| What
is a Speech-Language Pathologist? A
Speech-Language Pathologist is a licensed, certified health professional
who
evaluates, plans intervention programs, and provides remediation
through therapy for communication disorders.
On campus, the
role is defined as the communication specialist providing services
that include: collaboration with parents, teachers and other
professionals, comprehensive evaluation and report writing, case
management, and intervention and remediation of communication disorders
for identified students.
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Communication
Disorders
The ability
to communicate successfully occurs along a continuum.
Language:
A language impairment is defined as the delayed or disordered acquisition,
comprehension or expression of language. Differences from
normal language which have an impact on educational/developmental
progress on pragmatic, semantic, syntactic and/or morphological
functioning are considered as well as social/emotional and vocational
functioning.
Articulation:
An articulation impairment is defined as a speech abnormality which
is characterized by omission or incorrect production of speech sounds
due to faulty
placement, timing, direction, pressure, speed or integration of
the articulators. Speech sound production, phonological development,
overall intelligibility, and impact on educational/developmental
progress and social/emotional and vocational functioning is considered.
Fluency:
A fluency impairment is defined as a disturbance to the normal fluency
and
timing of speech, characterized by one or more of the following:
(a) sound and syllable repetitions, (b) sound prolongations, (c)
blocks and/or (d) excess tension in the speech musculature.
Associated non-vocal behaviors are also considered as well as the
impact of the fluency impairment on the educational/developmental
progress and social/emotional and vocational functioning of the
student.
Voice:
A voice impairment is defined as any deviation in pitch, intensity,
quality or other basic vocal attribute which interferes with communication,
draws unfavorable attention, adversely affects the speaker or listener
and is inappropriate to the age or gender of the individual.
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Evaluation Process
A campus assessment
team will review a teacher, family or student self-referral request
for academic support. Following campus interventions, if a
student remains
unsuccessful, the campus assessment team may determine to initiate
a referral for a
special education evaluation.
Speech/language
evaluation of communication disorders is a component of the full
individual evaluation for a student. Formal and informal evaluation
as well as educational/developmental factors receive consideration
in the determination of a communication disorder. The educational
evaluation factors include the student’s
classroom communication skills, the student’s functional use of
communication, social/pragmatic behaviors, and/or functional use
in a vocational setting, and observation of the student’s behavior.
Assessment in
a student's native language is provided through the use of bilingual
assessment specialists and interpreters.
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Therapy Models for
Intervention and Remediation
The service
delivery model that is used for a particular student is based on
specific individualized education plan (IEP) goals and objectives,
utilizing the format(s) that
will have the greatest impact on the student’s progress. A
variety of service models described below offers a flexible continuum
of services:
Team teaching
with a child’s preschool early childhood teacher.
Scheduled individual or small group direct therapy.
Planned classroom-based
intervention lessons to facilitate development and application
of communication skills in a more natural social and academic setting.
Collaboration
and/or team teaching with K-12 special or general education teachers
in academic settings.
“On-the-job”
support for students involved in community work sites promoting effective
communication in the business environment. Consultative
support for teachers, parents, and paraprofessionals.
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How
Speech-Language Pathologist’s Maintain Certification
State
Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 87756-3183
(512) 834-6627
FAX (512) 6677
Consumer Complaint Hot Line 1-800-942-5540
The State Board
of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology adopts rules
to regulate the qualifications and practice of Speech-Language Pathologists,
Audiologists, and related professionals licensed in Texas.
Professional Resources
on Communication Disorders
Texas Speech-Language
and Hearing Association
P.O. Box 140046
Austin, TX 78714-0046
(512) 452-4836
FAX (512) 452-5255
Professional
and scientific association concerned with human communication and
its disorders and is comprised of speech-language pathologists,
audiologists, associates, and students.
American
Speech-Language Hearing Association
10801 Rockwille Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852
(301) 897-5700
Professional
and scientific association for more than 100,000 speech-language
pathologists; audiologists; and speech, language, and hearing scientists
in the United States and internationally concerned with communication
behaviors and disorders.
Region 10 Education Service
Center
400 E. Spring Valley
Richardson, TX 75083
(972) 348-1546
Provides a variety
of continuing education programs and services accessible to Speech-Language
Pathologists.
Better Speech,
Language and Hearing Month
The district
recognizes the month of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month to
promote awareness, prevention and early detection of communication
disorders. Plano Speech-Language Pathologists will remind
students, teachers and parents to protect and appreciate their ability
to communicate with a variety of activities and public announcements.
If you have
concerns about a child’s ability to communicate effectively, you
are
encouraged to contact a neighborhood campus’ Speech-Language Pathologist
or the Department of Special Education Services at (469) 752-8240.
Concerns for children birth to three years of age may be shared
with ITIP.
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Local
Support Groups Related to Communication Disorders
Autism Society
of Collin County
4909 W. Park Blvd. Suite 103
Plano, Texas 75093
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