About Avivit Ben-Aharon
Founder & Clinical Director at Great Speech Inc. | Providing Innovative Alternatives to Speech Pathology Services
Entries by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Famous People With A Lisp
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
If you’ve ever watched a Hollywood awards ceremony, you’ve likely seen dozens of gorgeously dressed celebrities who appear to be the picture of perfection. For us average Americans, famous people seem to live perfect, easy lives, but the truth is most of them work incredibly hard to get to where they are. When [...]
Can Speech Impediment Impact Emotional Stability?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Communication is a crucial element of the human experience and the creation of meaningful relationships. When challenges with verbal expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas occur, it can make it difficult to navigate daily interactions and accomplish simple tasks. Speech disorders also referred to as speech impediments, can cause those affected to develop low self-esteem, [...]
Can Apraxia Of Speech Improve With Speech Therapy?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Apraxia of speech is also often referred to as AOS, acquired apraxia of speech, verbal apraxia, or childhood apraxia of speech when identified in children. Apraxia of speech is a disorder that affects motor planning abilities. This means that those affected have sufficient language abilities to communicate effectively, but the messages between the brain and [...]
Does ADHD Affect Speech & Communication?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (commonly referred to as ADHD) can also develop speech and language challenges. Communication disorders related to ADHD can affect pragmatics (appropriate social communication), speech fluency, auditory processing, and other elements of speech and language. It is important for individuals with ADHD, as well as family members, friends, and caregivers, [...]
How Does A Lisp Impact Speech?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Types of Lisp Speech Disorders Lisps, also referred to as Functional Speech Disorders or FMDs, are amongst the most commonly identified and widely recognized speech problems people experience. A lisp is an articulation problem that causes the inability to pronounce one or more consonant sounds. The most common example of this is difficulty pronouncing the [...]
How Can Speech Therapy Help Adults Who Are Hard Of Hearing or Deaf?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Approximately 11 million Americans are deaf or hearing impaired, meaning that adult speech and hearing challenges impact many individuals across the country. Communication difficulties are common among deaf adults, often affecting daily life, important relationships, confidence, and overall quality of life. Speech therapy for deaf adults offers tailored and specialized support with a direct focus [...]
Can A Child With Autism Improve Their Ability To Communicate?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
If you are a parent of a child who is on the Autism Spectrum and who struggles to communicate, you may have asked yourself, “Will my child with autism ever be able to talk?” When discussing communication abilities in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is always important to note that each child diagnosed [...]
What’s the Typical Duration of Speech Therapy for Adults?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
How long should speech therapy take? This is a question that speech therapists hear every day, which is understandable, as individuals working to overcome a speech disorder or difference simply want to know when they can expect to reach their goals. The answer to this question, however, is not straightforward, as the duration of speech [...]
Understanding Prosody Disorder - Rhythm and Intonation Disorders
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Prosody, or Dysprosody, is a relatively uncommon speech disorder that is widely unfamiliar to most people. The condition is characterized by differences in the timing and rhythm of speech, as well as the cadence, intonation, and emphasis of certain words. In more simple terms, dysprosody is a rhythm and intonation disorder that affects an individual’ [...]
What are the Emerging Technologies in Speech Therapy?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Over the past ten years, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. With speech therapy traditionally focusing on human interaction, many in the speech therapy community may find themselves wondering, what does the future of speech therapy hold? These rapid technological advancements mean that almost nothing is untouched, and the speech therapy field is no [...]
How do I Know if my Child Uses Echolalia To Communicate?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
If you’ve spent time around young children, you’ve likely heard them repeat or mimic the spoken words or sounds of others. This form of imitation is referred to as echolalia, a term derived from the Greek language combining “echo” and “lalia,” translating to “to repeat speech.” Echolalia is considered a normal and important [...]
How Do You Treat Mutational Falsetto?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Mutational falsetto (also referred to as puberphonia, adolescent falsetto, or pubescent falsetto) is a type of functional voice disorder that causes individuals to habitually use a high-pitched voice following puberty. Some individuals with this disorder may speak with a breathy, rough, or weak-sounding voice. Mutational falsetto typically emerges during adolescence, in most cases between 11 [...]