Speech+and+Language+Impairment


 * ~ [[image:http://knollandstein.com/images/asha_logo.gif]] ||~ Speech and Language Im﻿pairments ||~ [[image:http://knollandstein.com/images/asha_logo.gif]] ||
 * ** Categories of **
 * Resources ** || ** Description ** || ** Links ** ||
 * **Information about**
 * Speech and Language**
 * Impairments** || __Speech and language impairments__ refer to problems with communication and oral motor function, including sucking, swallowing, eating, and drinking. These delays and disorders range from simple sound substitutions, to the inability to understand or use language, or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and feeding.

A **__speech impairment__** affects spoken language. Individuals with speech disorders are unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or have problems with their voice. Some examples of common speech disorders include apraxia of speech, orofacial myofunctional disorders, speech sound disorders: articulation and phonological processes, and stuttering.

A **__language impairment__** affects the understanding of language (receptive language disorder), the formulation of an utterance (expressive language disorder), or both. Some examples of common language impairments include language-based learning disabilities, and selective mutism.

__Causes__ In most instances, the causes of speech and language disorders remain unknown. In some cases, the cause has been attributed to hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, intellectual disability, drug abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse.

__Possible indicators of speech and language impairments__:
 * Difficulty speaking or being understood
 * Problems understanding or following directions
 * Trouble remembering or paying attention
 * Frustration finding words to express basic needs
 * Difficulty reading and writing
 * Hoarseness and/or difficulty swallowing

__Incidence__- More than 1.4 million students in special education programs are categorized as having a speech or language impairment. It is estimated that communication disorders affect 1 out of every 10 people in the United States.

__Early Intervention__ Since communication disorders can potentially isolate students from their social and educational surroundings, it is essential to find appropriate timely intervention. A very critical period in brain development take place before age 5, which is the reason why it is easier to learn language and communication skills prior to reaching that age. Therefore, it is obvious that fast and effective intervention will greatly enhance the development of communication skills.

__School Performance__ Children with speech and language disorders often do not perform academically at grade level. They commonly struggle with reading, have difficulty understanding and expressing language, misunderstand social cues, and have difficulty with tests. Difficulty learning to listen, speak, read, or write can result from problems in language development. Problems most often occur in the production, comprehension, and awareness of spoken and written language. Speech and language impairments that are not addressed early on in the child's development or are not addressed accurately and effectively will result in poor student achievement in school. || [|American Speech-Language-Hearing Association] - The ASHA advocates to make communication accessible to all individuals. This site provides information about speech and language impairments, services and resources available, and also supports research to improve the quality of communication.

[|National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders] - The NIDCD is comprised of the National Institute of Health. This Institute conducts and supports research in the processes of hearing, speech, and language. This resource offers health information about speech and language and offers a list of voice, speech, and language disorders including their description and contact information for professionals. A very useful feature found on this site is a Directory of Organizations, which supplies you with additional websites and resources that offer information about speech and language impairments and services.

[|National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities] - The NICHCY is a resource that offers information about any specific disabilities. This site contains useful information about parental rights through IDEA and effective educational practices. The speech and language impairments section provides you with a definition for the disability, the level of incidence, common characteristics, and implications for education.

1.) Feit, D. (2007). The parents guide to speech and language problems. New York: McGraw Hill Co. - Author, Debbie Feit, is the mother of two children with speech and language impairments. Speaking as a true veteran, she offers current medical information, advice, and encouragement for parents raising children with speech impairments.
 * __Books on Speech and Language Impairments__**:

2.) Hamaguchi, P. M. (2010). Childhood speech, language, & listening problems: What every parent should know. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. - This book offers a complete description of the major communication disorders. Its contents include what to look for, what therapies and interventions will occur, and what parents can do at home to help.

3.) Gaulin, C. (2001). Language processing problems: A guide for parents and teachers. Indiana: Xlibris Corporation. - Cindy Gaulin is a pediatric speech pathologist. In her book, she explains language processing problems and she describes some strategies for intervention that are useful both in the classroom and at home.

