How to Support Caregivers with Research Strain
Research strain is a common issue for caregivers navigating a new diagnosis or when they’ve recently become aware of a developmental delay. If you’re an early intervention or preschool speech-language pathologist, recognizing this common issue and learning how to support caregivers with research strain will result in a more successful therapy experience. Researching the causes of developmental delays It’s a natural response for caregivers to search for a cause of a developmental delay or diagnosis especially if the family feels surprised by the information. It’s a way to try and regain some control over a situation that may feel overwhelming
4 Tips for Pediatric SLPs When Talking to Caregivers
Talking to caregivers is important and unavoidable as a pediatric SLP! Be prepared and handle these conversations with expertise and kindness. As pediatric speech-language pathologists, we bring a lot of knowledge and expertise to the table and it’s easy to forget how foreign our speech world is to caregivers. Since speech therapists are often the first point of contact for many families with language delayed children, we need to remain mindful of ways we communicate with the caregivers we serve. Our language can have an immediate impact on the level of trust a caregiver has in us. This trust can
How to Support Caregivers with Guilt
Caregiver guilt is a typical response when a child has speech and language delays. If you’re an early intervention or preschool speech-language pathologist, understanding where it comes from and how you can support caregivers with guilt will help pave the way for a more successful therapy experience. Guilt from risk factors (genetic or environmental) One of the first tasks when a caregiver arrives at a doctor or other health professional’s office is filling out a medical history form. While we might view this information as neutral or a clue to what type of delay/disorder a child might have, for a
Speech Regressions in Toddlers: Why They Happen and How to Help
Have you heard the comment, “Contact your pediatrician if you notice a regression in skills?”… Let’s talk about what speech regressions really mean, why they happen, and how to help. What is a Speech Regression? Regression is a decline in skills. This occurs when a child is not performing skills they once were able to. In regards to speech and language, this might look like a toddler who: stops using words to make requests and now uses jargon or crying has a significant decrease in interaction with other children or adults and seems much more focused on solitary play stops
Data Collection Tips for Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists
A crucial part of a speech-language pathologist’s work is taking appropriate data. The data provides vital information about a child’s progress and helps guide steps in deciding the next steps for intervention. Though it’s necessary, this is oftentimes a pain point for many SLPs. Follow along in this guide for several data-collection tips to make your life as a pediatric SLP easier! Types of Data You’re likely to find that one type of data collection doesn’t cut it for all your therapy sessions. What works for kids with language goals doesn’t work as well for articulation goals, and so on.
Understanding Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Beginner’s Guide for Parents and SLPs
Maybe you’re familiar with the term “childhood apraxia of speech” or not. Your child may have recently received this diagnosis, or you have a suspecting child on your caseload. Either way, there’s always more to learn about this rare speech disorder! Read on to learn more about what childhood apraxia of speech is, the likelihood of it to occur, telltale signs, and what to expect in an evaluation and therapy in this beginner’s guide to all things childhood apraxia of speech. What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech? Childhood apraxia of speech (also referred to as CAS) is a neurological motor
6 Considerations about Making Wise Investments During Your Clinical Fellowship Year
Congrats on becoming an SLP graduate! As you begin your professional journey, you will soon feel the need and desire to begin investing in continuing education courses and therapy resources in order to better your skills, continue learning, and provide the best care for your clients. Before you give all of your time (and money!) to these, stop and review these six considerations for making wise investments during your clinical fellowship year. 6 Considerations about Making Wise Investments as a New SLP Graduate #1 Focus on What You Know Although it will be tempting to try to learn everything that
4 Tried-and-True Strategies for Effective Carryover in Articulation Therapy
Kids often get stuck in therapy. They can make a sound (or sounds) in structured activities but need help to move beyond that. The answer to this dilemma is they are lacking in CARRYOVER. Implementing carryover activities in articulation therapy is essential, and they don’t have to be difficult either! Try these 4 tried-and-true strategies for effective carryover in your articulation therapy sessions TODAY! Start Early! First thing’s first– know that you should start addressing carryover skills as soon as possible! By implementing carryover strategies in small chunks over the entire course of a child’s therapy journey, you’re instilling self-confidence
An Overview of the Minimal Pairs Approach for Speech Sound Intervention
The minimal pairs approach is a popular intervention for treating speech sound disorders. You might have heard your child’s SLP mention this, or maybe you are an SLP who is looking for a refresher about how to implement it with some of your students. Read on for an overview of the minimal pairs approach and learn when it’s most effective and how to implement it in therapy sessions! What is the Minimal Pairs Approach? The minimal pairs approach is one of the oldest interventions used to treat phonological disorders in speech. It’s formally referred to as “Minimal Oppositions”. This approach
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
Impacts of COVID-19 on Communication: Key Factors for Parents & SLPs
The COVID-19 pandemic left a lasting impact on many parts of life, including children’s speech and language development. Since the lockdown in 2020, there has been a significant increase in children with speech and language delays. For both parents and SLPs, understanding the root causes of these issues and addressing the delays is vital to the success of these children. Let’s consider the impacts of COVID-19 on communication and what can be done to help families and their children! Silent Impact of COVID-19 on Communication Development While physical health concerns were at the forefront of COVID-19, the results were so
Exploring New Horizons: Alternative Careers for SLPs
Are you feeling like your career as an SLP is no longer for you? Does what once ignited you full of passion now seem like a dull flame or just embers? You’re not alone in these thoughts, and you aren’t out of options! Your skills, education, and experience set you up for success in other ways. It’s time to explore new horizons and consider viable alternative careers for SLPs! Reimagine Your Role Within Speech-Language Pathology Before diving head first into the many alternative careers for SLPs, stop to consider if a possible shift within the profession might rekindle your excitement.
