by Amy Sharp

Did you know speech therapy isn’t just learning to talk? Jason Johnson, founder and co-owner of Speech Therapy Unlimited along with his wife Dana, says, “Oral communication is not just what is said, but also how it is said. Obviously, when a ten year old’s articulation sounds like a three year old, speech therapy is needed. But a ten year old with flawless articulation and a more juvenile vocabulary is also a therapy candidate. The juvenile vocabulary generally means comprehension is lagging behind…and that leads to problems in reading and writing. Just because a child ‘sounds fine’ does not mean they do not need speech. More than just oral communication, speech therapy is also comprehension, processing, planning, inferring and all of the rest of the executive functions of the brain!”

The combination of the brain functions with science, counseling and therapy led Jason into speech therapy. “I originally went to University of Iowa intending to be a physical therapist,” says Jason, “But then one of my professors suggested speech therapy…and it combined everything I loved. When I entered graduate school and began clinicals, I got to see speech therapy in action, really changing lives!”

Today, Jason and his speech therapist wife Dana are changing lives in Sugar Land…at Speech Therapy Unlimited. Jason says, “The most important piece of the puzzle for assessment and treatment is making the client comfortable! I might be talking Texans football with a senior or Pokemon with a 4th grader, but we are secretly working on recall, articulation, sequencing or even specific sounds.”

You may see Jason and his patients looking at a screen or “playing” with electronics. Don’t be fooled! Jason says, “iPads, Kindle Fires, and Smart Phones are all platforms for great speech therapy exercises. One of the best things about these tools is that whether my patient is six years old or eighty-six, it’s age-appropriate. Kids think technology is cool and adults don’t feel like it’s a childish way to build their skills.”

“Speech therapy isn’t something I ‘do’ to people,” says Jason, “They do the work, while I guide them and cheer them on. Running the business and raising our four kids keep Dana and I beyond busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether we’re working with a speech therapy patient in the office or holding our new baby with one hand and pecking out an email with the other, we love every minute! Both at home and at work we are actively changing lives for the better!”

Speech Therapy Unlimited, PLLC – most major insurance accepted
No Headaches, No Unreasonable Terms, Just Great Speech Therapists!
281-746-3053
12808 West Airport Blvd. Ste 332
Sugar Land, TX 77498
www.speechtherapyunlimited.com