Phonemic Awareness: part 1 / MUST-KNOW information about phonemic awareness and speech sound disorders
Do you consider phonemic awareness abilities before beginning to work with students with speech sound disorders? If not, you really should! Read on to learn why & how you should think about and assess these skills. What is phonemic awareness? Phonemic awareness is the final step of a larger process called phonological awareness. It is the ability to notice, think about, and manipulate sounds within words. Specific skills include: Phoneme isolation (initial, medial, and final positions) Blending sounds to form a syllable Segmenting sounds in a syllable Manipulating sounds (adding, deleting, substituting) Why is it important? According to ASHA (The
What to expect from a speech and language evaluation
What can you expect from a speech and language evaluation with a toddler or preschooler? Whether you finally got the referral you’ve been asking for or received a referral you didn’t expect, let’s take a look at what you can expect for your late talker on evaluation day. Before you go You may receive paperwork ahead of time including a release of information form. This allows the speech-language pathologist to share findings with other family members, schools or professionals. It is always your choice as to who has access on your child’s development. If you aren’t sure you’re ready to
Teaching Attributes in Speech Therapy
Consider all the language goals targeted in speech therapy sessions. A huge number fall into the category of teaching categories. Whether it’s increasing vocabulary, categorization skills, teaching descriptive words, or labeling functions, it all falls under the larger umbrella of attributes. What are attributes? Working on attributes in speech refers to improving a student’s understanding of the characteristics of an object. Even the best SLPs cannot teach every single word on a comprehensive vocabulary list. What one CAN do is give a student the ability to recognize salient features. Focus on underlying skills to teach skills to organize one’s thoughts.
How to Increase Your Child’s Attention Through Toy Rotation
Do your kids seem easily bored despite a million toy choices? Does your little one drift from activity to activity, but doesn’t settle down with any of them? Are you constantly overwhelmed by stuff? Try toy rotation! Oftentimes, littles ones are overwhelmed by the number of toys at their disposable, rather than bored. By limiting the number of toys available to a child at one time, you will promote deeper, more creative play and help expand attention skills! How does toy rotation work? Rotating toys involves presenting a limited number of toys to a child. The set of available toys
Jump Scare Games for Speech
Looking for a way to get your students really engaged? Try jump scares game in speech! If you’re a fan of horror films, you know that the potential for a jump scare is going to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the film and give you a little boost of adrenaline every time one arrives. We can set up a similar, but less scary, situation in our therapy rooms. Using Jump Scare Games in Speech There is a large assortment of jump scare games for kids available and many tie in easily with popular school themes, but
Teaching body parts
Teaching children body parts develops vocabulary, but it also helps with confidence and positive self-image. Children start identifying basic body parts like “nose” around a year. More specific words like “wrist” and “knee” are mastered around age five. Let’s look at some activities we can use to work on this classic language goal. Activities may contain Amazon affiliate links. Bathing baby dolls A shallow bin of water, a baby doll and a washcloth are all you need for some splashing fun! (Oh, maybe add a towel beneath the bin.) Label all the parts of baby that you are cleaning, but
Boosting engagement with…preschoolers!
Preschoolers come to us with limited attention spans. The best way to maintain your sanity is to boost engagement throughout your speech therapy session with easy-to-use materials you already have. Limiting the amount of stuff available to your preschool students means less competition for your attention. Getting really animated and engrossed in your own activity is another way to draw little ones in. What you don’t want to do is chase them around to engage them. That’s a quick way to have the chase become the activity! Tips for Boosting Engagement Check out these quick tips for boosting engagement with
Scissor Activities in Speech
Are you the type of SLP who is always up for a good craft, or does the idea of “art” make you sweat? Incorporating scissor activities in the speech room can be a way to bridge these two styles. Why work on scissor skills? Child development skills Scissor practice works on several childhood development skills, including bilateral coordination, eye-hand coordination and develops hand strength. The two most important to me as an SLP are bilateral coordination and hand strength. Bilateral coordination Bilateral coordination is the ability for our brain to use both sides at once. This not only helps with
Miniature Objects vs. Picture Cards in Articulation Therapy
Where do you fall in the debate over using miniature objects vs. picture cards in speech sessions? Most SLPs have a definite preference for one. There are a few (like me!) who tend to drift back and forth depending on the child or the target. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using each in articulation based speech therapy sessions. Using miniature objects in speech Speech miniatures are so cute! You see the IG posts, and they look fun and engaging. They really are! But there’s a lot more to it than that. Pros Participation Miniature objects
Expectations for Speech Clarity
Parents are often confused by speech clarity guidelines especially when it comes to late talkers. If you can’t understand what your child is trying to tell you, isn’t that a clarity issue? Not necessarily. Late talkers are limited with how much language they have which means they struggle to communicate their wants, needs, and feelings. But there are other children who have language skills within expected ranges that are hard to understand because of they way they form their speech sounds. How do speech sounds develop? Many children don’t develop all mature speech sounds in the English language until they’re
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