About Avivit Ben-Aharon
Founder & Clinical Director at Great Speech Inc. | Providing Innovative Alternatives to Speech Pathology Services
Entries by Avivit Ben-Aharon
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 [...]
What does Hypokinetic Dysarthria Sound Like?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Individuals facing hypokinetic dysarthria typically struggle significantly to speak clearly and with ease, making everyday communication a major challenge. Hypokinetic dysarthria is classified as a motor speech disorder caused by neurological damage that leads to weakened muscles required for speech production. Neurological conditions such as a brain tumor or Parkinson’s disease can cause damage [...]
What are the Social Benefits of Speech Therapy?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Speech therapy has traditionally been associated with helping children with delayed speech development, lisps, or stutters. Did you know that speech therapy can help you develop friendships and improve your social skills? Social communication skills allow for effective verbal and nonverbal interactions with others. We use words to communicate, but we also use word choice, [...]
What are the Symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Orofacial Myofunctional disorders (also referred to as OMDs) are conditions that affect the muscles in the face and mouth. These disorders inhibit the normal development, function, and growth of these muscles resulting in significant challenges with speech production and overall communication. Individuals of all ages can be affected by these conditions, and the impact on [...]
5 Easy Tips to Stop Stuttering
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Approximately 3 million Americans are affected by a stuttering speech disorder (also known as a fluency disorder.) Stuttering causes individuals to uncontrollably repeat, interrupt, or prolong certain word sounds, syllables, or words when speaking. Individuals who stutter know what they want to say but have difficulty getting the words out in a clear and fluent [...]
Speech Therapy for Accent Reduction
/ in Services | Virtual Speech Therapy | Accent Modification / by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Speech Therapy for Accent Reduction Modify Your Accent With Virtual Speech Therapy Unlock Your True Voice Who Can Benefit From Accent Reduction? Accent modification speech therapy can be beneficial for many different individuals, including: Non-Native English Speakers: Many non-native English speakers work with a speech therapist to reduce their accent to improve the clarity of [...]
Vocal Cord Abuse
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
We use our voices dozens of times each day to communicate with those around us and express our unique thoughts, ideas, and needs. For most of us, we can use our voices as needed without risking damage or discomfort in our voice or vocal cords. Some individuals, however, have professions or hobbies that require extensive [...]
Can Speech Therapy Help with Tourette’s?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
Renowned French doctor Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette first identified Tourette’s Syndrome as a distinct condition in 1885. Tourette’s Syndrome often causes affected individuals to produce various vocal and motor (physical) tics. A tic is a sudden and involuntary movement or vocalization that is often rapid and repetitive. Some individuals with TS [...]
Why Does My Toddler Say Some Words Backwards?
/ by Avivit Ben-Aharon
When it comes to speech and language development in toddlers, there is a wide range of what is considered normal. Very young children can differ significantly in how quickly they develop communication skills, the order in which those skills develop, and the age at which they reach certain milestones. Understanding toddler development is especially important [...]
At What Age is an Accent Permanent?
/ in Accent Modification | Professional Development / by Avivit Ben-Aharon
If you pay close attention each time you interact with another person, you’ll likely notice the many subtle (and not so subtle) differences in speech production and how speech sounds, even if you both speak the same language. We all speak with accents, which are important elements of our unique identities. However, have you [...]