Register / Login

User Name
Password
Forgot Password?
Register to:
  • Get our bi-weekly parenting newsletter
  • Form Playgroups
  • Meet other expecting parents
Register For Free

Search GeoBaby



Specific Searches:
Forum, Resources

Advertisers
GeoBaby.Com arrow Articles arrow Toddler arrow Speech and Language Therapy Service - Part 2
Speech and Language Therapy Service - Part 2


The Assessment

All Speech and Language Therapy intervention is based on individual, ongoing assessment of a child’s communication skills. The first step is a ‘screen’ of all areas of communication function. These screens are usually completed at your child’s kindergarten or school. The second step involves meeting with the therapist, so s/he can take an informal case history. This will include information about birth weight and family history of speech and language problems etc. An in depth assessment of your child’s particular areas of difficulty (highlighted in the screen) would then be completed. An assessment may include clinical observations and standardised and non standardised tests. Standardised tests use marking schemes that are based on statistical data. These tests allow the therapist to compare your child’s performance to the ‘typical’ performance of a ‘norm group’ who are the same age as your child. The therapist can then quantify your child’s overall language performance in relation to children of his or her age. The assessment information is often interpreted in light of other investigations carried out by other professionals.


Areas of language that are analysed

Language Processing (understanding)
• Speech sounds (understanding, how they are stored in the brain)
• Understanding of Grammar
• Understanding word order and types of sentences
• Understanding tone, body language and social use of language

Language Production (expression)
• Speech sounds (organising and producing sounds)
• Use of grammar
• The order and construction of sentences
• Using language appropriately and behaving in a socially appropriate way.


Intervention
The following hypothetical case will give you some insight into how a Speech and Language Therapist works;


‘Johnny’ 7 years old
Why Johnny comes to see a Speech and language Therapist
Johnny’s teacher told his Mum to contact a Speech and Language Therapist because he was finding it hard to recall and use words during conversations and lessons, he also found retelling stories hard during literacy lessons. Mum had also noticed that Johnny was very hard to follow when he talked about his school day or a T.V programme he liked. Mum phoned up a Speech and Language therapist to talk about her concerns. The Therapist made an appointment to see Johnny and Mum. Mum was asked if she could bring a recent school report with her and any other reports written by other professionals (e.g. an Educational Psychologist).

The initial assessment session
Johnny and his Mum arrived for their appointment and had a brief chat about what will happen in the session (normally lasting one hour). Mum talked to the Therapist and completed a Case History while Johnny played. The Case History included any relevant information about pregnancy and birth and Johnny’s developmental milestones. The Case History lasted about 5-10 minutes. Johnny was then asked to come and play some games and look at some pictures. The Therapist completed a variety of informal tests to look at Johnny’s ability to answer questions, his speech sound system, and his ability to formulate grammatically correct sentences that contain enough information. This lasted between half an hour and 45 minutes. When Johnny finished, his Mum had a brief chat with the Therapist about her findings. The therapist told Mum that Johnny has an expressive language difficulty. This means that although he has an age appropriate understanding of language, he finds it difficult to find the words he has in his vocabulary and then use those word to make good and meaningful sentences. The therapist sent Johnny’s Mum a summary of the assessment findings and her recommendations for therapy. Johnny’s Mum and the therapist then decided when Johnny will receive his block of therapy (normally 1 or 2 half hour sessions a week)


Johnny’s Therapy
Johhny now comes to see his Speech and Language Therapist once a week for half an hour. During his sessions, he plays games and completes specific activities that help him to;
• create stronger semantic links between words.
• use strategies that will help him recall words that he gets stuck on.
• Understand what is in a sentence and how to put sentences together
• sequence events from beginning to end.

The crucial aspect to Johnny’s therapy provision is to devise activities that show him how to use and manipulate words. His sessions aim to help him generalise what he is learning to real life. Johnny’s Mum is informed about his progress and she is given activities to play at home and advice to help Johnny’s language development.

If you would like some more information on Speech Therapy or would like to discuss any concerns that you may have , please contact Karen Carmody, from The Speech and Language Centre.
 
Welcome to GeoExpat.Com. Click on one of the above tabs to view the latest content.

Other Sites

Advertisers