Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in a school

1. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in a school

2. Rehabilitation careers standard • 7) Gather information on the history and development of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and athletic training, including but not limited to significant changes in the profession, major contributors to the field, and impactful practices that were developed. Document findings from print and digital professional journals, rehabilitation career related websites, and textbooks in an oral, visual, digital, or paper product with proper citations.

3. History of SLPs • The history of SLPs is divided, chronologically into four periods, with each being characterized by what was a major focus during those years. • The first part is called the Formative Years because it deals with the early part of the 20th century when the scientific, academic, and practice seeds of the profession were planted. It was 1900-1944

4. History of SLPs • Next is The Processing Period from 1945 to 1965, during which time many assessment and therapy approaches were developed to improve internal psychological processing underlying communication disorders.

5. History of SLPs • A third period, beginning around 1965 and lasting until 1975, was theLinguistic Era, during which time we came to treat language disorders as separable from speech disorders and as being linguistic in nature.

6. History of SLPs • This rendition of the 20th century ends with The Pragmatics Revolution lasting from 1975 to 2000, when we reconsidered and reframed practices to include communicative, linguistic, cultural, and everyday-life contexts.

7. How important is communication? • Good communication skills lead to success in… • Reading • Listening • Writing • Speaking • LEARNING! • Bad communication skills lead to problems with… • Understanding & participating in classroom instruction • Developing & maintaining relationships

8. A.k.a. “speech therapists” or “speech Teachers”… (or “that speech person”) • Work with children who have communication problems that affect success in… • Classroom activities • Literacy • Learning • Social interaction

9. What Types of disabilities/disorders do SLP’s work with? • Language • Pragmatic Language • Articulation/Phonological • Voice • Fluency • Auditory Processing and Comprehension • Hearing Impairment • Oral-Motor • Swallowing/Feeding (a.k.a. Dysphagia)

10. What is a language disorder? • Language disabilities include the slow development of… • Semantics (vocab) • Syntax (grammar) • Concepts • Pragmatic (social) language disabilities include… • Inability to use different communication styles in different situations • Overall… • Child has poor building blocks for understanding/expressing ideas, social development, learning, reading, and writing

11. What is an Articulation/Phonological Disorder? • Children have difficulty producing speech sounds • Substituting one sound for another (i.e. /w/ for /r/) • Omitting a sound in a word (i.e. “top” for “stop” • Distorting a sound (i.e. “thee” for “see”)

12. What is a voice disorder? • Speech that is… • Too high, low, or monotonous in pitch • Interrupted by breaks • Too loud or soft in volume • Harsh, hoarse, breathy, or nasal • Children who have prolonged vocal issues come to therapy to learn how to use their voice properly, without mistreating it • SLPs also refer some children to the ENT(ear, nose, and throat doctor) to rule out any growths that can appear on the vocal chords from prolonged vocal abuse

13. What is a fluency disorder? • A.K.A. “stuttering” • Defined by… • Interruptions in the flow or rhythm of speech • Possible hesitations, repetitions, or prolongations • Can affect individual sounds, syllables, words, and/or phrases • **Side note: Identify as a “child who stutters” NOT “a stutterer”

14. What is an Auditory Processing/Comprehension disorder? • Comprehension disorders are characterized by… • Difficulty with word meaning, sequencing skills, and problem solving • Auditory processing disorders are characterized by… • Difficulty distinguishing and discriminating speech sounds • Overall… • Children with either of these disorders have difficulty understanding (receiving) spoken/written (expressive) language

15. How does an SLP help a child with a hearing impairment? • “Aural Rehabilitation” includes… • Lip reading skills • Articulation and voice therapy • SLPs in the schools also… • Perform hearing screenings • Check hearing aids & other hearing devices • Work with the classroom teacher to develop strategies to maximize the child’s classroom performance

16. What does it mean when a child has oral-Motor issues? • Apraxia of speech or Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) • Children demonstrate difficulties coordinating the movement of structures in the mouth during speech • Problem is due to the inability to form a coordinated “movement plan” to produce speech • Weak tongue and/or lip muscles can decrease the clarity of speech • Treatment includes… • Muscle strengthening and coordination activities • Structured, repetitious practice of movements required to produce accurate speech

17. What is dysphagia? • Child will demonstrate difficulty with… • Sucking • Chewing • Triggering a swallow • Moving food into the stomach • Can interfere with… • Eating snack and lunch • Opportunities to build friendships • Social and communication skills • Learning • SLPs will help by… • Setting up a feeding program that indicates the foods that are appropriate vs. inappropriate • Teaching techniques that help the child eat safely • Modify the texture of foods • Reposition the body

18. What can speech & langUAge disorders be associated with? • Hearing loss • Cleft palate • Learning disabilities • Cerebral palsy or other motor problems/disorders • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Developmental delays • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) • Variety of emotional, behavioral, and/or medical issues

19. What are some signs that may indicate a child has a communication disorder? • Below expectations in the classroom • Difficulty learning to read or write • Late talker • Inability to express thoughts, ideas, wants, and/or needs • Problems understanding others • Difficulty following directions • Issues getting along with others • Problems taking tests