4.) Leonard, L. B. (2000). Children with specific language Impairment: Language, speech, and communication. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. - This piece of literature covers all aspects of SLI, including its history, possible genetic and neurobiological origins, and clinical and educational practice.

5.) Glogowska, M. (2001). Time to talk: Parent's accounts of children's speech difficulties. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. - This book provides information to parents and educators working with children who encounter difficulties in language development.

6.) McMinn, J. (2006). Supporting children with speech and language impairment and associated difficulties: Suggestions for supporting the development of language, listening, behavior, and coordination skills (2nd ed.).New York: Continuum International. - This book offers information, guidance and examples of intervention strategies to teachers and parents. Included are activities and worksheets for practice; rhymes for speech production and memory work and a photocopiable word bank. ||
 * = **Education**
 * and Services** ||< **__Know Your Rights __** As parents, you should plan to become familiar with and learn to understand the rights that both you and your child are guaranteed by the protection of the law through IDEA and the No Child Left Behind Act. Your knowledge and understanding of your rights will help to guide you in making decisions about your child's education, understanding what services the school system is required to provide for you and your child, and also increase your awareness of the availability and access to different therapies, services, or devices that will improve the rate of your child's speech and language development. The Maryland Disability Law Center's Special Education Rights Handbook is an informative and useful resource for learning about and understanding your rights.  **__Developing the IEP __**  Students diagnosed with speech and language impairments that affect their achievement in school are eligible for special education services provided in the school setting. One important aspect of implementing these services is the development of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Parents, teachers, and other school professionals will form an IEP team that meets once a year to discuss the student's progress, plan methods of instruction, discuss what services will be provided, set goals for the upcoming year, and to define strategies to allow the child to meet those goals.

The presence of a speech and language impairment qualifies students to receive speech and language therapy and remediation services in school with an ASHA and school-board certified speech-language pathologist. When your child shows signs of speech and language delays, whether significant or mild in nature, you must seek an evaluation of your child's speech and language development as conducted by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). SLP's are highly qualified professionals in human communication, its development, and its disorders. They are specially trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech and language impairments. They assist children who have communication disorders in various ways: they provide individual therapy for the child; consult with the child’s teacher about the most effective ways to facilitate the child’s communication; and work closely with the family to develop goals and techniques for effective therapy in class and at home.
 * __Speech-Language Pathologists __**

By assessing the speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills of children and adults, speech-language pathologists can identify types of communication problems and the best way to treat them. SLPs treat problems in the areas of articulation; dysfluency; oral-motor, speech, and voice; and receptive and expressive language disorders. In speech-language therapy, an SLP will work with a child one-to-one, in a small group, or directly in a classroom to overcome difficulties involved in speech and language. The SLP will consult and collaborate with the classroom teacher in order to recommend methods of instruction that will allow students to reach their IEP goals. Therapists use a variety of strategies, including:    · __language intervention activities __- In these exercises an SLP will interact with a child by playing and talking. The therapist uses pictures, books, objects, or ongoing events to stimulate language development. They also model correct pronunciation and use repetition exercises to build speech and language skills. · __articulation therapy __**- ** during articulation exercises, the therapist models correct sounds and syllables for a child, often during play activities. The level of play is age-appropriate and related to the child's specific needs. The SLP physically shows the child how to make certain sounds and demonstrates how to move the tongue to produce specific sounds.
 * __Therapeutic Services: Speech-Language Therapy __**

· __oral motor/feeding therapy __**- ** The SLP uses a variety of oral exercises to strengthen the muscles of the mouth. These exercises include facial massage and various tongue, lip, and jaw exercises. The SLP also works with different food textures and temperatures to increase a child's oral awareness during eating and swallowing.

