Speech, Language and HearingThe Impact on Childrens Education

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Speech, Language and HearingThe Impact on
Childrens Education
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Who are we?

• Speech-language pathologists (S-LPs) and
  audiologists (Auds) are professionals who hold a
  Masters degree or equivalent in communication
  sciences and disorders.

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Who are we?

• S-LPs are specialists in typical speech and
  language development and disorders of
  communication and swallowing.

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Who are we?

• Audiologists are specialists in hearing and
  disorders of hearing.

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Where do we work?

• We are specialists who work in health and
  education facilities including child care
  centres, early intervention programs, schools,
  hospitals, mental health facilities,
  rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, health
  units, industry, universities and private
  practice.

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True or False?You would contact a
speech-language pathologist regarding a student

• who has difficulty getting along with peers
• who does not follow oral directions
• who says wabbit for rabbit
• who reads but cannot retell a story

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True or False?You would contact a
speech-language pathologist regarding a student

• who struggles with math word problems
• who has difficulty learning to read and/or
  understanding stories
• whose first language is not English

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True or False?All children who have hearing
loss

• use sign language to communicate
• have parents who are hearing
• do not need extra help because they use assistive
  listening devices such as hearing aids or
  cochlear implants

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True or False?All children who have hearing
loss

• can not have another diagnosis
• will learn more slowly than a hearing child
• are best supported by a signing interpreter
• learn visually

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S-LPs and audiologists work with school children
who have communication problems that affect
success in

• classroom activities
• social interaction
• literacy
• learning

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Communication problems can be associated with

• hearing loss
• autism spectrum disorders
• cleft lip and/or palate
• developmental delay
• fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

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Communication problemscan be associated with

• traumatic brain injury
• motor skills (e.g. cerebral palsy)
• learning disabilities
• other disabilities

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S-LPs assess and provide interventions for
children who have needs in the areas of

• language
• literacy
• social language

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S-LPs assess and provide interventions for
children who have needs in the areas of

• articulation/phonology (speech development)
• dysphagia (swallowing)
• voice

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Audiologists assess and provide interventions
for children who have needs in the areas of

• questionable/fluctuating hearing loss
• managing classroom acoustics
• auditory skill development

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Audiologists assess and provide interventions
for children who have needs in the areas of

• advocacy
• hearing loss prevention
• equipment maintenance

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Communication Affects School Success!

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
• Thinking
• Learning

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Children with language problems may have
difficulties in

• expressing their thoughts/ideas
• participating in classroom discussions
• grammar usage (e.g. tenses, subject-verb
  agreement, pronouns)
• making-up or retelling stories

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Children with language problems may have
difficulties in

• understanding and responding to questions
• following instructions and directions
• understanding curriculum vocabulary
• problem solving
• understanding abstract language

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Reading and writing problems related to language
include

• weak phonological awareness skills for decoding
  and encoding words
• low reading comprehension
• immature sentence structure
• disorganized and incomplete narratives
• poor understanding of math word problems

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Children with social language problems may have
difficulties in

• interacting with peers and adults
• making friends
• using age appropriate behaviour
• respecting personal space
• reading facial expressions and body language
• staying on topic

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Children with speech, voice and fluency problems
may have difficulties in

• being understood
• accessing opportunities to participate in school
  activities
• learning to read and spell
• emotional development and self-esteem

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Children with hearing problems may have
difficulties in

• hearing differences between sounds in words
• paying attention and participating in class
• listening and understanding in noisy environments
• language and/or speech development

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Students with communication disorders have a
higher incidence of behaviour problems.
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What can we do for you?

• Assess and identify students at risk.
• Determine and address areas of concern.
• Provide input into school programming.
• Help students understand language concepts.
• Increase students understanding of texts and
  lessons.

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What can we do for you?

• Support reading and writing.
• Consult with school personnel and family
  members.
• Integrate classroom objectives.
• Work collaboratively with other team members and
  agencies.
• Provide in-services and workshops.

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Types of Intervention

• Services can be delivered in a variety of ways
  and may vary depending on the location, student
  to staff ratios, use of supportive personnel,
  etc.
• These may include
• individual programs
• small groups
• in-class supports
• home and school programs
• consultation

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Challenges in addressing communication disorders

• Education is multifaceted.
• More children have complex needs.
• Specialists are in short supply.
• Service coordination is difficult.

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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.

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• Communication
• is at the Heart of Education!

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For Further Information Please Contact

• Canadian Association of Speech-Language
  Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA)920-1
  Nicholas St. Ottawa, ON K2P K1N
  7B7www.caslpa.ca caslpa_at_caslpa.ca1(800)259-851
  9 (toll free)
• Provincial/territorial associations of
  speech-language pathology and audiology
  www.caslpa.ca/english/contact/province2.asp
• Canadian licensing bodieswww.caslpa.ca/english/pr
  ofession/licensing.asp