Mahaska Health is expanding its comprehensive therapy offerings to include expert Speech Therapy, providing compassionate, individualized care for patients of all ages. Speech Therapy supports communication, cognition, voice, and swallowing, and is now available for both inpatient and outpatient care. This specialized service supports patients navigating developmental delays, neurological changes, stroke recovery, speech or voice disorders, and more.
Tongue Twisters: A Fun and Functional Tool for Speech Therapy
Tongue twisters can be helpful for patients of all ages. Children can use them to target articulation, speech intelligibility, fluency, and language goals, while adults may focus on speech intelligibility, language, reading, fluency, and voice goals. These focused exercises challenge the muscles used in speech and help promote clear pronunciation, rhythm, and timing.
Here are a few classic tongue twisters:
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
- Betty Botter bought some butter
But she said the butter’s bitter
If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter
But a bit of better butter will make my batter better
So ‘twas Better Botter bought a bit of better butter
- How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood
As a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck would.
- I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch
- I saw a kitten eating a chicken in the kitchen
- I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch
- How can clam cram in a clean cream can?
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Incorporating tongue twisters into a therapy plan can help patients strengthen speech muscles and build confidence in communication.
Meet Tessa Van Maanen, MS, CCC-SLP
Mahaska Health Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy services is pleased to welcome Tessa Van Maanen, certified Speech-Language Pathologist, to the therapy team. An Iowa native from Sully and New Sharon, Tessa provides therapy for patients with speech, language, voice, and swallowing difficulties. She is passionate about supporting patients and families through personalized care plans tailored to individual needs.
Speech Therapy at Mahaska Health Supports:
- Developmental delays
- Autism
- Speech sound disorders
- Down syndrome
- Feeding and swallowing difficulties
- Stroke recovery
- Voice disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Hearing impairment
- Cognitive-communication challenges
Expert Care Close to Home
Mahaska Health Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy services is dedicated to helping patients reach their goals with expert, compassionate care. To schedule an appointment with our therapy team, call 641.672.3306, or visit Mahaska Health Physical and Occupational Therapy to learn more about our therapy services.
Mahaska Health recently welcomed Tessa Van Maanen, MS, CCC-SLP, to the Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Team as a certified Speech-Language Pathologist.
