SLP Expert Opinion: Milestones vs Averages and Why Developmental Milestones Have Changed
You’re frustrated. Other kids the same age as your child are talking so much more than yours is, but your pediatrician is saying there is nothing to worry about. People are saying the developmental milestones changed recently too. What does all this mean, and what should you do next? Let’s dive right in and answer these questions! The Pediatrician Says Don’t Worry There’s a lot of talk about milestones when you have little ones, but one of the most frequently asked questions I hear is “Why don’t the milestones SLPs talk about match what my child’s pediatrician says?” This is
5 BEST Tips to Make the Most of Your Summer Off as an SLP
Hooray, it’s almost summer! You’re a hard-working SLP, and you’ve given your all for the past 9+ months of this school year. It’s easy to want to leave it all behind you and run towards summer break, but following these 5 tips will ensure you actually make the most of your summer off as an SLP. You owe it to yourself! Finish well Get ahead Reflect Disconnect Have fun! Make the Most of Your Summer Finish Well Actually finish the year! Finish filing. Throw away those papers you aren’t sure what to do with that you’ve looked at all year
Understanding Pop-Out Words in Speech and What They Mean for My Child
Is there anything more frustrating than hearing a word a couple of times from your child and then IT DISAPPEARS?! Where did it go?! These words are referred to as “pop-out words”. They are a very normal occurrence for little ones whether they’re on track with their speech and language development or a bit behind. Let’s talk more about understanding these pop-out words in speech and what they really mean for your child. More about Pop-Out Words The phrase “pop-out words”, coined by Pam Marshalla, refers to when a child says a word clearly on occasion but doesn’t say the
Does Your Child Repeat Everything? They Might be a Gestalt Language Learner!
Does your child repeat words and phrases? Maybe common things you say or lines from their favorite song or show? Do the words or phrases sometimes feel out of place? Even though they repeat, does it feel like your child doesn’t repeat when you ask them to? Your child might be a gestalt language learner! What is Gestalt Language Learning? Gestalt language learning is a style of language learning that starts with repeating phrases and ends with making new, spontaneous speech. Unlike most children who learn to communicate starting with single words, gestalt language learners acquire language through chunks called
How to Help Your Child Learn to Share and Why They Aren’t Already
Share, please share, share. You likely say this often to your little one. But why? And why don’t they understand? Teaching little ones how to share can feel like such a challenge. Let’s chat about why this is often the case and how you can help teach sharing to your toddler or preschooler. Why is Sharing Important? Sharing promotes compromise and fairness. It is vital for developing lasting friendships, cooperating with others, learning how to wait, negotiating skills, and managing feelings of disappointment. Sharing back and forth in play also sets the stage for the back and forth style of
Seeing Speech Students Over the Summer
Can you take a few private clients this summer? If you’re interested in seeing students over the summer, now’s the time to start making plans! If you’re like many speech-language pathologists, you work in the public schools during the school year which gives you the opportunity to either take the summer off or to take on summer speech students. When I sent my weekly newsletter and asked if anyone was interested in hearing my experience with working over the summer months, I was inundated with requests for more information. Here it is! Please keep in mind, requirements may vary depending
Embracing Neurodiversity in Speech Therapy and Beyond
Embracing neurodiversity in speech therapy and life choices is vital for providing the best support possible for neurodivergent children. The term “neurodivergent” is an umbrella term that encompasses Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other diagnoses. Neurodiversity essentially is the concept that some individuals’ developmental pathways develop differently than the majority of the population (referred to as neurotypical persons). This term acknowledges the diversity of the human race and each individual person. With neurodivergence in mind, one should consider neurodiversity-affirming language and approaches to selecting therapy and strategies in therapy. First thing’s first: neurodiversity-affirming explained The main idea behind being neurodiversity-affirming is
Recognizing the Early Signs of Autism
You know your child best. You’ve watched each amazing thing he’s done and listened to all the sounds he has made (or maybe not made). You already know how special he is, but you also know in your gut that he is different. You might be seeing early signs of Autism. Recognizing the early signs of Autism are important for current and future success for your child. What is Autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (aka Autism) is a neurodevelopmental difference. An autistic person’s brain develops differently than that of a neurotypical person. There is no single cause of Autism but instead
An SLP’s Response to Parent Concerns about Bilingualism and Speech Development
Many parents are concerned about the impact of bilingualism and speech development for their child. What is bilingualism? A person is bilingual when they speak two languages. Speaking two languages is even possible for young children! A child may be bilingual by learning two languages at once or by learning a second language after they have begun learning their first. Developmental Information for Bilingual Children First Words Just like monolingual children, most bilingual children speak their first words by the time they are 1 year old and use two-word phrases by the age of 2. Mixing Languages Children may mix
The Basics of AAC in Speech Therapy
Let’s chat about the basics of AAC in speech therapy! What is AAC? AAC stands for “alternative or augmentative forms of communication”. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, AAC is all the ways a person communicates besides speaking verbally. AAC encourages greater independence, increased communication, and more social interactions for many individuals. When a little one isn’t talking, it’s not uncommon for a therapist to suggest a form of communication other than talking. This doesn’t mean they’ve given up! Or that talking is no longer a priority! The most important goal is to give our children LANGUAGE. Once they understand
