The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Impact on Children’s Education.

If you work with students in a school, who would you access to help you with a child who shows the following struggles?

• Poor attention to task
• Challenged by math
• Unsuccessful with making friends
• Trouble with problem solving
• Low self esteem
• Struggles to participate in school activities

Hmmm….did a Speech-Language Pathologist come to mind? An important part of our job is helping students to speak clearly; however our role goes far beyond words.
Speech-Language Pathologists are trained to find the heart of the problem, then implement strategies that give children a better chance at a positive school experience. It is our privilege to collaborate with other professionals, school teams, teachers, parents, and students to build capacity within schools and to build skills within students.

I was excited to find a great presentation about S-LPs and audiologists on CASLPA’s (Canadian Association for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists) website. It is called Speech, Language and Hearing…The Impact on Children’s Education. You can download it as a PDF or a slide show:

http://www.caslpa.ca/english/resources/educators_presentation.asp

Take a peek through it. You may find that it would be valuable for your school staff to view, as it provides great information about how S-LPs and audiologists can contribute to your school. A teacher in your school may be searching for ways to make the day better for her struggling students – but may not know there is help for her types of concerns. Part of helping is knowing when and who to ask for help.

In a nutshell, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists:

• are partners in the education system
• provide the communication building blocks for success in school and life
• help ensure students enjoy a productive and rewarding educational experience

We are on the same page – we want to give our students a feel good day and a successful tomorrow. Education starts with communication. Spread the word – we are here to help!