It’s that time of the year for holiday parties, family gatherings, and festive fun! We at Abington Speech Pathology and RemoteSpeech have drafted 12 gifts to share with the Speech-Language Community for some essential season’s greetings! Whether you are a patient, parent, ally, educator, certified speech-language pathologist or student, you’re sure to find a valuable resource from our carefully crafted list of twelve gifts for the holidays!
PARENTS AND PATIENTS AND ALLIES:
1. The Steps to Treatment for Speech-Language Pathology for Children and Adults
Overall, the job of a Speech-Language Pathologist is to provide a diagnosis and to develop an individualized therapy plan to attain the highest level of function possible in areas such as speech, language, cognition, or swallowing. The process for undergoing therapy for Speech-Language Communication and swallowing includes some universal stages that we have outlined, to help guide you through the treatment process. We have also embedded some helpful links to additional resources, to help make the process easier! Learn about each stage of the treatment process in detail, or click an image below to download and print these helpful guides for adults and children.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT the steps of treatment for CHILDREN
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT the steps of treatment for ADULTS
2. 10 Questions To Ask Your Speech-Language Pathologist Before Treatment
Whether you are a patient, parent, or ally, your first session with your Speech-Language Pathologist can be a bit overwhelming. While your Speech-Language Pathologist will likely have pertinent information and completed questionnaires pertaining to your unique needs, it is crucial that patients, parents and allies alike can ask the pertinent questions that will clarify their path to therapy. This worksheet will guide you through your first meeting with your Speech-Language Pathologist and ensure that you’ve asked the right questions to get off to a good start.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT
3. Leading Benefits for Speech-Language Early Intervention
Researchers of leading institutions agree that early intervention for challenges related to speech and language is integral to a child’s development. Researchers are careful to note the difference between early identification (recognizing key traits and symptom that might suggest a speech-language disorder) and early intervention (seeking the assistance of a certified speech-language pathologist). Results of decades of applied research in neurosciences, speech-language pathology, and early childhood special education show that strategic early intervention programs improve life outcomes. While there is a myriad of benefits to gain from early intervention, a general consensus among researchers and service providers identify three primary groups under which all benefits of early intervention are categorized. Click below to learn the leading benefits for early intervention.
http://www.abingtonspeech.com/parents/leading-benefits-for-speech-language-early-intervention
4. Parents’ Resource Guide
Having a great resource and support network is invaluable. This website for Speech-Language development is a great resource for the tools you need to empower yourself and your child!
Whether you are at the introductory stages and need more information, or if your child is already receiving speech therapy, but you’re wondering if there’s more you can do to help your child speak better…. This is the resource for you!
This website combines Tips and Ideas, Games, Common Mistakes, a Page for your Questions and so much more!
Be sure to bookmark their home page here!
5. The Top 6 Signs That Your Child Might Need Speech-Language Therapy
There are extensive, formalized procedures and resources available to help assess your child’s individual needs for speech-language therapy. Here are six not-so-apparent signs that might help identify a need in your child. At the conclusion of this article, we offer steps that you can take for formal assessment. Click the link below to learn more!
http://www.abingtonspeech.com/parents/is-your-child-falling-behind-the-top-6-signs-that-your-child-might-need-speech-language-therapy
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, EDUCATORS, AND STUDENTS:
6. Stay Up-to-Date with Certification Standards and the Changes being issued for Speech-Language Therapists in 2020
In the summer of 2018, The Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC), of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) announced changes to certification standards for Speech-Language Pathologists. These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2020, and will impact both applicants and certificate holders.
For a comprehensive understanding, please visit the formal announcement posted to the ASHA Website.
For an overview of these changes, click on our infographic below.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT
7. Stay Informed About the Growth in Treatment Specialization
Staying informed about the latest specialization practices can help certified speech-language pathologists, students, educators and administrators to provide better treatment. The industry of speech-language therapy evolves to cater to market demand. Through this evolution, specialized treatment has increasingly emerged to address the needs of the individual. The result is more efficient treatment and increased rates of success. This growth is illustrated in a survey statement conducted over the course of a decade, from 1996 to 2006. Survey respondents were certified SLPs, who were asked to respond to the following statement:
“Specialization in a specific area of practice will become necessary in my position.”
In 1996, survey participants responded to this statement with mixed results, as follows:
Disagreed 37.5%
Neutral 25%
Agreed 37.5%
Ten years later, the same survey was issued with nearly HALF of all participants agreeing with the statement. The following responses were observed:
Disagreed 18%
Neutral 33%
Agreed 49%
Industry resources have both contributed and responded to these perceptions, as can be observed in ASHA’s recent introduction of resources for providers to apply for specialized treatment certification, and its organized procedures for establishing a clinical specialty area.