__<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">When should your child begin therapy? __ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Therapy should begin as soon as possible. Children enrolled in speech-language therapy early in their development tend to have the best outcomes. This does not mean that older kids can't make progress in therapy; they may progress at a slower rate because they often have learned patterns that need to be changed.

__Classroom Adaptations__ The classroom teacher must plan accommodations in their lessons for students with speech and language impairments. Allowing and encouraging the use of technology and alternative or augmentative communication (AAC) devices in the classroom are essential for students' growth, development, and ability to learn. The teacher can further support and foster the development of communication skills by adapting methods of instruction. Some examples of adaptations include: allowing the student enough time to respond to questions, allowing extra time to take tests, and creating multiple opportunities for students to communicate. The teacher should plan for instruction that allows each child to meet their IEP goals. ||< [|Maryland Disability Law Center's Special Education Rights Handbook] - The MDLC's Special Educations Rights handbook describes parental rights, helps families navigate the special education system, and the IEP process.

[|Kids Health] - Kidshealth.org decribes and explains the therapies and services that are provided for children with speech and language impairments when working with a speech- language pathologist.

[|Baltimore County Public Schools] - The Office of Special Education in Baltimore County website. This site provides you with specific information about the educational system and curriculum offered at your local school. Additionally, you will find links to assistive technology, Child Find services, Infants and Toddlers, Parent Resource Center, and Related Services & Behavior. Accessing these links will allow you to find programs in your school district to assist you and your child in their education.

__**Local Service Providers**__:

1) [|The Hearing and Speech Agency] - The Hearing and Speech Agency (HASA) is a service provider located in Baltimore, MD that provides therapy and intervention for children with speech and language or hearing disorders. HASA offers speech and language evaluations and therapy in their fluency enhancement center. HASA also provides the option for students to attend school full-time in their facility, where students work on communication skills along with academic subjects, and strive to meet their IEP goals within this specialized setting.

2.) [|The Kennedy Krieger Institute] - The Speech and Language Outpatient Clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute has a team of SLP's who conduct speech-language evaluations. The SLP's will determine, based on the results of evaluation, the diagnosis, the types of services that will be provided and to what extent. The clinic offers treatment focused on helping children and parents to learn practical strategies for improving functional communication and oral motor or feeding/swallowing skills.

3.) [|PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs] - PACT is an independent affiliate of the Kennedy Krieger Institute that offers services in speech- language therapy for children up until age 12. The Comprehensive Therapy Center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy. This facility treats children with a wide range of disabilities or delays and is well-equipped to facilitate each child's learning needs with a multi- sensory room, a sensory integration room, private therapy rooms, and an indoor gym that contains a wide variety of adaptive toys and equipment.

4.) [|Communication In-Roads] - Communication In-Roads is located in Towson, MD and provides speech and language therapy for children, while emphasizing the importance of family support in therapy. This facility specializes in helping children with speech and language development and enhancement including fluency, articulation, swallowing, oral-motor, voice, expressive and receptive language. Communication In-Roads offers a wide range of treatment services for communication disorders and also provides screening, evaluation, family training, home programs and many other communication services to support and enhance the development of speech and language.

5.) [|SPEECH PATHways] - SPEECH PATHways is a service provider located in Westminster, MD, that offers a wide range of services and methods for treatment for individuals with speech and language impairments.This facility offers speech and language therapy, specialized programs to address specific impaiments, co-treatment to augment school therapy, assessment, testing, and tutoring, and parent coaching classes to ensure student success. The therapists at SPEECH PATHways are trained or certified in a wide variety of innovative treatments and methods for intervention so that every child can receive individualized treatment that best suits their needs. ||
 * = **Local Support Groups** **and Educational**
 * Conferences** ||= 1) The ASHA holds various events such as conferences, conventions, as well as events for opportunities to help raise awareness about communication disorders.Most events are taking place now and in the near future!

