TIPS FOR GROWING: Edition 11- Spring has Sprung: Let's Recharge While Learning More About Speech & Language!
05.11.2023
Welcome to the eleventh edition of Tips For Growing! These blog posts will focus on important clinical topics that are regularly encountered when working with children. We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there is . . . helping children grow.
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! Today’s "Tips For Growing" will focus on Speech-Language Pathology!
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!
Tools to Grow is extremely honored to have a guest blogger for our "Tips for Growing"!
LeeAnn Terhune, CCC-SLP has been a speech-language pathologist for 22 years. LeeAnn enjoys working with all ages. She is especially fond of working with people with learning differences, and those with Autism. She has worked in a variety of clinic settings, schools, and in homes. In her free time, LeeAnn loves to travel with her family and explore all the local parks and nature trails.
Spring has Sprung!
Let’s Recharge While Learning More About Speech & Language!
Spring has officially arrived in my part of the world after a long winter, offering us beautiful renewal of our flowers and trees, punctuated with vivid colors and welcoming scents. We are restored with new energy, as we enjoy sunnier days, accompanied by walks, visits to nearby parks, gardening, or simply breathing in the fresh spring air. May is here and this means Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) has arrived. For more than 50 years, every May, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) aims to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role clinicians play to improve people’s quality of life.
May is at the heart of the spring season; a most fitting month to reinvigorate speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and the people we serve in order to help them become the best communicators possible.
This year’s theme for BHSM is Building a Strong Foundation. There is no better time than spring to reflect on students’ progress over the year and minimize any cracks in the soil when planning next year’s services or supports. Spring is certainly a busy time for students, parents, teachers, and therapists, filled with annual review meetings, progress reports, and IEP goals and objectives. Though meetings and progress reports are critically important to the collaboration process, parents may sometimes feel overwhelmed. Therefore, in the spirit of renewal and building a strong foundation, let’s recharge and get down to the root meaning of speech and language jargon to better understand an IEP or a speech-language report:
1. RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE:
Receptive Language refers to how we understand spoken language in order to communicate and learn.
Sub-Areas of Receptive Language Include:
(1) Vocabulary: Knowledge and understanding of a wide variety of concepts such as prepositions, descriptive words, quantity, qualitative, compare and contrast concepts, and so much more. Prepositions are a type of vocabulary word that is used before a noun to show direction, time, place, location, or spatial relationships. Examples include in, on, at, over, and between.
- Find Preposition Resources Here!
- Find Vocabulary Activities Here!
(2) Following Directions: This ranges from basic 1-step directions to multi-step directions containing more complex concepts.
(3) Listening Comprehension: This refers to processing the information we hear. It requires us to store the information, think about it, and respond to it in the correct way. For example, the teacher may say “Open your math books to page 37 and only do the even-numbered problems”.
- Find Receptive Resources Here!
2. EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE:
Expressive Language refers to how we communicate our ideas, thoughts, opinions, wants/needs, and feelings in oral or written form. Non-oral communicators may use Augmentative and Alternative (AAC) systems ranging from low-tech (communication boards, picture exchange communication) to high-tech (communication software installed on a tablet, or a dedicated communication device such as a Dynavox).
Sub-Areas of Expressive Language Include:
(1) Syntax: How we organize our thoughts into sentences/correct word order to ensure we make sense to others. Difficulties with organizing and sequencing words may result in conversational confusion and may hinder literacy development, especially writing.
(2) Morphology: Refers to the smallest unit of meaning; how we can manipulate consonants, vowels, prefixes, suffixes, etc. in order to change the meaning of words, and thereby, the message. For example, simply changing /u/ to /a/ (‘run’ →‘ran’) tells us the person already ran. A child with a morphological delay may produce grammatical errors such as, ‘He runned in the race’ instead of, ‘ran’ (irregular past-tense) or, ‘The childs are eating ice-cream’ instead of ‘children’ (irregular plural form).
(3) Semantics: Encompasses the content of our messages. We need to use and understand vocabulary and interpret the meaning of spoken and written language. Semantics directly relates to reading comprehension as well.
-Find Semantic Resources Here!
(4) Pragmatic Language: Involves social communication, including a wide range of skills such as conversation, taking turns, sharing, and interpreting facial expressions and body language. It also includes expressing one’s own feelings, understanding figurative language/slang, and being able to code-switch. Code switching involves adjusting one’s speech style depending upon our conversation partner.
-Find Pragmatic Resources Here!
3. SPEECH PRODUCTION:
(1) Articulation: The physical act of talking; using our teeth, lips, and tongue in coordinated ways to produce phonemes (consonant and vowel sounds). Children with articulation delays may have muscle weakness in their tongue and need oral motor exercises to improve strength and range of motion (flexibility of muscle) in order to correctly say speech sounds.
-Find Articulation Resources Here!
