Recently, I’ve participated in various on-line and in-person discussions with both school-based speech language pathologists (SLPs) as well as medical health professionals (e.g., neurologists, pediatricians, etc.) regarding their views on the need of formal diagnosis for school aged children with suspected alcohol related deficits. While their responses differed considerably from: “we do not base intervention on diagnosis, but rather on demonstrated student need” to “with a diagnosis of ASD ‘these children’ would get the same level of services“, the message I was receiving loud and clear was: “Why? What would be the point?” So today I decided to share my views on this matter and explain why I think the diagnosis matters.
Continue reading Why is FASD diagnosis so important?
Category: speech language pathology
Why Developmental History Matters: On the Importance of Background Information in Speech-Language Assessments
Lately I’ve been seeing quite a few speech language therapy reports with minimal information about the child in the background history section of the report. Similarly, I’ve encountered numerous SLPs seeking advice and guidance relevant to the assessment and treatment of difficult cases who were often at a loss when asked about specific aspects of their client’s background family history in order to assist them better. They’ve never delved into it beyond a few surface details! Continue reading Why Developmental History Matters: On the Importance of Background Information in Speech-Language Assessments
Between the Lines Level 1: App Review and Giveaway
Those of you who follow my blog know that I absolutely adore the “Between the Lines” app series by Hamaguchi apps, which focuses on targeting aspects of social language including tone of voice and non-verbal body language, perspective taking as well as idiom interpretation. I have already reviewed Levels 2 as well as Advanced, HERE and HERE, previously on my blog, so today I will be reviewing level 1, which is the simplest version in the the series geared towards “social beginners” . Continue reading Between the Lines Level 1: App Review and Giveaway
Articulation Assessment ToolKt
In February 2013 I did a review of the Sunny Articulation Test by Smarty Apps. At that time I really liked the test but felt that a few enhancements could really make it standout from other available articulation tests and test apps on the market. Recently, the developer, Barbara Fernandes, contacted me again and asked me to take a second look at the new and improved Sunny Articulation and Phonology Kit (SAPT-K), which is what I am doing today. Continue reading Articulation Assessment ToolKt
App Review and Giveaway: Social Norms
Today I am reviewing “Social Norms” a brand new app developed by the Virtual Speech Center to improve social skills in children with autism spectrum disorders.
This app can be used by parents, educators, and SLPs. The users can customize it to add their photos, text, and audio to create individualized stories that teach specific skills to children with ASD with significantly impaired language abilities. It includes 53 stories on the following topics: Continue reading App Review and Giveaway: Social Norms
Love It and List It: Behavior Management
This month I am joining the Speech Room News’ Love It and List it Linky Party to talk about my favorite Behavior Management techniques tools and strategies. In fact I’ve actually combined my favorite strategies into my product entitled “Behavior Management Strategies for Speech Language Pathologists“ which you can find HERE. In it I explain what type of common challenging behaviors can manifest in children with genetic, psychiatric, and neurological disorders, describe the role of SLP in the management of challenging behaviors, list behavior management hierarchy from least to most intrusive methods for students with differing levels of cognitive functioning (high-average IQ to varying levels of intellectual disability) as well as describe positive proactive strategies used to prevent inappropriate behaviors from occurring.
Then there is my article which explains how to “Create Successful Team Collaboration: Behavior Management in the Schools” which you can find HERE which explains how SLPs can collaborate with other school based professionals to successfully work with children exhibiting challenging behaviors secondary to psychiatric diagnoses and emotional and behavioral disturbances.
You can also read my post on how parents can Manage their post-institutionalized child’s behavior during study times which you can access HERE.
Finally, you can also read about materials which can hep you figure out whether the child’s behavior manifestations are due to sensory processing issues vs. true social emotional difficulties, HERE.
How do you work on behavior management in your sessions?
The Executive Functions Test-Elementary (EFT-E): What SLPs and Parents Need to Know
Recently I’ve purchased the Executive Functions Test-Elementary (EFT-E) by Linguisystems and used it with a few clients in my private practice and outpatient hospital-based school program. The EFT-E is a test of language skills that affect executive functions of working memory, problem solving, inferring, predicting outcomes, and shifting tasks. For those of you not familiar with executive functions (EFs), they are higher level cognitive processes involved in inhibition of thought, action and emotion, which are located in the prefrontal cortex of the frontal lobe of the brain. Continue reading The Executive Functions Test-Elementary (EFT-E): What SLPs and Parents Need to Know
Real Vocabulary App Review and Giveaway
Today I am a reviewing a new vocabulary app created by the Virtual Speech Center called Real Vocabulary Pro. Developed to target the core curriculum vocabulary of K-5th grade students, it has tons tons of pictures and pre-recorded audio to target various vocabulary concepts as well as allows users to add their own words, pictures and audio recordings for a more individualized and targeted therapy sessions. Continue reading Real Vocabulary App Review and Giveaway
Creating Successful Team Collaboration: Behavior Management in the Schools
In March 2014, ASHA SIG 16 Perspectives on School Based Issues, I’ve written an article on how SLPs can collaborate with other school based professionals to successfully work with children exhibiting challenging behaviors secondary to psychiatric diagnoses and emotional and behavioral disturbances. In this post I would like to summarize the key points of my article as well as offer helpful professional resources on this topic. Continue reading Creating Successful Team Collaboration: Behavior Management in the Schools
After the Graduation: Review and Giveaway of Social Thinking® At Work
As an SLP who works with children with social pragmatic language disorders, I can’t but think of what happens after these clients leave school? How will they continue to improve their social cognitive abilities in order to effectively meet social challenges in their workplace? Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke effectively address this issue in their recent book “Social Thinking® At Work: Why Should I Care”. In it, they offer practical advice to adults with social thinking® challenges regarding how to navigate the intricacies of social interaction in the workplace. Continue reading After the Graduation: Review and Giveaway of Social Thinking® At Work