2) The Hearing and Speech Agency's Parent Resource Center is avaliable for families, parents, as well as caregivies of children who have speech-lanugage or other communication disorders. This educates parents/families/caregivers of health and education options for their child. Its located in Baltimore, MD on the second floor of the Hearing and Speech Agency- 5900 Metro Drive.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">3) This is based out of the Maryland school for the deaf, but is open to those parents whose child may have a communication disorder. It offers lending library resrouces, workshops, newsletters and infromation about community resources.It can also assist families with their child's education. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Contact info: Cheri Dowling, (410) 480-4597

4) The National Stuttering Association provides several support groups for parents/caregivers/families for children with speech-lanugage disabilities. There are several different groups, which meet either on the first Tuesday of every month, others every other month. This website has contact information and more specifics about times and dates of meetings.

5) This website itself will help parents become more educated about speech-lanuage disabilities. Also, in Rockville, MD there's a center to seek more information also. ||< 1) [|Association of Speech and Hearing Impairments]

2) [|The Hearing and Language Agency's Parent Resource Center]

3) [|Maryland School fo Deaf Parent Resource Center]

4) [|NSA Support Group]

5) [|American Speech and Lanuguage Associaton Educational Services] ||
 * = **Recreational and**
 * Community-based** **Resources** || 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Trellis Services has clinics that provide services for children up to 21 years old, weekend holidprograms, summer camps, peer support services, speech and music therapy by appointment, it can also provide family training case management.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">2) Camp Fairlee Manor is a summer long camp where it provides different activites like gardening, arts and crafts, sports ceneters, horseback riding,drama music, and much more for individuals, with various disabilities- specially trained staff members

3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The League for people is an organiziation that provides camping and therapeutic recreation for individuals with multiple disabilities. Some activities include swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, sports and games and much more! It is located in Sabillasville, MD.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">4) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Camp Littlefoot not only has a speech language program for younger children, but has summer programs with different recreational activities with educational benefits like computer games, and handwriting workshops for a child to learn but have fun while doing so!

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">5) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A fun way for your child to enjoy a play in the community! Round House offers designated audio-described and sign-interpreted performances of each production || 1) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Trellis Services]

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">2) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Camp Fairlee Manor]

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|League For People Recreational]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">4) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Camp Littlefoot]

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">5) [|Round House Theatre] ||
 * = **Funding/Legal**
 * Advocacy** ||= 1) The ASHA's School Finance committe explains the school advocacy funding ways for parents/families to understand for their child with speech-lanugage disability. It identifies and explains complex and several funding process that occur for a child's education in public schools. It explains funding from a local, state, and federal basis.

2) This explains Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs. It explains that this makes up a large part of federal programs in efforts to assist people with disabilities. There is a medical criteria to qualify but if met child may recieve benefits.

3) The Support Services Program through the Abilities Network provides services for financial assistance to families with a child with a disability. They also help with networking in the community (advocating) and help with respite and childcare, adapative equipment assistive technology, and transportation. If met by the criteria, a child with a can benefit from these services

4) The Maryland Family Health Administration works to provide a short term program that can assit families in their home or outside of it. It gives the child with a disability help and assistance, as well as the family great assistance as well through Respite Care.

5) The Marlyand Speech-Language Hearing Association has a strong legacy of advocay. They advocacy is focused mainly on legislative issues and communtiy needs. ||= 1) [|ASHA School Committee Funding]

2) [|Social Security Benefits for Disabled Persons]

3) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">[|Support Service Program by Abilities Network]

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">4) [|Maryland Family Health Administration]

5) [|Maryland Speech-Language Hearing Assocation Advocacy] ||

__Purpose__: This Wiki page was created for the parents and families of children with speech and language impairments. The information provided on this page serves to inform families about speech and language disorders, to educate families about their legal rights, the educational services and resources that are available, and to provide access to families and their children to the local service providers and community resources that are located close to their homes. This page contains links to specific information and resources that we strongly encourage families to explore so that they may provide for the best possible outcomes for their children with speech and language impairments.

By: Lisa Marvel and Courtney LaSpina