Pediatric Hippotherapy for Fluency Disorders
in Pea Ridge, AR
Does your child have trouble speaking in a way that’s smooth and easy for others to understand? It could be due to a fluency disorder. At Unbridled Pediatric Therapies, we combine traditional speech therapy with therapeutic horse-riding (hippotherapy) to help kids achieve clear and fluent speech for successful communication.
What Are Fluency Disorders?
A fluency disorder is a type of speech disorder that affects the flow of speech. It involves interruptions in the normal rhythm, speed, and smoothness of speech, which can make it difficult for a child to speak clearly and fluidly.
Common Symptoms of Fluency Disorders
The most common symptoms of fluency disorders include:
- Repeating sounds, syllables, or words (e.g., “w-w-wait”)
- Prolonging sounds (e.g., “sssss-sun”)
- Pausing frequently or struggling to get words out
- Tension in the face, mouth, or body during speech
- Avoiding speaking or feeling anxious about speaking situations
How Pediatric Speech Therapy Combined with Hippotherapy Can Treat Fluency Disorders
Pediatric speech therapy is an incredible treatment for fluency disorders. But when you combine it with hippotherapy, children can achieve much greater outcomes than what is possible through clinic-based treatment on its own.
Here are some of the reasons why you should consider equine-assisted speech therapy for your child:
1. It improves breath control
Hippotherapy encourages diaphragmatic breathing (deep belly breathing), which helps strengthen breath support. This is essential for fluent speech because controlled breathing helps regulate speech rate and smoothness. The rhythmic movement of the horse naturally promotes the kind of breathing needed for clear and effective speech.
2. It increases motor coordination skills
The horse’s movement provides vestibular (balance) and proprioceptive (body awareness) input, which helps improve the child’s overall body coordination. This increased awareness of body movement can help children better control their speech production, which can be interrupted when they are not in tune with their body or breathing.
3. It supports key areas of the brain
The movement a child experiences when riding a horse engages the same parts of the brain that they use for communication. And the sensory experience of hippotherapy helps children feel more regulated and willing to participate in therapy to work on their speech and language skills.
4. It’s fun!
The therapeutic interaction with the horse in a calm, structured environment promotes relaxation and helps reduce speech-related anxiety. As children become more comfortable with their bodies and the environment, they may feel more confident when speaking. Plus, the reward of riding and caring for a horse encourages children to keep practicing their speech skills because it’s a lot of fun!
Schedule a Free 15-Minute Phone Consultation Today
Want to find out how pediatric hippotherapy can support your child’s speech skills? Take advantage of our free 15-minute phone consultation! During this consultation, you’ll speak with a member of the Unbridled Pediatric Therapy team who can answer your questions and explain how your child can benefit from equine-assisted speech therapy.
Give us a call at (479) 250-9838 or fill out our online form to schedule your consultation today!
