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What does a Speech-Language Pathologist do?

 

Don’t feel bad, most people are unfamiliar with what a Speech-Language Pathologist does, especially in the school setting. Most people assume it is only articulation therapy.  While yes, I do articulation therapy, the scope of practice continues to grow.

 

Articulation Therapy

Children who have difficulty producing sounds come to speech for therapy.  There are certain sounds that are acquired at specific ages.  Refer http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3083669/File/migration/artic_norms.pdf

 to see more.

 

Phonology

Often children who have difficulty with phonologic aspects of speech may have trouble with their prereadiness reading skills.  Deficits in this area include difficulty with rhyming, sequencing, identifying initial, medial, and final sounds, and syllable identification. 

 

Language Therapy and Assessment

SLPs assess and treat children with delays in grammar, syntax (word order), vocabulary and other language disorders.

 

Auditory Processing & Comprehension

Children who have difficulty understanding spoken language may have comprehension issues.  Children with auditory processing deficits may have trouble discriminating speech sounds. 

 

Pragmatic Language Disorders

Children who may have social anxiety issues, or do not know how to use language properly in social contexts may receive speech language therapy. 

 

Swallowing and Feeding Issues

Some children have difficulty chewing and swallowing.  SLPs may set up a feeding program which determines what food and liquids are appropriate for the student.