8. Downloadable Forms from the Nice Speech Lady
https://nicespeechlady.com/
The Nice Speech Lady is an online network that offers practical resources for Speech-Language Pathologists. A myriad of downloadable templated assessments (such as those listed below), along with a series of Tests and a Job Board makes this resource well-worth a bookmark for any Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Student of the field.
- Articulation
- Articulation Assesssment Tools — free speech therapy resources
- Articulation Handout-ables — free speech therapy resources
- Articulation Home Programs — free speech therapy resources
- Swallowing Assessment Tools — free speech therapy resources
- Swallowing Handout-ables — free speech therapy resources
- Swallowing Home Programs — free speech therapy resources
- Receptive Language Assessment Tools — free speech therapy resources
- Receptive Language Handout-ables — free speech therapy resources
- Receptive Language Home Programs — free speech therapy resources
- Expressive Language Assessment Tools — free speech therapy resources
- Expressive Language Handout-ables — free speech therapy resources
- Expressive Home Programs — free speech therapy resources
- A/AC Assessment Tools — free speech therapy resources
- A/AC Handout-ables — free speech therapy resources
- A/AC Home Programs — free speech therapy resources
- Co-Assessment Tools — free speech therapy resources
- Co-Occurring Handout-ables — free speech therapy resources
- Cognition Session Materials — free speech therapy materials
- Cognition Handout-ables — free speech therapy materials
- Cognition Home Programs — free speech therapy materials
- Voice/Resonance Handout-ables — free speech therapy materials for adults
- Voice/Resonance Home Programs — free speech therapy materials for adults
- Pragmatics Handout-ables — free speech therapy materials
- Pragmatics Home Programs — free speech therapy materials
- Fluency/Stuttering Handout-ables — free speech therapy materials for adults
- Fluency/Stuttering Home Programs — free speech therapy materials for adults
Other — free speech therapy materials
9. Speech-Language Pathology Learning Resources
If you’re seeking speech-language resources that will engage your students, then you’ve come to the right place!
This website is “a gateway to information that will allow you to better understand language and literacy difficulties in school-age children.”
Included are endless materials and exercises available for free download that have been developed from years of working with children with language and literacy difficulties. Many of the activities are focused on text-based intervention. Other activities are more traditional oral language resources and games.
Also included are step-by-step guides on how best to use the worksheets and programs from beginning to end.
Free Board Games for Download
Sounds to Graphemes Guide
Working Memory Tasks
And so much more! Bookmark this website’s home page!
10. Portfolios to Use for Speech-Language Pathology Interviews
When interviewing for a position as a certified speech-language pathologist, candidates are often asked to bring a portfolio for review. This Speech-Language Pathologist was interviewing for a position in a great district, and was asked to bring a portfolio to present to an entire interview panel! She searched Pinterest and was able to find great resources for teachers, but nothing specific for speech-language pathologists. In this post, she provides a great illustration of materials that she used to create her portfolio. Since she got the job, we wanted to pass this content along to help inspire and guide you in your search for the perfect position!
SEE SAMPLE PORTFOLIOS HERE!
11. Find the Best Path to Become a Speech Pathologist
Becoming a Speech Pathologist is a lucrative career field. TheBureau of Labor Statistics expects employment for Speech Pathologists to grow 18% from 2016 to 2026—much faster than average for all occupations.
So, it’s no wonder that speech pathology is one of the nine top allied health careers with the most job security.
In addition, speech pathology jobs can cover many different career paths. While over 50% of Speech Pathologists work in schools (ASHA), many other Speech Pathologists work in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, in-home care, at nursing care facilities, and more.
So, what’s the best career path for becoming a Speech Pathologist? This resource provides a research-based approach for those considering the role.
REVIEW THE PATH FOR CERTIFICATION HERE
12. Tips to Network with ASHA!
The American Speech Language Association is the leading resource for certification, careers, advocacy, networking, research, policy updates and more! They have vast information for:
AUDIOLOGISTS, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, STUDENTS and FACULTY
Their advocacy hub is a leading voice in the industry. Be sure to review their 2018 ASHA Public Policy Agenda and don’t forget their national event schedule, such as the annual ASHA Convention! This annual event is among the leading gatherings for all members of the industry. Be sure to visit their webpage for helpful hints to garner support from your employer to attend the 2019 annual convention, and download this template to submit a formal request!
WE WISH YOU A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!
With Love,
If you believe that your child would benefit from a formal screening from licensed, speech and language pathologist, click here to schedule a complimentary assessment by one of our licensed partners.
Click Here to Learn More About Our Telepractice – Remote Speech-Language Therapy!
