There are two specialties that are experiencing rapid growth in the field of speech pathology, geriatrics and pediatrics. One of the reasons speech therapy for children is experiencing such rapid growth is because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act passed in 2004. This is a federal law that guarantees services to all children with disabilities who are eligible. The eligibility process requires an evaluation of the child by the appropriate authority. When a speech delay or impediment is a possibility, that authority is a speech therapist. With older children, a school official will typically be the one to initiate the evaluation process. But what about toddlers and children who are not yet in school? Usually, a pediatrician will notice something abnormal and write a prescription for an evaluation or the parent will request a screening because of concerns.

Evaluation

Evaluations will vary by state, but in general, the same types of things will happen. During the evaluation, the therapist will get on the child’s level and bring out toys or games. Then, using the toys to engage the child, he or she will begin asking questions and playing with the child in order to evaluate the child’s ability to communicate. Often, a child who is in for evaluation will not be able to fully communicate, and so the therapist may ask the parent or guardian for feedback about the child’s behavior and abilities as demonstrated in the home.

Some of the specific skills the therapist will look for include:

• Receptive language – what the child understands
• Expressive language – what the child can say
• Alternative communication – the ability of the child to communicate in a nonverbal way such as with gestures, pointing, and head movement
• Clarity of speech and the ability to make sounds
• Oral-motor skills – the ability of the child to control mouth and tongue movement for speech as well as eating or swallowing

Speech or Language Delay

One of the most common reasons for a toddler to begin speech therapy is a speech or language delay. Speech is the ability to verbally express language which includes the ability to form words. Language is the ability to retrieve and express information in a way that is meaningful through nonverbal, verbal, or written communication. These two delays will often overlap, although not always. Because of how closely the two are related, therapy for both may be similar.

Therapy

During therapy sessions the speech pathologist will play with the child for a half hour to an hour in a way that will encourage communication – for example, repeating a phrase as they do the action, such as throw the ball up. Then the therapist may drop a word in the phrase and have the child fill it in before completing the action, dropping more words until the child is able to say the entire sentence independently.

Working with toddlers with speech or language delays is very rewarding. You are able to watch as a child transforms from a frustrated toddler who is unable to express his needs and wishes to a happy little chatterbox. Do you work with toddlers? What is your favorite part of the job?

Speech Therapy for Toddlers is a post from: Sunbelt Staffing

Related posts:

1. Why is Speech Therapy Important?
2. Speech Therapy for the Elderly
3. Learning to Speak – How a School Speech Therapist Helped a Child Communicate

I first became familiar with speech therapy when a young cousin needed help with her speech impediment. Her mother and the teachers at the school helped develop a plan to help improve her speech, which involved a weekly session with a speech therapist. I never thought much more about it until my great uncle had a stroke and lost much of his ability to speak. A speech therapist was employed by the rehabilitation nursing home he was sent to, and she helped him regain much of his ability to communicate. This made me realize that there is an amazing need for speech therapy in both the younger and older generations.

Geriatric speech therapy has become an increasingly popular field. Baby boomers have brought the elderly population to new heights, with an even larger increase expected in the near future. This has led to an increase in the demand in speech therapists that specialize in helping elderly patients. Some of these patients need general help due to the natural aging process, while others need help with specific problems related to an underlying medical condition.

As you grow older, your vocal cords become less elastic and your larynx muscles weaken. This makes it difficult for many elderly people to speak as they once did, and it makes it more difficult for those around them to understand what they are saying. Speech therapy can help teach the patient to speak in a new way, with vocal exercises that will help them communicate more effectively. This benefits both the family and the patient tremendously. Because this is a condition that affects many people as they age, even if they have no other medical conditions, it is possible that geriatric speech therapy will grow even faster than other forms of geriatric care.

With my great uncle, his speech problem began after he had his stroke. This type of language impairment is called aphasia and is common in stroke victims. He received intensive speech therapy. His speech therapist worked with him several times a week for many months and then slowly backed down to once or twice a week. Eventually his speech did improve a great deal, although never what it was prior to the stroke. Still, he and the entire family were very grateful for the help of the speech therapist, and he was overjoyed at being able to communicate effectively with his family, friends, and doctors once more.

There are a number of environments where a speech therapist who specializes in geriatric care could thrive. Nursing homes, retirement communities, hospitals, and home health care centers may all contract with someone with this sort of expertise. If you are a speech therapist, have you ever considered focusing on geriatric patients? Do you prefer the challenges of working with the elderly?

Speech Therapy for the Elderly is a post from: Sunbelt Staffing

Related posts:

1. Speech Therapy for Toddlers
2. Why is Speech Therapy Important?
3. Learning to Speak – How a School Speech Therapist Helped a Child Communicate

I remember being a child in school, seeing the other children that used to be picked up by school aides for speech therapy. I knew that they were leaving for speech, but I didn’t really know what that was or why it was necessary. I just knew that I wanted to go and that I was so jealous of those kids who got to leave class, regardless of why it was.

