What does a Speech–Language Pathologist (SLP) do?

Speech – Language Pathologists are experts in rehabilitation or habilitation of speech and language skills as well as feeding and swallowing. We work with a variety of issues and all populations. It’s important to find the right therapist because we tend to become proficient in some areas and not others. Here is a mostly comprehensive list of focus areas for SLPs:

  • Articulation – sound distortions
  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech – motor delay with speech production
  • Cleft palate speech
  • Accent modification – speak more like a native English speaker
  • Tracheotomy speaking
  • Language disorders – difficulties with using sentences for conversation or difficulties with understanding what you’ve heard
  • Developmental delays – late talking children
  • Literacy – reading
  • Central auditory processing disorders – unable to decipher what you hear when you have perfect hearing
  • Feeding issues – picky eating, g-tube feedings, sensory eating
  • Tracheotomy feeding
  • Cleft palate feeding
  • Aphasia – lose your language post stroke
  • Dementia
  • Adult apraxia
  • Autism
  • Genetic disorders as it relates to speech and language
  • Deaf & hard of hearing – signing, lip reading, cochlear implants
  • Voice disorders – vocal nodules, raspy voice
  • Transgender voice

If you have a concern that your baby is not picking up on some things like other children their age, talk to your pediatrician to see if an evaluation is right for you. If your child is school aged, you can talk to their classroom teacher to see if an evaluation would help.

Talk to your primary care physician if you find yourself unable to communicate effectively or if you find yourself forgetting or getting tired when talking a lot. Talk to me if you have any specific questions about any of these issues. We’re all here for you!

11 Skills Toddlers Master Before Words Emerge

I love this chart of preverbal skills that lay the foundation for talking (from Let’s Talk About Talking at teachmetotalk.com). It reminds me all the things that a baby has to learn before they start using words to tell you their wants and needs. 85% of communication is nonverbal. Think about your facial expressions, tone of voice, and gestures. My favorite column is “Beginning Strategies.” These suggestions of activities to do with your preverbal baby are a great place to start.

Skill How This Looks Why It’s Important Beginning Strategies
Skill #1: Reacts to events in the environment Child consistently reacts to things he sees, hears, and feels. Responding is the foundation for interacting and communicating. Help a child learn to use his senses to explore things in his/her world. Offer new experiences often. Use toys the child can look at, listen to, hold, mouth, and explore.
Skill #2: Responds to people when they talk to or play with him or her Child enjoys being around other people and responds to them consistently. Communicating always involves at least two people. When kids don’t respond, it’s one-sided. Don’t let a child ‘check out’ or be alone for long periods. Give him a reason to include you – look and sound FUN! Position yourself so he will make eye contact. Do what he likes as you play, play, play together! Prioritize and reward interaction.
Skill #3: Takes turns with you during interactions Child participates in extended back & forth exchanges with others. Turn taking is how all of us become interactive and conversational. Treat his actions as if they are purposeful toward you. Play trading games with everyday objects & toys. Join in and take a quick turn while he’s playing with toys so you’re included.
Skill #4: Develops a longer attention span Child stays with an activity for at least 5 minutes alone and even longer with adults. Attention is the “gate-keeper” for learning anything new, especially language. Warm up before any teaching activity. Movement activities help most toddlers begin to pay attention. Start with interesting activities. Limiting screen time helps many toddlers attend longer. Try the “One More” rule to extend attention.
Skill #5: Shifts and shares joint attention with others Child shifts his attention between an object and you while you’re sharing the same focus. Kids learn to understand words and talk by listening to the important things other people want to share. Place yourself within a child’s line of vision. Teach a child to show, hold, and give you objects during daily routines. Play games to teach him to look for you and look at what you’re talking about. Point and gesture often to direct his attention.
Skill #6: Plays with a variety of toys appropriately Child plays well with many different toys and uses familiar objects in everyday routines. Children learn almost everything through playing. When they don’t, they miss opportunities for language. Plan to “play” and “stay” with a child to show him what to do with a toy and guide him as he learns. Get face-to-face on the floor. Provide a variety of toys with various motor actions. Teach cognitive concepts. Limit self-stim triggers when alone.
Skill #7: Understands early words and follows simple directions Child completes many different requests consistently. A child must understand words before he or she can use those words to talk and communicate. Stay together so that a child can link meaning with what you say. Keep your language simple and narrate daily events. Use “Tell him, show him, help him” cues. Teach a child to “do his part” during daily routines. Try deconstruction first.
Skill #8: Vocalizes or makes sounds purposefully Child is noisy and gets your attention by using his or her voice. No one learns to talk until he or she can produce sounds intentionally. Rather than words, model lots of play sounds. Imitate any sounds he makes. A child may need to “rev up” before he can vocalize. Change your space or materials to get new results.
Skill #9: Imitates actions, gestures, sounds, and words Child copies what he sees and hears other people do and say. Toddlers learn to talk by repeating what other people say. Don’t start with words! Begin with actions, gestures, and easier sounds before expecting a child to imitate words. Set the stage with expectant waiting for imitation.
Skill #10: Uses early gestures like waving and pointing Child communicates with you nonverbally. In typical development, gestures emerge just before toddlers begin to say words. Use lots of gestures as you talk. Teach a child to imitate easy whole body movements first like jumping and dancing, and then early gestures like reaching, “Give Me 5,” waving, and shaking his head “no” before teaching a toddler to point.
Skill #11: Initiates interaction with others to get needs met or to play Child deliberately works to get your attention to meet his or her needs. We can’t depend on other people to approach us or know what we want. Make the shift from initiator to responder. Look for when a child “almost” initiates and teach him to expand. Set up opportunities for a child to request using sabotage.
© Laura Mize, M.S., CCC-SLP

Introduction

Hi, my name is Jeanne Yee. I’ve been a speech-language pathologist for over ten years. I’ve worked in schools, hospitals, private clinics, and now I provide therapy to children enrolled in early intervention services, a state run program for developmentally delayed children from birth to three. My expertise is treating children from birth to twelve, but I have a range of experience in treating children of all different ages.

As a resource for new parents who might be wondering if their child is progressing at a good pace, I will be posting activities for you to do with your children at various ages (OR as they grow older). I’ll also post about frequently asked questions that I get from my families.

Parenthood can be daunting for many, and you might feel like you should “have it all figured out.” But I’m here to tell you don’t have to know everything. There are a wealth of resources out there, albeit some good some bad. I hope to help you wade through the plethora of info and provide you with resources that I’ve found helpful after a decade of trial and error.

Please feel free to reach out to me with questions or comments about anything I post.

Disclaimer: All children are different. What works with one family might not work for you. I hope to problem-solve with you to come up with activities and suggestions that would work for you and your family. I am not a medical doctor, and I cannot diagnose your child. However, I can point you in the right direction to help you find answers to your questions.