Department of
Speech-Language Pathology
Durham Public Schools
Durham, North Carolina
Welcome to the Speech-Language Pathology page for Durham Public Schools.
The mission of the Speech-Language Therapy Services Department is to provide all eligible students with speech and language services, to meet individual communication needs and to develop and maximize each student’s ability to use speaking and listening as primary learning tools within their daily educational and community environments.
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
What is Speech-Language Pathology?
Speech-Language Pathology focuses on identifying and treating many kinds of communication, cognitive, and swallowing difficulties in children or adults (ASHA 2015).
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are trained to identify normal, different, and disordered communication patterns.
Children (preschool, school aged, and adolescents) may experience many different kinds of difficulties. These difficulties may interfere with their participation in their school setting. School based SLPs focus on the following areas:
Speech Delays/Disorder: Children may have problems with being understood by others.They may have trouble with how they make sounds. Sometimes they have problems with how their voice sounds. They may have stuttering issues. SLPs test and help with these problems.
Language Delays/Disorders: Children may have problems using language to talk and understand what others are saying. Some children with trouble with knowing words. Some children have trouble using words and combining words to make phrases or sentences. Some children have trouble asking and answering questions, following directions, reading, writing, and social language.
Social Communication Disorders: Children may have trouble talking with friends and teachers. They may have trouble with rules to talk with friends and teachers. Sometimes they have problems with eye contact. Others have trouble with starting conversations or staying on topic. They may have trouble in class or making friends.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Disorders: Children with moderate to severe speech and/or language problems may be verbal or nonverbal. They may need other ways to communicate. These students may need to be trained to use devices and/or pictures to communicate.
Speech/Language Services
In the school setting, SLPs may deliver services via many different methods. Some of the common intervention types include:
Pull Out Services
This is what many think of as "traditional" therapy. Students are seen in the therapy room or a location away from their classroom. Pull out services work best when the Speech Language Pathologist needs to decrease distractions and practice skills in a structured environment. This can be done as individual therapy or group therapy.
Push In Services
The SLP "pushes into" the regular education classroom. The SLP targets speech/language skills to help support classroom skills. This is also called inclusion. This model allows students to stay with their peers.
Collaborative Services
In this model, the SLP co-teaches in the classroom. This involves both the SLP and the classroom teacher working together in the classroom. This teaching can look different in different classrooms. It has been reported that these models allows SLPs to show strategies to students and teachers. They can see how speech and language skills are generalized in the classroom. At the same time, classroom teachers learn how speech and language affect students in the classroom (Dickson 2014).
Consultative Services
The SLP takes on a supported role. This can include classroom observations. The SLP can give teachers and other educators ways to improve skills in the regular classroom instruction. They can also help change assignments, tests, and materials to help support students’ language skills.