As an adult, I see speech therapy in such a different light. It’s not about getting to leave class and do something different from the other students, although that is an incentive for kids who might otherwise be unwilling. It’s about correcting a problem before it gets to be an issue, and giving kids the tools they need to be confident, educated adults.

During my stint in the public schools, I talked to so many parents who were in denial about the fact that their little one needed to be in speech. You might be surprised how many parents are not comfortable with their child attending speech therapy. It’s important for parents to know how critical speech therapy is, and that it is not as serious as it may sound.

Speech Therapy Builds Confidence

When kids have speech impediments, they know it. Kids who talk differently from other children know that they do, and that can affect confidence. The age-old lisp, turning Rs into Ws, stuttering—these are some of the classic issues that cause students to need assistance from a speech therapist. Sure, these things may be cute when they are five years old, but at age 10, such problems aren’t so adorable.

If your child seems to be having trouble socializing at school and you know that they have a speech issue, consider enrolling them in speech therapy. Newfound skills build confidence, and they will be eager to show off their new speech skills by talking to other people.

Speech Therapy is Fun

As a child, speech therapy is fun. As an adult, speech therapy is a bore and may even be an embarrassment. For this reason, most adults who may benefit from speech therapy don’t get the help they need. Do your child a favor and allow them to attend speech therapy at school while it is still fun.  Not only does this take away from the bore of re Not only does this take away from the bore of regular curriculum, but it gives students something else to improve, work on and look forward to outside of their regular studies.

While it may not sound like a ball of joy to a parent, most kids find speech therapy to be fun and look forward to it.

Avoid Costs down the Line

When it is offered by the school, speech therapy is free of charge. It is part of the total educational experience, and is an experience that all parents who are offered it should take advantage of. Therapists can cost up to $200 per hour of therapy. Let them work for the school and teach your child now, or write the check later when you realize just how important speech therapy is to your child’s success—your choice.

The bottom line is this: nobody wants to admit the fact that their child has a speech issue, or any other type of trouble. Speech therapy does no harm, but it can do your child a world of good. It increases their confidence, their chances of success in school, and gives them the tools they need to combat their speech issue for the rest of their life. Do your child a favor and enroll them in speech at school if they need it. They will come home ranting and raving about the fun they had before too long, and you will see their speaking improve for the better.

Why is Speech Therapy Important? is a post from: Sunbelt Staffing

Related posts:

1. Speech Therapy for Toddlers
2. Speech Therapy for the Elderly
3. Learning to Speak – How a School Speech Therapist Helped a Child Communicate

A dear friend of mine, Sarah, is a school speech pathologist. Her position is also referred to as a speech therapist. During her years working with students she has come across numerous interesting challenges but none touched her the way Navi did. Navi was a student from Sri Lanka. In addition to being raised in a non-English speaking area and before he was transferred to an American public school, he also had medical problems that were making it impossible for him to speak. The most prominent medical issue was a severe cleft palate that had been untreated in his home country. In fact, his mother moved to America hoping to find treatment for her son. Other medical problems exacerbated the issue making speech acquisition almost impossible for the child. When my friend first encountered him, he was already in sixth grade.

Typically, students in public education with speech problems are not also ESOL. This did make the process more difficult because the student had only limited understanding of the English language. It required a team of teachers, an ESOL specialist, as well as Sarah to formulate an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The part Sara played was in teaching him to make sounds even with his medical problems as well as giving him alternative ways to communicate until surgery could be performed to make the speech process easier.

As with many children with extreme cleft palates, Navi had begun to communicate using a series of grunts and gestures. The various grunts evolve because it is not possible for children with cleft palates to make sounds normally and yet they still long to communicate with their family and other people they are surrounded by daily. Unfortunately, the family was not aware that this tendency to communicate through grunts and/or growls could actually hinder his ability to acquire speech, and thus allowed it to continue into his teens. This is often a very difficult habit for children to break, and it proved to be quite difficult for Navi to overcome.

Because of the extreme situation, and Navi’s inability to communicate at all with his teachers or fellow students, Sarah enrolled him in an elective sign language class. While this is an extreme measure, it did allow him to learn to communicate basic needs and desires with his teachers and classmates quickly. Within a week, he was able to ask to go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, and able to ask for help when he needed it. This slight improvement made a world of difference to Navi who began to come out of his reclusive shell and get to know the other students.

In addition, Sarah also began to work on breathing techniques and teaching Navi specific sounds and sound blends. This was a long process, but by his senior year, he was able to understand and communicate with his peers and teachers. Because his mother had not been able to afford the surgery, Navi’s speech was not what would be considered normal, but it was greatly improved.

Sometimes, no matter how much effort a speech pathologist exerts, a patient’s speech will never be completely normal. Therefore, this should not be the goal. Instead, a focus on making communication easier should be the primary focus. This will guarantee a positive result for the student and a rewarding experience for the speech pathologist.

Building Blocks Photo Credit: Valerie Everett http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb/3474584087/

Learning to Speak – How a School Speech Therapist Helped a Child Communicate is a post from: Sunbelt Staffing

Related posts:

1. Child Services at School
2. Speech Therapy for Toddlers
3. Speech Therapy for the Elderly