SLP Expert Opinion: Milestones vs Averages and Why Developmental Milestones Have Changed
You’re frustrated. Other kids the same age as your child are talking so much more than yours is, but your pediatrician is saying there is nothing to worry about. People are saying the developmental milestones changed recently too. What does all this mean, and what should you do next? Let’s dive right in and answer these questions! The Pediatrician Says Don’t Worry There’s a lot of talk about milestones when you have little ones, but one of the most frequently asked questions I hear is “Why don’t the milestones SLPs talk about match what my child’s pediatrician says?” This is
5 BEST Tips to Make the Most of Your Summer Off as an SLP
Hooray, it’s almost summer! You’re a hard-working SLP, and you’ve given your all for the past 9+ months of this school year. It’s easy to want to leave it all behind you and run towards summer break, but following these 5 tips will ensure you actually make the most of your summer off as an SLP. You owe it to yourself! Finish well Get ahead Reflect Disconnect Have fun! Make the Most of Your Summer Finish Well Actually finish the year! Finish filing. Throw away those papers you aren’t sure what to do with that you’ve looked at all year
Understanding Pop-Out Words in Speech and What They Mean for My Child
Is there anything more frustrating than hearing a word a couple of times from your child and then IT DISAPPEARS?! Where did it go?! These words are referred to as “pop-out words”. They are a very normal occurrence for little ones whether they’re on track with their speech and language development or a bit behind. Let’s talk more about understanding these pop-out words in speech and what they really mean for your child. More about Pop-Out Words The phrase “pop-out words”, coined by Pam Marshalla, refers to when a child says a word clearly on occasion but doesn’t say the
Does Your Child Repeat Everything? They Might be a Gestalt Language Learner!
Does your child repeat words and phrases? Maybe common things you say or lines from their favorite song or show? Do the words or phrases sometimes feel out of place? Even though they repeat, does it feel like your child doesn’t repeat when you ask them to? Your child might be a gestalt language learner! What is Gestalt Language Learning? Gestalt language learning is a style of language learning that starts with repeating phrases and ends with making new, spontaneous speech. Unlike most children who learn to communicate starting with single words, gestalt language learners acquire language through chunks called
How to Help Your Child Learn to Share and Why They Aren’t Already
Share, please share, share. You likely say this often to your little one. But why? And why don’t they understand? Teaching little ones how to share can feel like such a challenge. Let’s chat about why this is often the case and how you can help teach sharing to your toddler or preschooler. Why is Sharing Important? Sharing promotes compromise and fairness. It is vital for developing lasting friendships, cooperating with others, learning how to wait, negotiating skills, and managing feelings of disappointment. Sharing back and forth in play also sets the stage for the back and forth style of
Seeing Speech Students Over the Summer
Can you take a few private clients this summer? If you’re interested in seeing students over the summer, now’s the time to start making plans! If you’re like many speech-language pathologists, you work in the public schools during the school year which gives you the opportunity to either take the summer off or to take on summer speech students. When I sent my weekly newsletter and asked if anyone was interested in hearing my experience with working over the summer months, I was inundated with requests for more information. Here it is! Please keep in mind, requirements may vary depending
Embracing Neurodiversity in Speech Therapy and Beyond
Embracing neurodiversity in speech therapy and life choices is vital for providing the best support possible for neurodivergent children. The term “neurodivergent” is an umbrella term that encompasses Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other diagnoses. Neurodiversity essentially is the concept that some individuals’ developmental pathways develop differently than the majority of the population (referred to as neurotypical persons). This term acknowledges the diversity of the human race and each individual person. With neurodivergence in mind, one should consider neurodiversity-affirming language and approaches to selecting therapy and strategies in therapy. First thing’s first: neurodiversity-affirming explained The main idea behind being neurodiversity-affirming is
Recognizing the Early Signs of Autism
You know your child best. You’ve watched each amazing thing he’s done and listened to all the sounds he has made (or maybe not made). You already know how special he is, but you also know in your gut that he is different. You might be seeing early signs of Autism. Recognizing the early signs of Autism are important for current and future success for your child. What is Autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (aka Autism) is a neurodevelopmental difference. An autistic person’s brain develops differently than that of a neurotypical person. There is no single cause of Autism but instead
An SLP’s Response to Parent Concerns about Bilingualism and Speech Development
Many parents are concerned about the impact of bilingualism and speech development for their child. What is bilingualism? A person is bilingual when they speak two languages. Speaking two languages is even possible for young children! A child may be bilingual by learning two languages at once or by learning a second language after they have begun learning their first. Developmental Information for Bilingual Children First Words Just like monolingual children, most bilingual children speak their first words by the time they are 1 year old and use two-word phrases by the age of 2. Mixing Languages Children may mix
The Basics of AAC in Speech Therapy
Let’s chat about the basics of AAC in speech therapy! What is AAC? AAC stands for “alternative or augmentative forms of communication”. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, AAC is all the ways a person communicates besides speaking verbally. AAC encourages greater independence, increased communication, and more social interactions for many individuals. When a little one isn’t talking, it’s not uncommon for a therapist to suggest a form of communication other than talking. This doesn’t mean they’ve given up! Or that talking is no longer a priority! The most important goal is to give our children LANGUAGE. Once they understand
