|
Speech-Language Pathologists: More Than They Appear
Understanding the Role of an SLP and Celebrating Our Very Own!
We are about to say “See you later” to May, but not without taking a moment to recognize something important. May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, a time to honor the vital work of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and the impact they make in every session.
In this month’s newsletter, we want to showcase our talented SLPs who work with your children to build their skills in speech, language, hearing and feeding with empathy, insight and results-driven. We also take a deeper look into what an SLP actually does– there may be some surprises! From helping children become more confident speakers to supporting language, listening, feeding and social skills, SLPs are essential partners in the lives of children who experience negative impacts in these vital areas of their growth. They truly can deliver life-changing results. We’re proud to celebrate their expertise and the meaningful connections they help create every day.
|
MONTHLY FEATURES
Book: Inside Words, Outside Words
Inside Words, Outside Words portrays a young, non-speaking girl named Elizabeth who uncovers the power of communication by learning how to speak with a communication device.Catlaina Vrana, its author, is herself a non-speaking young woman who skillfully provides this perspective. It is a wonderful way to introduce this mode of communication to children, who may then be able to empathize with and support their non-speaking peers.
Product: Chew tubes
Chew tubes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are a valuable tool for a speech-language pathologist, particularly in the areas of oral desensitization and feeding. Ask your SLP if there is a way to appropriately incorporate these tools at home for increased carryover of skills!
Quote
The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.
– Peter Drucker
|
|
Meet Our SLP Staff!
CTC’s Lineup of Super Lovely People (SLPs)
Hey, CTC SLPs! What’s your favorite part about being an occupational therapist?
|
|
Kim
“When the children know they did well and are proud of themselves, and I am helping them to be able to communicate their ideas and wants. I get excited and they are excited!”
– Kim Oliver, MHS, CCC-SLP/L
Megan
“Making a strong connection with the families of children I work with is rewarding to me. I love relating to people and I value genuine conversations, so when I have that relationship with a family, I find that it’s much easier to communicate and understand our goals for the child. It’s important to me as an SLP that a family understands my goals and that I understand theirs.”
– Megan Miller, MS, CCC-SLP
Annemarie
“My favorite part of being an SLP is helping children find their voice in whatever form that may be- whether speech, AAC devices, gestures or signs. It’s my greatest privilege to help families communicate with their children, and to help our kiddos reach their greatest potential.”
– Annemarie Hoehn, MS, SLP/L
|
Madonna
“It’s always been my goal to help a child thrive with their communication and empower a family to support their child’s progress. I’m just a blip in the journey trying to keep things fun and functional.”
– Madonna Rheingans, MA, CCC-SLP/L
Areeg
“My favorite part about being an SLP is helping kids build communication, connection, and confidence. Every client brings their own unique personality, strengths, and challenges, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of their journey. No two days are ever the same, and I love celebrating every little milestone along the way. I also love how creative and playful I get to be and match each child’s energy!”
– Areeg Khraiwish, MS, CCC-SLP
Julia
“My favorite part of being an SLP is all the different relationships and connections I build with each child. It’s amazing to watch them grow and learn. I love figuring out what makes them light up and how we can have fun with each other while targeting their needs.”
– Julia Stasik, MS, CCC-SLP
|
|
|
Well, What is It? Speech, Language, or Hearing?
What a Speech-Language Pathologist Actually Does
When considering what a speech-language pathologist does in their daily work life, most people will conjure an image of a therapist sitting at a table with a child, prompting them to say sounds correctly with a variety of techniques and games. While this is certainly an accurate image in many sessions, it is a mere screenshot of an SLP’s daily doings in their line of work. In the scope of practice for speech-language pathology, there is actually a large variety of specialities and therapeutic techniques that many outside of the field are surprised to learn.
Speech-Language Pathology encompasses a variety of diagnoses other than speech sound impairments. These include: language disorders; phonological disorders; fluency (i.e., stuttering); hearing impairments; dysphagia (i.e., difficulties with swallowing); voice disorders; social communication challenges; neurological conditions that impact speech (i.e., Childhood Apraxia of Speech); oral motor difficulties; and myofunctional disorders (i.e., abnormal muscle movement patterns in the face, mouth and tongue that impact breathing, chewing, swallowing and speech). SLPs can be found in private practice clinics, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, early intervention programs, and teletherapy platforms. Ultimately, SLPs can wear many hats and exist in many settings! Speech only scratches the surface of what they really do.
The following challenges are frequently seen in the span of an SLPs work:
- Articulation: Trouble pronouncing certain sounds or forming words correctly.
- Language: Delayed language milestones, poor vocabulary, difficulty with grammar, struggling to understand or express language.
|
- Fluency: Stuttering, stuttering-like behaviors, or other interruptions in speech flow.
- Voice: Changes in voice quality (hoarseness, breathiness), pitch, volume, or resonance.
- Swallowing: Difficulty chewing or swallowing, coughing or choking when eating or drinking, weight loss due to swallowing issues.
- Cognitive-Communication: Memory problems, difficulty with attention, problem-solving, or other cognitive aspects of communication.
- Social Interaction: Difficulty engaging in conversations, challenges with flexible thinking, poor perspective taking and inference making.
- Literacy: Difficulty with early reading and writing skills, including letter-sound association and rhyming.
- Feeding/Orofacial function: Poor breastfeeding, difficulty manipulating foods orally, or picky eating.
- Hearing: Hearing impairment can impact language and speech development.
SLPs do more than teach sounds—they help people find their voice, increase their confidence, and connect with others through meaningful communication. Whether it’s helping a toddler say “help” for the first time, providing guidance on the use of a communication device to a non-speaking child, coaching a teen with social anxiety, or supporting a stroke survivor to communicate again, SLPs empower people of all ages to be heard.
Here at Children’s Therapy Connections, we are grateful for our team of SLPs that do indeed wear many hats. Working at a private practice clinic, our SLPs have both the challenge and the privilege of working with a variety of ages, stages and concerns. They also have the added benefit of working among other disciplines such as OT, PT and ABA in order to provide a well-rounded approach to improving a child’s overall level of function in their everyday lives. To them, we say…thank you!
|
|
Content of this newsletter was written by:
Megan A. Miller, M.S., CCC-SLP
Please contact Megan with any questions or comments at: megan@ctctherapy.com
|
|
