SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
WHAT IS SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY?
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) are regulated health professionals who are licensed practitioners with the College of Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario.
SLPs provide identification, education, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of communication and/or swallowing disorders in children. They may work alone or closely with other professionals, as part of an interdisciplinary team, in providing a coordinated program of care. Support staff include Communication Disorders Assistants (CDA). All of our staff receive ongoing training specific to working with children with a variety of needs to ensure quality services for them and their families.
WHAT CAN THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST PROVIDE?
At THRIVE Child Development Centre, SLPs provide services for children with a variety of needs. Your child may receive speech-language pathology services through one or more of our teams and/or clinics. The speech pathologist works closely with the child, the family, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to establish individualized therapy goals and treatment plans.
ASSESSMENT / ELIGIBILITY
The therapist may assess your child's speech and language skills using a combination of clinical observations, parental reports, and standardized assessments to gain a variety of information regarding their abilities. Once the assessment is complete, the therapist will discuss your child's strengths and growth areas with you and other caregivers (ie: teachers, day care staff, in-home workers). Specific areas of assessment may include:
- Language comprehension (understanding)
- Language expression (use)
- Speech sound production and oral motor skills
- Social communication skills
- Feeding and swallowing
- Play skills
SERVICES
Direct Therapy
Direct therapy, either individual or groups, offered by a SLP or CDA.
Caregiver Coaching
Coaching in which the therapist trains someone else involved with the child to carry out the speech and language therapy plan. The therapist is in regular contact with the caregiver to offer support and guidance.
Consultation
Consultation with parents, caregivers, day care staff, school staff, etc.
Home Programs
SLP will provide resources for parents/caregivers to carry out the child's therapy goals at home.
WHEN TO REFER
Parents/caregivers can use this developmental checklist to assess whether their child will be appropriate for speech and language services.
WHAT TO DO WHILE I WAIT
While waiting for your referral, there are some activities you can do from home to create a language-rich environment. Click the button below for our favourite resource for parents for age appropriate language activities, Talk Box: A parent's guide to creating language rich environments [pre-school].
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CLINICS
ASSISTIVE COMMUNICATION AND WRITING AIDS (ACWA) CLINIC
This clinic is for children or youth whose verbal speech is not able to meet their everyday needs. Once a referral is made, a Speech and Language Pathologist conducts an assessment to determine what kinds of devices or tools will best support the communication needs and abilities of the child. We are able to prescribe devices locally if the child or youth is capable of using their hands to touch a screen or point at a picture. Children or youth who may struggle to do this are referred to the Sudbury team, and we will work collaboratively to match the best technology to meet the needs of the individual child.
FEEDING CLINIC
The Feeding Clinic team consists of two Speech-Language Pathologists and two Occupational Therapists. Services offered include assessments, 1:1 intervention and consultation, and parent education. *Referrals to the Feeding Clinic can be made by physician, paediatrician, or family.
This clinic should be considered if a child has:
- Suspected aspiration due to history of recurrent pneumonia or chest infections
- Requires a Modified Barium Swallow Study as referred by paediatrician
- Difficulty swallowing as a result of a sudden change in medical status
- Sudden refusal of previously accepted foods putting the child at risk for dehydration or weight loss
- Re-establishing oral feeding after a recent hospitalization or change in g-tube status
- Motor or neurological involvement impacting ability to eat
- Difficulties meeting nutritional needs and is younger than 12 months
- Less growth than expected as assessed by a physician
- If your child is a ‘Problem Feeder’:
- Restricted range or variety of foods, usually less than 20 different foods
- No longer eats foods he/she used to like and does NOT re-acquire them within 4-5 weeks (i.e., food jags)
- Refuses entire categories of food textures
- Eliminates an entire food category based on the Canada food guide (i.e. meats and alternatives)
