Speech Therapy for Young Children with CHDs

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

SLPs can help young children with expressive skills such as:

• using the muscles in their mouth and throat

• making language sounds clearly

• using their voice loudly enough

• saying words

• putting words into sentences

• using different kinds of sentences

• expressing their wants and needs

• participating in a conversation

• telling a story

SLPs can help young children with receptive skills such as:

• paying attention to speech

• recognizing and understanding words

• understanding sentences and stories

• listening and understanding during a conversation

• following directions

Some young children do not learn speech and language in a typical way, even with intervention. SLPs can help all children to communicate.

SPLs can help with:

• communicating with gestures, non-word sounds, and facial expression

• using augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) systems

• using a manual (signed) language instead of a spoken language

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

As part of a multidisciplinary team, SLPs can help young children with feeding skills by:

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

• strengthening mouth muscles

• helping a child move their tongue

• helping a child latch and suck

• teaching a child how to breathe while sucking and swallowing

• helping a child chew

• helping a child swallow

• adjusting the texture and consistency of food and drink to make swallowing easier and safer

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

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

• finding the best way to position a child during feeding

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

• Early Intervention (EI) (for ages 0, 1, 2)

• Public schools (for ages 3 - 21)

• Hospitals 

• Clinics 

In a hospital, many children 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, children may not be able to receive speech and language therapy while they are inpatient to learn new communication skills.

Many toddlers 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. Many preschoolers with a heart defect qualify for free Speech and Language Therapy through their school district's Special Education program. Families can contact their school district to request an evaluation.

When a child 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 .

Developmental care is best when it is local. Families local to Boston can receive care from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP) and/or the Department of Speech-Language Pathology. Families from other regions can use the link below to find their local care team.