Speech Services

Speech-language pathologists are trained to evaluate and treat a variety of communication disorders. Many factors, such as vision or hearing problems, limited English proficiency, learning disabilities or other developmental disorders need to be considered when diagnosing speech and language problems. The following areas are addressed in assessment and treatment in the schools:

ARTICULATION and PHONOLOGY: The accuracy and precision of speech sound production. Articulation errors may involve omission, substitution, or distortion of sounds. Phonological errors involve consistent patterns of speech sound errors, such as deleting final consonants in words or simplifying consonant clusters/blends.

LANGUAGE: The proper understanding and use of words and meanings (semantics), appropriate grammatical patterns (syntax), correct understanding and use of meaningful word markers or elements (morphology) and use of language in social situations (pragmatics). Both receptive (that is, comprehension and processing) and expressive language skills are important for following directions, critical listening skills, auditory memory, acquiring vocabulary, oral expression, grammar and appropriate social communication.

VOICE: The observable characteristics of the voice, including pitch, resonance, quality, and volume. Often requires a specialist’s evaluation of the speech mechanism prior to recommended treatment.

FLUENCY: The “flow of speech”, any breaks or interruptions, repetitions, or prolongations in speech output. Students may repeat sounds, parts of words or whole words, prolong words or get "stuck" when trying to say a word. Fluency treatment involves increasing easy, smooth speech production.

AUGMENTATIVE and ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION: Any low- and/or high-tech devices or aids such as picture symbols, signs, switches, and speech output devices to help nonverbal students communicate.