Based on popular demand I created this 26 slide presentation to provide basic information regarding insurance coverage for common outpatient speech language assessment and therapy services. This handout contains important questions parents must ask when speaking to their insurance representatives regarding service coverage. It lists common pediatric diagnostic (ICD-9) and therapeutic (CPT) codes as well as discusses common service exclusions in policies. It also provides some suggestions on how to initiate appeals for denial of services and includes links to helpful resources parents can access to obtain further elaboration on the information provided in this presentation. Continue reading Speech Language Services and Insurance Coverage: What Parents Need to Know
Category: speech language pathology
Guest Post: 10 Common Causes of Pediatric Speech and Language Problems
Many young children develop speech skills within a wide range of time and with different capabilities. However, by a certain point, most children have begun to learn how to speak and communicate effectively. Of course, when parents notice that their child isn’t keeping up with other children, they worry. While most children develop appropriately given enough time, some children do experience issues with speech-language development.
Delays in speech development are caused by a variety of reasons, so it is important to understand what these potential causes are, as well as why a thorough, professional evaluation may be needed for some children. Too often parents, relatives, neighbors, and school officials believe they know for sure that something is off, but in fact, their guesses may be dead wrong. Instead, accurate diagnosis of speech-language problems requires a thorough evaluation by trained professionals and includes testing of both speech-language and hearing to determine the root cause of any potential problems. Continue reading Guest Post: 10 Common Causes of Pediatric Speech and Language Problems
If you give a mouse a cookie, it will want some phonemic awareness to go with it
I love book companion packs! Honestly I can’t get enough of them!
One of the reasons I particularly enjoy using them is because they nicely supplement thematic language therapy activities (see Twin Sister’s Post HERE on thematic therapy). This is why I jumped at the opportunity to review Speech Universe’s If You Give A Mouse A Cooke Phonemic Awareness Packet.
Phonemic Awareness activities are incredibly important for young (Pre-K-1st grade) language impaired learners. They are especially important for children from low SES households as well as young limited English proficiency learners.
Jen’s packet is terrific at addressing a number of phonemic awareness skills including:
- Syllable Counting
- Rhyme Recognition
- Rhyme Generation
- Syllable Blending and
- Initial Sound Isolation Continue reading If you give a mouse a cookie, it will want some phonemic awareness to go with it
Focus on the common core
Today I am reviewing two products by Lindsey Swanson-Karol of the Word Nerd Speech Teach Blog related to the core curriculum: the Common Core Based Language Assessment as well as her Robot Phonological Awareness Pack.
Those of you who follow my blog know that when I select materials, I always try to make sure that the materials are multipurpose, multi-functional, and curriculum embedded.
First up is the Common Core Based Language Assessment. This 14 page informal language assessment is based on the common core for K-5 grade in the areas of the curriculum relevant to speech-language pathology. Continue reading Focus on the common core
It’s all about RtI!
Today I am excited to review one of the latest products from Busy Bee Speech “Common Core Standards-Based RtI Packet for Language“.
So what is RtI or Response to Intervention?
Developed as an alternative to the ability–achievement “discrepancy model,” which requires children to show a discrepancy between their IQ and standardized tests/grades, RtI is a method of academic intervention aimed to provide early, systematic assistance to children who are having difficulty learning in order to prevent academic failure via the provision of early school based intervention, frequent progress measurement, and increasingly intensive research-based instructional interventions for children who continue to have difficulty learning.
In contrast to a number of schools in my state (New Jersey), RTI or Response to Intervention is currently not utilized in my unique setting (outpatient specialized school in a psychiatric hospital). Continue reading It’s all about RtI!
Recognizing the Warning Signs of Social Emotional Difficulties in Language Impaired Toddlers and Preschoolers
Today I am exited to tell you about the new product I created in honor of Better Speech and Hearing Month.
It is a 45 slide presentation created for speech language pathologists to explain the connection between late language development and the risk of social emotional disturbances in young children 18 months- 6 years of age.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the connection between late language development and social emotional functioning
- Describe manifestations of emotional behavioral difficulties in young children with language deficits
- List formal and informal assessments relevant to toddlers and preschoolers
- Explain why the warning signs of significant emotional behavioral manifestations in young children warrant a referral to related professionals
Being Functional is APP-ealing!
