Suprisingly enough, I get this question pretty often after telling people what in the world im doing going to school for 50 years. A lot of people really have no idea what a speech language pathologist (or speech therapist) does. Even more people have no idea of what all an SLP can do. Several times Ive been asked if SLP's teach college public speaking classes! HA. NO. Definitely not. Ive also been told that SLPs are just "speech teachers" as in they teach kids how to talk at school, just like a science teacher teaches science. WRONG AGAIN. There is lots more involved! An SLP has a VERY broad spectrum of practice, which is one of the reasons I decided to do it. So here you go! My explanations in a nutshell.
A Speech Language Pathologist can work with anyone who has difficulty in communication and then plus some...such as children's articulation (production of speech sounds) and stuttering, writing and literacy development, language and social impairments, adult and infant swallowing disorders, stroke related speech and language impairments, computer generated speech, difficulties from cleft lips and palates, etc....An Slp can also work in A LOT of places... schools, hospitals,rehabs, nursing homes, early intervention clinics, private practice etc..
So why did I decide to take 3 years of my life [after 3.5 yrs of college], lose a lot of money, stay up all night long studying, and almost lose my mind?
its pretty simple. (now anyways, at first I was unsure if this was what I was supposed to do. BUT, i got it now).
Communication is our world. Imagine waking up in the morning and being unable to speak. Imagine knowing what you want to say but when you open your mouth, nothing comes out. Imagine feeling like your trapped inside of yourself and being unable to socially get involved in conversation with anyone else? .......Thats why I'm doing it...I didnt want a job that just made lots of money (Although, money sounds really good right now, when youre a broke newlywed grad student:) ). I want a job that when I get home at the end of the day, I can feel a sense of purpose. I can feel like a helped someone. I want God to be able to use me. If I help just one person communicate their needs, wants, and emotions better, then it was all worth it.
So, since this is such a huge part of my life right now, I decided it needed more blog recognition, and maybe I'll start sharing more of what im learning with my loving blog readers!
Im certainly no expert yet, or EVER for that matter [DISCLAIMER], but I do get asked every now and then about someones child's speech. So this is for anyone who may be a mom of young children or teachers. I think this is such a great little tool for moms and teachers to have around to keep up with children's speech.
This is the ages of when sounds typically should be mastered in a child's speech system. There is a little variation, but typically all sounds should be produced correctly by age 9. Its totally normal for a 4 yr old to say "wabbit". But if they are still saying "wabbit" in fifth grade, you should probably get an SLP evaluation!! Nothing worries me more than parents who wont/ or dont know how to get their sweet babies some help!
Also, here is the list put out by ASHA: American Speech Language Hearing Association ( which is pretty much the rule governing body in SLP world) that gives an idea about when your cute little one should start talking:
birth to 3 months: cooing
4 months to 6 months: laughing, and they should start babbling (babbling is what know as "baby talk")
7 months to 1 year: more babbling and also begin FIRST words like "dada, dog, and mama"
1 year to 2 years- production of single words continues to grow and also put 2 words together, like "more juice", and they may start producing questions like "where dog?"
2 years to 3 years- they should be calling and naming lots of objects! and also put 2 and 3 word sequences together.
ASHA has lots of info on their website about children's development and how you can help them. And also info on typical speech and communication development for older kids. Click here
Also, my pinterest board has several ideas for speech activities for other student SLPs, teachers, and parents!
Hope you all have a fabulous week!
Love, the FUTURE Samantha Webb, M.S., CCC-SLP
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