Speech and Pathology Services
Program Model
The speech/language pathologist (SLP) is a specialist with a master’s degree in communication skills development and intervention. The SLP holds an Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certification, and usually a national certification through the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). The speech/language pathologist provides services including screenings, evaluations, intervention, and consultative services for students with a wide range of communication needs.
Students qualify for SLP services through a referral and evaluation process regulated by federal law. Eligibility for services is determined by a team (i.e., teachers, specialists, administrators, parents/guardians) and is dependent upon whether the identified communication disorder adversely affects academic and/or social performance. Students qualifying for SLP services require specialized instruction, which is outlined in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) procedure.
Services
The caseload of the SLP typically consists of students with a variety of communication needs, including the following:
- Language: may include, but not be limited to, the understanding and/or use of appropriate vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar skills, and pragmatics (functional/social communication skills).
- Phonological awareness skills: the ability to think about and manipulate the sound system (rhyming, syllable segmentation, alliteration, sound play, etc.).
- Voice: voice production characterized by hoarseness, breathiness, and/ or abnormal pitch or volume.
- Fluency: speech characterized by multiple repetitions, prolongations, blocks; difficulties monitoring rate of speech; also may have physical secondary characteristics (i.e., facial grimaces).
- Articulation/Phonology: speech sound production errors; oral motor difficulties, phonological processes (patterns of errors).
- Referral source for hearing impairment: annual hearing screening and follow-up measures.
Delivery Models
- In-class support/intervention.
- Collaborative: co-therapy with other specialists (occupational therapist; school counselor, etc.)
- Therapy within therapy room traditionally called “pullout services” in the form of: individual; small group; and/or large group sessions.
- Team teaching with regular and/or special education teacher.
- Consultation with teachers and parents.-
