:Verbal and/or vocal production of language, includes how sounds are said/made - articulation.
- Voice:The loudness, quality, inflection, and pitch of vocalization.
- Fluency:The rhythm of speech; often referred to as stuttering when there is unnatural fluency, such as sound or word repetitions, sound prolongations, silent blocks, or unusual physical accompaniments to speech production.
- Auditory Processing: Skills in utilizing auditory information, including sound discrimination, sound sequencing, sound-blending, direction-following. This processing occurs beyond the level of hearing acuity, and inter-relates with language skills.
- Oral Motor: Refers to the oral mechanism, including tongue, lips, teeth, jaw, their coordinated movements, chewing/swallowing; may affect speech production, feeding, dentition (i.e., tongue thrust).
- Language-Learning: Refers to effects of language on learning, often in the academic areas, including reading, writing, organization, routines, and vocabulary.
- Developmental Delay: Slowed rate of development, but follows typical sequence and pattern of growth, often in all areas of development (cognitive, language, motor, etc.) but may be area specific, such as speech-language (and within subareas again, such as speech) or gross motor.
- Disorder: Refers to an abnormal or atypical pattern of skill development, and is often accompanied by normal development in other areas.
Signs of a Disorder
Because communication begins to develop at birth, one can watch for and be aware of warning signs at any age. The signs vary with the age of the child, but may include:
- Feeding difficulties.
- Disinterest in communication or interaction.
- Slow or atypical acquisition of words and/or sounds.
- Unusual word combinations or sentence patterns.
- Inability to follow directions, answer questions appropriately, or understand what others are saying to him/her.
- Difficulty in being understood by others.
- Frequent sound, syllable, or word repetitions (fluency or stuttering).
- Exhibiting frustration in attempts to communicate, or frustration of those with whom he/she is attempting to communicate.
- Difficulties in school.
- Difficulties in social situations, or in getting along with others.
FAQ
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- What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
A Speech-Language Pathologist, often referred to as an SLP, is an individual who has completed graduate level or above education and training for communication disorders. Many specialize in a given area or age group, but all should have a master's degree or above, and a certificate of clinical competence from the national governing board, ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association).
- What is the difference between an evaluation, a screening, and therapy?
A screening is typically a very brief (i.e., 15 minutes) check of general speech-language milestone skills to determine if speech and language skills are likely age-appropriate, or possibly deviant. If problems are suspected, a full evaluation will likely be recommended. An evaluation is a more in-depth assessment of a child's performance and skill levels, usually requiring 45 minutes or longer, depending on the child's age and abilities. Formal tests, observations, and parent information usually typify an evaluation. Therapy is treatment-oriented, following a plan developed from test results and information gathered about the child's strengths and needs. The frequency and method of treatment vary greatly with each child. Many are seen individually, while others are seen in pairs or small groups.
- How long should I expect my child to be in therapy?
Again, this varies with each child and is affected by the severity of the child's disorder, the general abilities of the child, the frequency of treatment, and follow-through of home reinforcement tasks. Some are seen for as few as three to six sessions, designed primarily to assist parents in techniques and strategies to enhance skill development, and some are seen long-term (two or more years).
- What is the cost for services?
Cost varies with each practice, clinic, or SLP. Evaluation costs, usually a one-time or annual session, are higher in cost than therapy. Frequently a discount is provided for cash-paying patients.
- Will my medical insurance pay for the evaluation or therapy?
Many insurances will pay for at least an initial evaluation; most HMO plans require a medical referral from your PCP, as do some PPO plans. Frequently you will be required to see a provider designated by your insurance company, but not always. Your representative and/or PCP should be able to assist you in determining if you are required to go to a specific SLP or clinic. Treatment is less frequently paid for by insurance companies, and is based on specific plan provisions and medical necessity. This is often determined after an evaluation, when results and recommendations are written and reported.
- What can I do?
If you have concerns, talk to your PCP, call our office, or any one of the listed resources. They should be able to answer any specific questions, and whether or not an evaluation or treatment may be needed. If you suspect a problem, or if someone who knows your child expresses concern, it is likely best to have your child evaluated. Early intervention may help minimize long-term effects and ongoing problems for your child.
- What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Resources
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This page is provided as an access to our forms and policies, as well as links to information which may be helpful to you.
Websites
More Info
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Policies
- Attendance (coming soon)
- Financial (coming soon)
- Privacy (coming soon)
- Children (coming soon)
- Parents (coming soon)
Literature
We will list apps, games, and/or programs which may be useful for your child. As you discover and use apps/technology you have found to be beneficial, feel free to share it with us. We will review it and post it on the website for others.
Contact Us
Our Address
We are located at 5125 S Kipling Parkway, in Littleton, CO, on the southwest corner of Belleview and Kipling, in the 1st Bank building.
Cheryl R. Bland, M.S. CCC 5125 S. Kipling Parkway Suite 205,
Littleton, CO 80127.Telephone:303 971 0411
FAX:303 797 0407
E-mail: [email protected]Privacy Policy
coming soon.E-mail:[email protected]
Speech therapy services
The Center for Children's Speech-Language Disorders provides speech and language assessment and therapy for children and their families in the metro Denver area and mountain communities. Call (303)971-0411 -