A Helpful Guide for Preparing for the Holidays in Speech Therapy
The holiday season is upon us! With it comes a variety of opportunities and challenges in the world of speech-language therapy. The holidays are usually filled with excitement, changes in routines, and many new sensory experiences that can both motivate and overwhelm the children you work with. As an SLP, it’s important to navigate this time of year thoughtfully in order to best support your clients and their families. Consider these helpful tips for preparing for the holidays in speech therapy! Special Considerations While Preparing for the Holidays in Speech Therapy Before jumping straight into lesson planning for holiday speech
3 Powerful (& Simple!) Ways to Embrace Diversity in the Speech Room
For SLPs, being intentional to create an inclusive environment isn’t just about best practices— it’s vital! One of the most important things you can do for your students is to provide resources that reflect their own families and communities. This approach to therapy encourages greater self-esteem and stronger connections with caregivers. Check out these 3 easy ways to embrace diversity in your speech room this year! Why You Should Embrace Diversity Diversity includes race, religion, age, disabilities, and other important pieces of a person’s identity. Research consistently shows that representation matters and that’s no different when providing speech and language
5 Practical Tips for Managing Speech Therapy Groups with Confidence & Success
In the world of school-based speech therapy, managing speech therapy groups is often an area SLPs don’t feel prepared for. Handling multiple students at once can be challenging, but with the right strategies and mindset, it can also be highly effective and rewarding for everyone. Rest assured— managing speech therapy groups can be done with confidence and success! Common Challenges with Speech Therapy Groups Managing speech therapy groups comes with its unique set of challenges: To address these challenges, you will need well-thought-out strategies, patience, and a positive mindset. Managing Speech Therapy Groups with Success It’s important to choose strategies
4 Tips for School-Based SLPs: How to Have Tough Conversations with New Teachers
The beginning of the school year can be challenging for school-based SLPs— especially when working with teachers who are either new to your school or new to the field. Effective communication and collaboration with teachers are vital to providing the best care for students. Understanding common problem points in advance will help you be better prepared for your interactions with new teachers. Use these 4 tips to have tough conversations with new teachers and make this school year easier for everyone! Common Problem Points Expect to encounter at least one of these common challenges with new teachers. As you consider
3 Considerations to Increase Caregiver Involvement in Speech Therapy
As a pediatric SLP, you understand the importance of caregiver and parent involvement in speech therapy— but caregivers often do not! Building effective partnerships with caregivers is crucial for the success of your therapy sessions and the overall progress of your clients. Caregivers don’t usually anticipate this expectation for collaboration so it’s up to you to be clear from the start. Increase caregiver involvement in your speech therapy sessions in 3 easy steps! Importance of Caregiver & Parent Involvement in Speech Therapy Caregivers need to know from the start that speech therapy is a collaboration. Many caregivers are often misinformed
Everything You Need to Know to Begin Treating Phonological Processing Disorders
Treating phonological processing disorders is a key piece of what you do as a pediatric SLP. It’s important to understand how phonological processing disorders differ from other speech sound disorders, how to get caregivers on board, and how to choose the best treatment approaches to help your clients. You CAN help children develop more intelligible speech and set them up on a path for successful communication all of their lives! Understanding Phonological Processing Disorders Before you begin to educate caregivers about phonological processing disorders (PPDs), it’s important to ensure you have a solid understanding of this type of speech sound
3 Ways to Handle Caregivers Who Don’t Follow Through with Speech Therapy Suggestions
As an SLP, you understand the frustration with caregivers who don’t follow through with speech therapy suggestions after they’ve asked. You KNOW progress would be so much faster if carryover was happening at home! This can be especially challenging, but it’s important to consider why this breakdown is happening and consider what you can do to help. Why Aren’t Home Activities Happening? There are a few different reasons why caregivers may not be following through with the home activities you suggest after therapy sessions: Because each of these reasons is different, your approach to helping families work through them will
Creating Systems: 3 Ways to Make Life Easier as an SLP
As a pediatric SLP, your days are filled with countless responsibilities from providing therapy to completing paperwork to educating caregivers. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed, but take heart! There is a way to make your life easier as you start the upcoming school year– creating systems. By focusing on your biggest challenges, you can create systems and routines that save time during busy days, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. You’re worth this investment! Identify Your Biggest Struggles Before Creating Systems According to James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, success is not achieved by relying on willpower or pure discipline. Success