Pediatric Hippotherapy for Articulation Disorder
in Pea Ridge, AR
If your child struggles to pronounce words or sounds clearly, they can face challenges both in school and in sharing their ideas with others. At Unbridled Pediatric Therapies, we combine traditional speech therapy with therapeutic horse-riding (hippotherapy) to help kids achieve clear and effective communication skills.
What Is Articulation Disorder?
An articulation disorder is when a child struggles with clear speech sounds. They may be unable to create the speech sound at all, or they may struggle with pronouncing it correctly. This can make it difficult for others to understand your child when they speak.
Common Symptoms of Articulation Disorder
Every child will struggle with speech sounds as they grow and build their speech skills. The symptoms of an articulation disorder include the following speech sound errors when they are made consistently beyond the age when a child should no longer struggle with speech sounds:
- Substituting one sound with another sound (i.e., saying “wed” instead of “red”)
- Adding an extra sound to a word (i.e., saying “buh-lue” instead of “blue”)
- Leaving out specific sounds from words (i.e., saying “bo” instead of “boat,” or “geen” instead of “green”)
- Changing the way a sound is pronounced, which can sound like a lisp (i.e., saying “thee” instead of “see”)
How Pediatric Speech Therapy Combined with Hippotherapy Can Treat Articulation Disorder
Pediatric speech therapy on its own is an effective treatment for articulation disorder. But when you combine it with hippotherapy, the benefits go far beyond what a speech therapist can achieve with clinic-based treatment alone.
Here are some of the reasons why you should consider equine-assisted speech therapy for your child:
1. It improves breath control
Hippotherapy involves using the rhythmic movement of a horse to naturally engage a child’s muscles, which improves their core strength and postural stability—two vital parts of clear speech sound production.
2. It builds sensory processing skills
When children ride a horse, they experience a ton of sensations that can’t be matched by clinic-based therapy. Not only do they experience the sights, smells, and sounds of being around a horse, but they feel the warmth and movement of the horse, as well as their own body position and sense of balance.
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 clear and effective speech. A strong vestibular system, which helps with balance and spatial awareness, is important for skills like reading, writing, and speaking. Hippotherapy activates this system to support these skills.
4. It’s fun!
The new and dynamic environment of hippotherapy helps children feel more engaged and motivated during their speech therapy sessions. This increased enthusiasm can lead to better participation and quicker progress.
Schedule a Free 15-Minute Phone Consultation Today
Want to find out how pediatric hippotherapy can support your child’s speech development? 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!
