The speech-language pathologist evaluates a student's speech and language skills to determine the presence of a communication disorder which adversely affects academic performance. An individualized plan is then developed to improve communication skills in the classroom.
Speech-Language Services
Students identified with a speech-language disorder may receive direct or indirect therapeutic services. Direct services may include individual or group therapy, while indirect services may consist of consultation or monitoring. The type of service recommended will depend on the severity of the disorder and its effect on classroom performance and academic achievement.
What is a Speech-Language Disorder?
Sometimes, children can have difficulty acquiring communication skills. This problem can be developmental, or may be caused by physical factors such as cleft palate or hearing loss. A student with a speech-language disorder may have difficulty producing age-appropriate speech sounds, might have a chronically hoarse voice, or may frequently experience stuttering during conversations. A child's language skills might be disordered if he or she uses immature sentence structures, has difficulty understanding oral directions, or uses vocabulary common for younger children. Speech-language pathologists can evaluate a student to determine if their difficulty in learning these skills is not age-appropriate, and is significantly interfering with academic achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I have my child tested for speech?
First, talk to your child's classroom teacher. He or she may also have some concerns about your child's communication skills in the classroom. The next step is to speak to the speech-language pathologist at your child's school. He or she will consult with the classroom teacher and conduct an evaluation if it appears that the suspected communication difficulties are not age appropriate, and that they adversely affect your child's performance in the classroom.
My 5-year old son says "wabbit" instead of "rabbit". Should I be concerned?
The /r/ sound is one of the most difficult sounds to produce. It requires a great deal of oral motor control. It is usually considered to be within normal limits for children to have difficulty producing this sound until around age 7 or 8. You can help your son at this time by monitoring his hearing (especially if he has frequent ear infections), and modeling good speech for him. Let him hear you using good /r/ sounds without forcing him to repeat you. Contact your school's speech-language pathologist if you have any other questions or concerns about your son's speech.
What do the initials CCC-SLP mean?
A speech-language pathologist who has these initials after his or her name, indicates that he/she holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. This certification is awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to those individuals who have earned a Master's degree in speech-language pathology, passed a national examination, and completed a supervised clinical fellowship year.
Parent/Teacher Handout:
Common Characteristics of Speech-Language Disorders
Parent Handout:
Developing Your Child's Language Skills
Help Improve Your Child's Speech Production
Find out more about speech-language impairments:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Apraxia-Kids
Stuttering Foundation of America
Q & A about Articulation