Developing children may have delays in speaking words, difficulty producing speech sounds that can be understood by others, or they may have difficulty with oral motor skills. Older children may have difficulties understanding directions, answering questions, telling a story or explaining something so that people can understand what they mean. Sometimes children need help learning to engage in social or play skills. These challenges can be very frustrating for a child and may impact their relationships with others, but they can be remedied with speech therapy.
The pediatric speech-language pathologist helps the child build communication skills. This happens in a variety of ways including, floor time, play therapy, using picture cards to work with non-verbal children, learning sign-language, building vocabulary, teaching sentence structure/grammar, or how to answer questions and social skills. When the child is able to use these communication skills in everyday life, they feel empowered and able to interact well with family and peers.
Meet our speech therapists
Debra Jablonski
MS,CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Debra has been with Innovative since June 2013. She holds a Master’s of Speech and Hearing Sciences from Portland State University and a Master’s of Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University. She specializes in speech/language therapy for children ages birth to three, feeding therapy, sensory integration issues in communication, and she is also bilingual.
Megan Knight
MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist III
With Innovative since June 2017, Megan holds a Master’s of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Gallaudet University and a Bachlor’s of Science in Communication Science Disorders from Portland State University. Specializes in hearing loss, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), children with autism spectrum disorders, and multiple disabilities.
Holly Leder
MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Holly has been with Innovative since May 2017. She holds a Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders from Eastern Washington University, and Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from University of Oregon. Holly specializes in Early Intervention, childhood apraxia of speech, receptive and expressive language, and articulation.
