• "I know you're a Speech-Language Pathologist...but what do you do?"

     
    Speech Language Pathology (aka: speech therapy) is a broad field that continues to grow.  Understandably, parents and staff members are unsure of the speech-language therapist's role in the school setting.
     
    Here is a general overview of the typical services that the speech-language therapists provide in the Highlands School District:
     
    • Articulation Therapy and Assessment:
      Children with difficulty producing speech sounds are seen seen for speech therapy.  This includes the most common school age prolems, the lisp, and difficulty producing the /r/ sound.  Please refer to the chart below for a list of consonant sounds and ages which they are typically mastered.
       
    • Language Therapy and Assessment:
      Speech-langauge therapists assess and treat children who have delayed vocabulary and syntax (grammar usage)
       
    • Auditory Processing and Comprehension Deficits:
      Children who have difficulty understanding spoken language come to speech therapy.  Children with auditory processing deficits (or difficulty with listening comprehension) have trouble distinguishing and discriminating speech sounds, following auditory directions, or understanding concepts.  Children with comprehension issues have difficulty with word meaning, sequencing skills, and problem solving, which can be related to their ability to understanding auditory as well as written information.
       
    • Voice Therapy and Assessment:
      Children who have prolonged vocal hoarseness come to therapy to learn how to use their voice without mistreating it.  Speech therapists also treat children who have a nasal quality to their voice.

    • Pragmatic Language Disorders:

      There are children who have difficulty using language properly in social context.  These children come to therapy and learn how to greet others, introduce and maintain conversation, make eye contact, use proper body language and other important social skills.
       
    • Fluency Disorders:
      Dysfluency is characterized y repetition or prolongation of sounds, words or phrases during speech.  Speech therapists assist children with fluency disorders by teaching them strategies to overcome these difficulties.
       
    • Oral Motor Disorders:
      Weak tongue and/or lip muscles can decrease the clarity of speech.  Speech therapists often employ oral activities such as bubble blowing and whistles, using straws and chewing gun to strengthen these muscles.
       
    • Emergent Literacy Development: