How Might Speech-Language Pathologists Provide Services?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are now providing services in a variety of settings, often collaboratively with other professionals. In early intervention (Birth-Three) programs, these services may be provided in the child's home. The SLP might come each week, bringing a bag of toys, and providing the parents with ideas to stimulate language and speech development. Or, the parents may bring the infant or toddler to a center, where a group of children with developmental delays and their parents play, sing, and learn language stimulation techniques together.

In the schools, SLPs are providing more of their services in classrooms rather than in their own, private spaces. This is sometimes referred to as "push in" rather than "pull out" service. They may come into an early childhood room several times a week and conduct language activities. They may also pull a child to the side to work on production of a specific sound or to do some oral-motor exercises. This work may be carried out with an occupational therapist and an early childhood teacher. An activity centered around a story, such as Rosie's Walk, can involve the children climbing over, under, and through various objects, while the SLP emphasizes the words, "She walked over the haystack." and "She walked around the pond." 

SLPs can also use regular classroom activities, such as snack time in early childhood, to foster pragmatic growth. Children can be coached to pass out the napkins or cups, while asking, "Would you like a napkin?" and establishing eye contact.

Speech and language therapy may also take place in the regular elementary, junior high, or high school classroom, where the SLP helps with vocabulary and comprehension of academic subjects. She or he might also provide services in a special education resource or self-contained room, where she conducts both whole class and individual lessons. Once again, these might be designed in conjunction with the occupational therapist, special education teacher, or social worker. Speech-language pathologists are even going to the playground and lunchroom to help children with fragile X to play and converse with other children.

Other settings where children and adults with speech and language disorders might receive therapy include private practices, private clinics, such as Easter Seals, where multidisciplinary teaming is possible, and employment settings. In high school work-study programs, SLPs might work with adolescents with fragile X syndrome about appropriate language for the workplace, forms of politeness, how to ask questions of supervisors, conflict resolution, etc.

Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

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