What do Speech Language Pathologists do?
Early Childhood Speech Language Pathologists are professionals who evaluate and treat children who have difficulty with speech and/or language. Our goal is to better equip parents and caregivers with strategies to facilitate communication.
Birth to Five Services
Children who qualify for services age birth to three are served based on their Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Children age three to five are served based on their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Professionals involved in services include Service Coordinators (for children birth to three), Early Childhood Special Education Teachers, Speech Language Pathologists, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapists, Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Teachers for the Visually Impaired. Services are delivered using a primary service provider model. The primary service provider model consists of a team of professionals who work together to support families and caregivers. Each family is assigned a professional who consults and receives coaching from other professional fields to meet the needs of the family. The overall goal is to increase confidence and competence of families to support the child's growth and development through natural learning in the home/community setting.
Common Speech and Language Terms
Listed below are some commonly used terms and definitions that are used when describing a child's speech and/or language.
Articulation: the production of consonant and vowels
Receptive Language: what a child is able to understand
-understanding words
-following commands/directions
-understanding prepositions (on, under)
-comprehension basic concepts (number one)
Expressive Language: how a child expresses their needs and wants
-how many words they have
-putting words together to form phrase and sentences
-asking questions
-use of pronouns, negatives, and prepositions
-verb tense
Receptive Language: what a child is able to understand
-understanding words
-following commands/directions
-understanding prepositions (on, under)
-comprehension basic concepts (number one)
Expressive Language: how a child expresses their needs and wants
-how many words they have
-putting words together to form phrase and sentences
-asking questions
-use of pronouns, negatives, and prepositions
-verb tense