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What Is Speech Therapy?

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Whether it be talking with co-workers around the water cooler, saying “I love you” to your spouse, sharing a joke with your neighbor, texting your brother, or sending an email to your boss, people love to communicate, it’s what we do. Communication, in all its forms, is what creates and maintains the bonds and relationships in our lives, and the ability to communicate is what defines us as being human. Communication can be divided into three main categories: comprehension, expression, and production. Comprehension or receptive language is the ability to receive a message from someone and understand the meaning of that message whether it be spoken, written, or via gestures such as American Sign Language (ASL). Expression or expressive language is the ability to send a meaningful message to someone verbally, in writing, or by using gestures. An additional goal of expressive language is that it is socially appropriate, which means knowing what and how to say something in a given circums...

How the Pandemic is Affecting Kids with Special Needs?

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  When schools shut down, and lockdowns became the “normal” around the world, it altered education opportunities for children of all ages. Most children experienced a change in routines as their daily learning shifted from classroom experiences to remote learning. While all students struggled through the changes, the most notable disruption is in the way special needs students were affected. Amplifying the Inadequacies of the System Pandemic life is stressful for all families, but the highest levels of stress are noted in families with special needs students. These children and their families depend on unique services and care to support daily needs. Not only are parents struggling with lost employment and lockdown-related challenges, but they also must supervise the child’s online school, therapies, and more. When schools closed in the spring of 2020, the federal government required schools to maintain regulations, services, and timelines within the Individuals with Disabilities E...

What is Speech Therapy Staffing, and Why is it Important?

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  When it comes to providing quality healthcare, having adequate staffing is crucial. A case in point is speech therapy, which requires specialized training and expertise.  Here, we’ll define speech therapy staffing, explain its importance, and examine its benefits. Qualifications Required for Speech Therapists Speech therapists sometimes referred to as speech-language pathologists (SLPs), are required to have a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.  They must also hold certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and be licensed by the state in which they practice.  Specialization and experience can also play a role in determining qualifications for speech therapists. Importance of Adequate Speech Therapy Staffing Having adequate speech therapy staffing can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. Speech therapy can help patients with various conditions, including speech and language disorders, cognitive impairments, and s...

Accommodations for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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  Children with ASD often qualify for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a Section 504 plan.  Each of these programs promotes support for students to access their learning environment. Anyone on the IEP team can suggest accommodations: Teachers, behavior analysts,  speech-language pathologists , occupational therapists, and even parents and administrators.  Each student should have accommodations in place to best support their unique needs.  Common adaptations fall into the cognitive, sensory, behavioral, emotional, and communication domains.   Cognitive Pre-teaching.  This involves giving children a heads-up before diving into a lesson or new routine.  You can use this accommodation to pre-teach an upcoming fire drill, a new teacher joining the classroom, or novel lesson concepts. Provide short, concise directions.  Clear directions that are understandable to the student can give a child a successful start and reduce confusion. Visual...