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
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
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
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
Winter Non-Fiction Leveled Reading Passages and Questions Product Swap and Giveaway
Today I am doing a product swap and giveaway with Sharon Schackmann, the author of the Speech with Sharon blog, who’s created a product entitled: Winter Non-Fiction Leveled Reading Passages and Questions with a focus on teaching non-fiction text to older students: elementary through -high school ages.
This mega sized 44 page packet includes 7 passages on a variety of winter related topics including: Continue reading Winter Non-Fiction Leveled Reading Passages and Questions Product Swap and Giveaway
The risk of social-emotional deficits in language-impaired young children
In recent years there has been an increase in infants, toddlers and preschoolers diagnosed with significant social-emotional and/or behavioral problems. An estimated 10% to 15% of birth-5 year-old population experience serious social-emotional problems which significantly impact their functioning and development in the areas of language, behavior, cognition and school-readiness (Brauner & Stephens, 2006). Continue reading The risk of social-emotional deficits in language-impaired young children
Articulation Carnival-App Review and Giveaway
Today I am reviewing a brand new app by the Virtual Speech Center -Articulation Carnival (requires iOS 7 or later; compatible with iPad). Virtual Speech Center did a great job creating a fun app, where the kids get to go to a “carnival’ and practice their articulation at the word, phrase, and sentence levels.
Much like all their other apps, this one is super easy to use and very intuitive to navigate. With a variety of options to boot. Applicable to children of all ages beginning with 2+ years, it’s phoneme targets include 20 pictures per phoneme and per word position as well as phrases and sentences. All phonemes are editable which is a very convenient options for therapists who need to customize their client’s phoneme lists based on the child’s present level of ability and needs. Continue reading Articulation Carnival-App Review and Giveaway
Spotlight on Syndromes: An SLPs Perspective on Fragile X Syndrome
Today’s guest post on Fragile X Syndrome comes from Happily SLP, Carly Fowler.
Fragile X is an inherited disorder that is associated with mental retardation and developmental disorder. This is a sex-linked disorder. Fragile X is linked to the 23rd chromosomal pair; specifically the X chromosome. Physical characteristics of fragile X syndrome (FXS) in males are a long face, large ears, and macroorchidism (enlarged testicles). Often individuals also have loose connective tissue, double jointed-ness and flat feet. Many young children do not show these characteristics until they reach puberty (Abbeduto & Jenssen Hagerman, 1997). Continue reading Spotlight on Syndromes: An SLPs Perspective on Fragile X Syndrome