Susan Smith

Speech-Language Pathologist

7047 E. Greenway Parkway, Suite 250 Scottsdale AZ, 85254 Show map

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About

Susan Smith is a speech language pathologist practicing in Scottsdale, AZ. Ms. Smith specializes in speech and language disorders in children ages 3 - 18. As a speech language pathologist, Mrs. Smith evaluates, diagnoses and treats children with communication difficulties. These conditions may be due to developmental delay, brain injury, hearing loss, autism, or other diseases and injuries. Ms. Smith helps children improve their communication skills and has advanced training in speech sound disorders, fluency, and neurodiversity.

Education and Training

Arizona State University M.S. Communication Disorders 1999

Board Certification

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Provider Details

FemaleEnglish

Susan Smith

Susan Smith's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How can I tell if my daughter has speech issues?
Depending on where your daughter goes to school, she may be eligible to have her speech screened and the school-based SLP should be able to tell you if she needs speech therapy. Most public and charter schools provide these services. Alternatively, you can seek a private screening and/or evaluation from a private practice or clinic SLP. It may be that she will grow out of it, but chances are, she will need some intervention, particularly if there are other sounds that she is producing in error. READ MORE
How can I tell if my baby has speech problems?
If she is not saying any words by 2, I would recommend taking her to a developmental pediatrician who can assess her and refer you to a speech pathologist or other interventionist as appropriate. Most children use and understand at least 50 words by 2 (even if not clearly articulated) and are beginning to combine two words (e.g., big dog, mama do). READ MORE
How long should speech therapy be after a stroke?
The length of therapy is dependent upon the severity of the speech issues. Insurance often limits the number of visits, but your speech therapist should be able to recommend a course of treatment including their estimate of when therapy should be discontinued. I specialize in pediatric therapy so a therapist who specializes in stroke might have a more definitive answer. READ MORE
How long does a speech therapy session last?
It really depends on the therapist and the attention/stamina of your daughter. Typically 30-60 minutes per session. READ MORE
Is speech delay serious?
Speech delay can be treated by a speech language pathologist. Depending on the severity of the delay and any other cooccurring difficulties, the treatment plan will vary. I would recommend starting with an evaluation by an SLP that specializes in Early Intervention. READ MORE
Can speech therapy help with autism?
Speech therapy can indeed help, but you may need to change your expectations about how she communicates. I would recommend starting with your school district to have a comprehensive evaluation, which may include as assessment of her ability to use augmentative communication, which can help with both language development and the acquisition of speech production. I hope this helps! READ MORE
How can a speech pathologist help my son?
Depending on the age of your child and his motivation to improve his speech, an SLP can help him learn the movements necessary to produce the /r/ sound correctly. R is one of the most difficult sounds to learn because there are two specific ways to produce the sound, it is produced in the back of the mouth so it is difficult to see, and its production is very significantly affected by the sounds that occur around it. The SLP may be able to identify certain contexts where production is easier and can begin to build from there. READ MORE
Is speech stuttering fixable?
Typically, speech fluency can be improved, although there may be times that a person who stutters continues to stutter throughout their life. A speech language pathologist can help teach strategies to make speaking easier and less bumpy. Improvement will vary depending on your daughter’s age and the severity of her stutter. I would recommend seeking an evaluation and or therapy. Her public school should be able to evaluate her speech and provide services if necessary. You can also seek a private evaluation and therapy. There are speech therapists who specialize in stuttering therapy. READ MORE
My daughter has somewhat of a his when she talks. How can it be corrected?
No, it is not too early to seek help from a speech language pathologist. Because she is four, you might seek an evaluation through your public school district. an evaluation by a speech language pathologist will give you a better idea of what is happening with your daughter’s speech. READ MORE
Is speech stuttering genetic?
There is often a genetic component to stuttering. It does tend to run in families, but there are many contributing factors. If you are looking to improve the ease and fluency of your speech, there are speech pathologist who specialize in adult fluency. READ MORE
Can puberphonia be corrected with speech therapy?
I would certainly recommend finding a speech language pathologist who treats adult voice disorders. Depending on where you live, you might reach out to one of the universities that might have a voice lab. Additionally, I would check with a medical doctor to see if there is any medical treatment for the condition. A speech therapist can certainly help you develop strategies to improve your vocal quality. READ MORE
My voice is extremely low. What can I do to enhance it?
Without evaluating your speech, it is hard to know what would improve your volume. One of the things that may help is improving your respiration, but I would seek an evaluation from a speech therapist, who works with adults. There can be several reasons for reduced volume, and I would not feel comfortable recommending treatment without knowing more about any physical cause. READ MORE
Will my mother regain her speech after her stroke?
Depending on the severity of the stroke, your mother may or may not regain her speech. With regular speech therapy, and lots of time and practice, your mother may regain some of all of her speech. You will want to hang an assessment completed by an SLP who specializes in adult rehabilitation. READ MORE