Celebrating & Understanding Speech and Language Support at UCP

Written by: Danielle Waters MA CCC-SLP

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing month. This month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders, as well as, highlight the amazing team of speech and language providers we have at UCP that are dedicated to unlocking all children’s potential to communicate.

More than 1 million children nationwide receive treatment services for speech and language disorders each year through the school system. Left unaddressed, speech and language disorders can affect a child’s academic and social success. Speech-language pathologists in schools work with children who have communication disorders.

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What is a communication disorder?

Communication disorders are a type of disorder that affects an individual’s ability to comprehend, detect or apply language and speech when communicating with others. Four main types of developmental communication disorders that SLPs support include language, speech sound, fluency and social communication.

What is the difference between speech and language?

Speech Sound/Articulation – occurs when a child has trouble making certain sounds. For example, they may not be able to produce a specific sound like “r”. Children often mispronounce sounds when they are learning to talk. However, if these errors don’t go away on their own, that’s when they may need a little help from an SLP.

Language – occurs when a child has difficulty understanding words, using words, putting words together to make sentences, or difficulty using words in the correct context.

Fluency – this is most often referred to as “stuttering”. Keep in mind that stuttering can be a developmental phase that children go through as they are learning to talk because they are working hard to combine their thoughts into words. Sometimes stuttering can persist beyond a certain age or develop later in childhood and then an SLP can be of help!

Social Communication – occurs when children have difficulty with using language in social contexts and interacting with others.

What do SLPs do in the schools?

Listening, speaking, reading and writing are how children learn in school. SLPS contribute significantly to the achievement of students. SLPs provide a wide range of services in our schools, from prevention to intervention. They may collaborate with teachers to identify potential issues

before they become barriers to learning and support the teacher in providing strategies to use with all children to ensure their language skills are developing in both academic and social settings. SLPS diagnose, assess and treat students with communication difficulties.

Why is my child receiving group therapy at school?

The ultimate goal of school based SLPs is to help children reach their greatest academic potential. SLPs support communication skills in your child’s educational setting by being in the classroom with them! By providing services in the classroom, the SLP can work with your child on what they are learning in class and support teachers in demonstrating communication strategies that they can carry over daily in the classroom when the SLP is not present. In order to communicate, you have to have someone to communicate with, so group settings also provide opportunities for interactions with peers allowing the SLP to support communication skills in a natural way.

My child has been in therapy for over a year, and they are still not talking. When will they talk?

Every child learns differently and there is no given time frame for when a child will begin talking. Sometimes the goal of therapy may not be “speaking” but communicating in alternative methods. Progress can be slow, but parents and caregivers can help in the process by working on skills at home! Discuss with your child’s SLP what your child’s goals are and what their future may look like.

Should I stop using my native language with my child once they enter school to promote learning English?

No. You will not confuse your child, set them back academically or prevent them from learning English if you use your native language. Research shows that even children with communication disorder or other developmental disorders can learn additional languages. The key is lost of exposure and opportunities to practice. Ask your child’s SLP about activities you can do with them to support their communication skills in all languages.

My child’s therapist recommended using AAC, but I really want them to speak. Won’t this prevent them from talking?

Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC) is one way that a person may communicate without talking. Augmentative means to add to someone's speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Research shows that using AAC actually supports verbal speech and language development. While some people use AAC their whole life, others use it temporarily (even for a few months). AAC can reduce frustration and set the foundation for improved communication skills.

At UCP our speech and language providers help our students engage, express and thrive in the classroom and beyond. We are extremely proud of our team and the amazing work they are doing to ensure communication for all!