- Elementary (K-4)
- Role of the Speech Language Pathologist
McDonald, Jennifer
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What is the Role of the SLP?
The Role of an E-SLP (Educational Speech Language Pathologist) is to work with identified speech-language disorders, assess students with whom teachers or parents have a special speech or language concern and to consult with parents and regular education teachers about speech-language development and how disorders may affect academic progress.
Below is a list of common speech and language disorders with a brief explanation of each:
Speech Disorders
• Articulation - the way we say our speech sounds
• Phonology - the speech patterns we use
• Apraxia - difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to make speech sounds
• Fluency - stuttering
• Voice - problems with the way the voice soundsLanguage Disorders
• Receptive Language - difficulty understanding language
• Expressive Language - difficulty using language
• Pragmatic Language - social communication; the way we speak to each otherOther Disorders
• Deafness/Hearing Loss - loss of hearing; therapy includes developing lip-reading, speech,
and/or alternative communication systems
• Oral-Motor Disorders - weak tongue and/or lip muscles
• Swallowing/Feeding Disorders - difficulty chewing and/or swallowing