Speech and Language Therapy for Babies with CHDs

Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) are experts in how people learn to speak, use, and understand language.   

SLPs can help babies with skills such as: 

• Engaging and socializing with others 

• Establishing pre-language skills, such as imitation, attention, cause and effect, and language-based play

• Using the muscles in their mouth  

• Making sounds with their mouth, including vowel sounds like "ahhh" (cooing) and repeated consonant-vowel combinations like "bababa" (babbling)

• Understanding words

Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) are experts in how the mouth works, including how people eat, drink, and swallow.

Often working as part of a multidisciplinary team, SLPs can help babies with feeding skills by:

• doing a swallow study to determine if the baby is aspirating (getting food into their breathing/respiratory tract instead of their stomach)

• strengthening mouth muscles

• helping the baby move their tongue

• helping a baby latch and suck

• teaching a baby how to breathe while sucking and swallowing

• helping an older baby chew

• adjusting the texture and consistency of milk, formula, or food to make swallowing easier and safer

• helping babies get used to the taste and feel of food, liquids, and nipples in their mouth

• helping the baby participate in meals, even if they do not eat by mouth

• finding the best way to position a baby and bottle or breast during feeding

Pediatric Speech and Language Pathologists work with babies in multiple settings:

• Early Intervention (EI) 

• Hospitals 

• Clinics 

In a hospital, most babies with heart defects can receive speech and language therapy to work on feeding and swallowing concerns. If they have an injury that causes them to lose speech or language skills, they can usually get speech and language therapy to re-learn lost skills. In many hospitals, babies may not be able to receive speech and language therapy to learn new communication skills.

After discharge, many babies with a heart defect qualify for free Speech and Language Therapy through Early Intervention (EI).  Families can call their local EI program to request an evaluation for their child. 

When a baby has a heart defect, medical insurance will often pay for speech and language therapy in an outpatient setting.  Families can talk with their doctors about options for speech and language services in their area.   

This content was reviewed by a Speech and Language Pathologist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Families local to Boston can contact Boston Children's Hospital's Speech and Language Pathology Program here: