Ms. Debra A. Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

620 N Wymore Road Suite 230 Maitland FL, 32751 Show map

About
Contacts & Locations

About

Dr. Debra Beckman is a speech language pathologist practicing in Maitland, FL. Dr. Beckman specializes in speech, language and swallowing disorders in patients. As a speech language pathologist, Dr. Beckman evaluates, diagnoses and treats patients with communication and swallowing troubles. These conditions may be due to developmental delay, brain injury, hearing loss, autism, stroke or other diseases and injuries. Dr. Beckman helps patients make sounds and improve their voices through various methods. Speech language pathologists also work with patients to strengthen muscles used to speak and swallow, and work with individuals and families to help cope with their conditions.

Provider Details

FemaleEnglish

Ms. Debra A. Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP

Ms. Debra A. Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP's Expert Contributions

My Latest Posts
My Answers

Observations Regarding Pacifiers and Oral Motor Development
Are pacifiers good or bad? It depends on how the pacifier is used. From the first trimester in utero, until the end of our lives, each of us continues to seek oral stimulation – for comfort, for sustenance, or out of boredom. For babies who have reflux or GERD, sucking and swallowing can provide...
Transition to Cup Drinking
How can you easily transition your child with low muscle tone or cerebral palsy from breast or bottle feeding to straws and open cups? An oral sensory-motor perspective.Answered by Debra A. Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Oral Motor Specialist in Maitland, FloridaFor many children...

When should I be concerned about stuttering?
Dear Concerned Parent, Here is some very helpful information from The Stuttering Foundation. If you have any questions, contact a licensed Speech Language Pathologist, or ask the Speech Therapist at your child's school about your concerns. * Family history There is now strong evidence that almost half of all children who stutter have a family member who stutters. The risk that your child is actually stuttering instead of just having normal disfluencies increases if that family member is still stuttering. There is less risk if the family member outgrew stuttering as a child. * Age at onset Children who begin stuttering before age 3 1/2 are more likely to outgrow stuttering; if your child begins stuttering before age 3, there is a much better chance she will outgrow it within 6 months. * Time since onset Between 75% and 80% of all children who begin stuttering will begin to show improvement within 12 to 24 months without speech therapy. If your child has been stuttering longer than 6 months, or if the stuttering has worsened, he may be less likely to outgrow it on his own. * Gender Girls are more likely than boys to outgrow stuttering. In fact, three to four boys continue to stutter for every girl who stutters. Why this difference? First, it appears that during early childhood, there are innate differences between boys' and girls' speech and language abilities. Second, during this same period, parents, family members, and others often react to boys somewhat differently than girls. Therefore, it may be that more boys stutter than girls because of basic differences in boys' speech and language abilities and differences in their interactions with others. That being said, many boys who begin stuttering will outgrow the problem. What is important for you to remember is that if your child is stuttering right now, it doesn't necessarily mean he or she will stutter the rest of his or her life. * Other speech and language factors A child who speaks clearly with few, if any, speech errors would be more likely to outgrow stuttering than a child whose speech errors make him difficult to understand. If your child makes frequent speech errors such as substituting one sound for another or leaving sounds out of words, or has trouble following directions, you should be more concerned. The most recent findings dispel previous reports that children who begin stuttering have, as a group, lower language skills. On the contrary, there are indications that they are well within the norms or above. Advanced language skills appear to be even more of a risk factor for children whose stuttering persists3. https://www.stutteringhelp.org/risk-factors [https://www.stutteringhelp.org/sites/default/files/pictures/RiskFactors_0.jpg] Risk Factors | Stuttering Foundation: A Nonprofit Organization Helping Those Who Stutter Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author.He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont. His love for animals began when he was very young. www.stutteringhelp.org Debra Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist Beckman & Associates, Inc READ MORE
How can I tell if my daughter has speech issues?
Dear Parent, Many children your daughter's age have difficulty producing a few speech sounds. Your daughter's public school can provide an assessment to determine if speech therapy is needed. Best Regards, Debra Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP READ MORE
How can I tell if my baby has speech problems?
Dear Family, By age 2, your toddler should be using at least 50 words, be understood by family members at least half the time, use simple 2 word phrases (go bye bye), and ask simple questions (Where dada?). If your 2-year-old has not met these milestones, further evaluation is needed. In addition to assessment by a Speech Language Pathologist, your pediatrician may also want to rule out additional concerns with hearing, developmental concerns, motor (muscle) impairment, autism, metabolic or genetic concerns. In the United States, free assessment and therapy is provided for all children birth to three years of age through the Early Steps program. Contact your nearest health department for more information regarding this. Remember that the earlier intervention begins, the better for the child's future. Call for a speech and language assessment as soon as possible. Best regards, Debra Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP READ MORE