(2) Phonology: The system that governs our speech sounds, so we can sequence sounds to form words, detect and produce syllables in words, and recognize sound relationships between words. Solid phonological skills help children to rhyme, spell, and develop sound - letter knowledge, which are the building blocks for literacy development and clear speech production. Some children mispronounce words not because of oral weakness but due to gaps in their phonological development. There are typical speech patterns that children use, as a way to simplify difficult words, and they outgrow these patterns, approximating more adult-like speech as they mature. However, children who display prolonged error patterns, known as phonological processes, need skilled intervention.
Below are just a few examples of phonological processes:
- Cluster Reduction: the child omits a consonant from the blend. For example: ‘top’ (stop), ‘boo’ (blue).
- Syllable Deletion: the child omits a syllable. For example: ’puter’ (computer), ‘nana’ (banana).
- Velar Fronting: child moves the tongue to the front instead of the back of the mouth, resulting in /t/ and /d/ substitutions for /k/and/g/ (back sounds). For example: ‘tar’ (car), ‘doh’ (go).
- Stopping: child is stopping airflow or friction of /f/ and /v/. For example: ‘pire’ (fire), ‘bet’ (vet).
- Assimilation: child duplicates the sounds of the word; misplacing sound in words. For example: goggy’ (doggy), ‘kuck’ (duck).
4. FLUENCY:
Fluency refers to how smoothly we talk.
Dysfluency is another word for stuttering. The continuous flow of speech may sound interrupted and include pauses in speech, repetition of sound, syllables or words, and/or an unusual talking rate or rhythm. A speech-language pathologist can determine if dysfluent speech is due to a language-based issue (the child hesitates when trying to retrieve words and/or when organizing thoughts into sentences). Further, muscle tension in the throat area or facial grimacing suggests ‘blocking’ when trying to speak, which is a sign of a true stutter. Breathing mechanics are assessed as well to note any disruptions in airflow.
5. VOICE:
Voice is how we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds. A voice disorder occurs when voice quality, pitch and loudness are different or inappropriate. An Ear Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT) diagnose vocal fold pathologies such as vocal fold nodules or polyps, or any malfunction of the movement of the vocal folds. Speech-language pathologists provide voice therapy after the ENT provides a prescription and medical clearance for voice therapy to begin. A vocal hygiene program is written and shared with the child’s caregivers and teachers to promote healthy vocal habits across settings.
6. DYSPHAGIA:
Dysphagia is another word for swallowing and feeding disorders. The speech-language pathologist assesses and treats oral motor delays to help the child develop a functional chewing and drinking pattern for safe swallowing. To address dysphagia the SLP may work on a multi-disciplinary team including professionals such as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, pediatrician, classroom teacher, and of course, caregivers.
7. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Tools to Grow is excited to share our Speech-Language Educational Resources to help promote and celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month!
1.What is Speech-Language Pathology?: This Information Handout for Parents/Caregivers is a great introduction letter explaining Speech-Language Pathology, how Speech-Language pathology can help your child, and explains why your child would be referred to speech therapy.
2.Terms & Definitions Related To Speech-Language Pathology: This 2 Page Educational Handout defines many terms related to speed and language pathology.
3. Speech & Language Developmental Milestones Chart: Use this Speech & Language Developmental Milestones guide as a tool to learn what a child should be doing at each age. Includes 4 Charts/Age Ranges: 0-12 Months, 12-24 Months, 24-36 Months, and 36-60 Months. This resource is extremely helpful for sharing information with parents and others that will benefit from understanding the development of Speech & Language Skills.
4. LISTENING & SPEAKING: What to Know and How to Develop Language Skills: This two page educational handout includes: What you Need to Know about Listening/Speaking and Try This (Activities to do at home)!
5. SPEECH PRODUCTION & SOUND DEVELOPMENT: What to Know and How to Develop Language Skills: This two page educational handout includes: What you Need to Know about Speech Production and Try This (Activities to do at home)!
*Find these educational resources here!
8. BULLETIN BOARD KIT:
Tools to Grow is so excited to share our NEW bulletin board resource!
Bulletin boards and visuals are a fun way to promote the role of Speech-Language Pathology and skills addressed.
9. LITERACY PACKET: BOOK COMPANION
Tools to Grow is excited to share our NEW BOOK COMPANION LITERACY PACKET!!
Book: Grow Flower, Grow! by Lisa Bruce
Accompanying Activities:
1. /f/ Flower Articulation Craft
2. Wh Question Cards
3. Vocabulary Cards
4. Vocabulary Book/Sequencing
5. Social Emotional Cut/Paste Activity
6. Social Emotional Picture Prompt Activity
7 Emotion Vocabulary
8. Emotion Dough Mat
Find this NEW Literacy Packet here!
Not a member of our website? You can also find these in our SHOP!
We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there is . . . helping children grow!
References:
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/speech-and-language-services-in-schools/
Speech Therapy Clipart Icons from Allison Fors
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Allison-Fors
Related Topics: Speech Therapy , Tips for Growing