If you’ve been following my blog for a while ,then you know that I place a lot of emphasis on function. This is reflected in the assessments I select and the materials I choose. I want them to be practical, multifaceted, and useful for a wide variety of clients. My caseload at the hospital and in private practice is pretty varied with diagnoses ranging from über verbal high functioning Asperger’s to non-verbal autistic clients.
It is for the latter clients that I am always in search of more materials, since it is much easier to find/adapt materials for the high functioning verbal students then for the low-functioning non-verbal ones. Especially because you want to make sure that whichever materials you select are not just educational and functional but also fun and easy to interact with. That is why I was so excited when I got the opportunity to review Teach Speech 365 APP-ealing Functional Communication Packet. Continue reading Being Functional is APP-ealing!
Materials Corner: Multiple Interpretations Social Language Freebie
I don’t about you but I am always looking for visually based social language materials for my clients. Luckily, even with a non-existent budget social skills materials are fairly easy to create. All you need is to locate a few relevant photos with faintly ambiguous scenarios and punctuate them by relevant to the scenarios questions.
Voilà! Your materials are ready for use. It really is that easy. Want to take a look at a one such material in action? Then check out the Multiple Interpretations Social Language Freebie I created specially for you. Click on the image below to get to my Facebook Page. There click on the Free Downloads Tab located on the top right corner and check it out for yourself.
Can you keep it down? Voice Monsters on the Prowl!
So I have to admit, I don’t really like pediatric voice therapy. I don’t know why. I got A’s and loved all my voice classes and voice clients in grad school. I voluntarily got some CEUs in pediatric voice therapy after college. But I never quite felt about it the same way I feel about language therapy. So needless to say I could always use some help when searching for materials for pediatric voice clients. That’s why I was so excited when I got the opportunity to review the “Voice Monsters” created by Rachel Osborn of The Queen’s Speech Blog.
Rachel has created this voice therapy techniques packet to target clients with vocal nodules. However, the materials in this packet are applicable to clients with a number of different voice diagnoses (e.g., vocal hyperfunction, functional dysphonia, etc) provided of course these clients have been seen by an otolaryngologist and have been cleared to receive vocal therapy).
So what does this 37 page packet contain?
Targeted for children ages 4 and above this packet provides explanation of voice disorders as well as tips on vocal hygiene for kids. Interestingly both the explanations on page 4 and the tips on vocal hygiene on pages 5 and 6 are actually a perfect way to present the information to parents. However, given the complexity of the language on the first two cards on page 4 (e.g., abnormal, characteristics, intensity, causes, inflammation) you might need to simplify this information for the students (especially for younger children) to adjust the language to their level.
The next set of cards explains the yawn sigh (pages 7-20) and the ‘buzzy voice’ (pages 20-30) techniques. The yawn sigh technique cards are very easy to understand and what I particularly like about them that they are arranged in a hierarchy of vowels, words, and sentences. I like the fact that Rachel included blank cards so you can create our own sentences. She does a similar hierarchy of sounds, phrases and sentences for the ‘buzzy voice’ technique as well.
I also like the fact that Rachel included some fun activities into her pack in addition to the exercises. There’s the quiz which reviews things that can hurt and help you voice, the voice detective game for good and bad voice habits, as well as a voice thermometer to help students monitor their vocal volume. There is even a generic game board for practicing a variety of tasks.
Finally, I really like that fact that Rachel includes information on other voice exercises as well as links to videos and other useful resources.
There’s just so much you can do with these activities, and the adorable graphics make it both fun and functional for the children to participate in therapy.
The best part of me was that in addition to the materials being functional I didn’t have to spend any effort on “cutefying’ them for my clients, and that’s definitely a huge plus in my book. You can grab this cute and functional activity in Rachel’s TPT store for as little as $4.00.
For more information check out Rachel’s blog, The Queen’s Speech and don’t forget to follow her on Facebook!
Language therapy for children with severe cognitive impairments: Focus on Function!
Lately I’ve had a number of children on my caseload with marked cognitive limitations. While I always attempt to integrate curriculum concepts into their therapy sessions, I also focus extensively on doing functional activities with them. These are tasks that pertain to daily living such as ordering food in a restaurant, shopping in supermarket, performing household activities, or looking up information. This is why I was very happy to come across Figuratively Speeching SLP’s activity: Bundled Supermarket Activities. Continue reading Language therapy for children with severe cognitive impairments: Focus on Function!