Dear Parents and Guardians,

What does a Speech Language Pathologist work on in the schools?

From American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)

https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/speech-and-language-services-in-schools/

"Speech and language problems can make it hard for your child to learn in school. Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help your child succeed.

• Speech sounds. He may have trouble saying sounds. He may not speak clearly and be hard to understand.

• Language and literacy. Your child may have trouble understanding what she hears. She may not follow directions or answer questions well. It may be hard for her to tell others about her thoughts. She may not say the correct words or say only short sentences. Language problems can also make reading and writing harder.

• Social communication. Your child may have trouble talking with other children. He may not make friends easily. He may not understand what others think or how they feel.

• Cognitive communication. These are the thinking skills your child needs to remember, solve problems, and use her imagination. Learning disabilities and brain damage can cause these types of problems.

• Feeding and swallowing. It may sound strange to think of eating as a school problem, but it can be. Feeding and swallowing problems can make it hard for your child to eat and drink enough during the day. This can make it hard to learn. It can also make social times, like lunch or snack, harder for your child.

• Stuttering. Your child may have trouble speaking smoothly. She may repeat sounds or words or have long pauses when she talks. Stuttering can make it hard to answer questions or give speeches in class. It can also make it hard to talk to friends.

• Voice. Your child may sound hoarse or lose his voice. He may sound like he talks through his nose, called nasality. His voice may be too loud or too soft. Voice problems can make it hard to talk in class or with friends."