Tag: slp

In defense of play therapy for late talkers (and for everyone, really)

Language DevelopmentLeave a comment

When it comes to our younger kiddos (and often older ones, too), sitting at a table and skill-drilling them isn’t perhaps the best or most realistic idea. For our late talkers, speech-language therapy is almost always play-based. From the outside, play-based therapy literally looks like the speech-language pathologist just playing with the child. This often times shocks parents- how can you be making any therapeutic gains with a late talker if you’re not “doing” therapy!? 

Rest easy, friends. Play lends itself extremely well to therapy for our littlest clients, and is the much-preferred model of therapy for this age for a number of reasons. 

SLP favorite books round-up

Language Development

There are a lot of things on Earth that make me happy, but books are in the top 10! As a speech-language pathologist, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate books into practice as well as pointing parents to good books that they can read with their kiddos. I have my own personal favorites, but I thought I’d get the opinion of some other speech experts to see what they have to say. So, friends, I present to you our first SLP Favorite Books Round-Up!

Childhood stuttering and the “waiting” game

StutteringLeave a comment

Children can go through periods of disfluency, or stuttering, when they’re developing new vocabulary or language skills. This is called developmental stuttering. Thus, many medical professionals, some SLPs included, opt for a “wait and see” approach. It is often recommended that parents monitor their child’s speech for 6 months after they notice suspected stuttering and then seek an evaluation and interventions. I guess I can understand this. I’m a panic-er by nature. Sometimes I need to take a step back and evaluate situations before I act because if I acted on everything I panicked about, I basically would be at my doctor’s office everyday!

But, hm.

So, how do you know if it’s time to seek services for a “true” stutter? For me, there are a few signs of stuttering of which parents should be aware.

So, how do you know if it’s time to seek services? For me, there are a few signs of stuttering of which parents should be aware.

Laryngitis and nodules and polyps! Oh my!: A cautionary tale for my teacher friends

Voice DisordersLeave a comment

I feel like I talk a lot about vocal hygiene and why it’s important. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to understand why things are important unless one sees the potential outcomes of not doing them. So, my friends, it’s tough love time! It’s time to unveil some of the scary consequences of not having healthy vocal habits, especially as it pertains to teachers.

Chew on this – Dysphagia 101

DysphagiaLeave a comment

If you were shocked when I wrote that SLPs help people with their swallowing, you aren’t alone! When I started graduate school, I had no idea that this fell within the realm of speech pathology. So, you’re in good company!

Dysphagia is a very official and fancy term for “swallowing disorder.” The disorder can occur as a result of something going on in the mouth (oral cavity) or in the throat (pharyngeal cavity). It can also occur as a result of something going on in the stomach, but we leave that to the GI doctors (I know nothing about stomachs). Either way, food and liquids are not making their way properly to the stomach. Sometimes it escapes out of the mouth and other times, it escapes into the lungs.

Kindergarten readiness – Early warning signs

Language DevelopmentOne Comment

Do you remember kindergarten? I do! I went for a half of a day. My classroom had a paraprofessional and a teacher. I can vividly remember learning how to make my letters, participating in calendar activities, and playing outside. Milk came in a bag! What a world!

Kindergarten of today is NOT kindergarten of the late 80s and early 90s. Scholastic published this great article describing how kindergarten has evolved since the turn of the century.

Early social skills for the win – Research Rumination

Social Communication

A few years ago, I was listening to the radio on my commute. I used to live in California, so my commute to anywhere was very long. As I listened, a segment I realized that they must have been speaking directly to me. The segment titled “Nice Kids Finish First: Study Finds Social Skills Can Predict Future Success” went on to summarize a recent study (then, in 2015). That story stuck with me, and when I thought about what article to study for this week’s Research Rumination, it came back to me.

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