At Jefferson Speech & Language Center our areas of expertise lie in expressive/receptive language including articulation, diagnostics and executive functioning (cognitive aspects of communication). The importance of language cannot be overstated. It is the primary means for interacting with others, serves as the primary tool for learning, and is the foundation for academic success. When an individual has weaknesses in language, academic difficulties are usually apparent.
The following statements may help you determine if Jefferson Speech & Language would be a good fit for your child or adolescent:
- My child had difficulty mastering the reading process
- My child’s reading comprehension skills are weak.
- My child lacks strategies for learning.
- My child refuses to read or dislikes reading.
- My child has difficulty writing, either with the motor aspect and/or composing sentences, paragraphs and essays.
- My child has difficulty attaching meaning to what he hears.
- My child seems to process slowly despite his/her abilities.
- My child struggles with completing his/her homework independently including knowing his assignments, initiating and following through.
- My child struggles with word problems and/or adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing quickly.
- There seems to be a gap between my child’s intelligence and his/her academic performance.
- My child struggled over the years across curriculum or in certain areas.
Speech-language Pathologists (SLPs) are generally considered to “teach speech;” however, the SLPs scope of practice is vast and includes nine general domains called the Big Nine by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):
The Big 9
Swallowing
including oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and related functions, including oral function for feeding; orofacial myofunction
Cognitive aspects of communication
attention, memory, sequencing, problem solving, executive functioning
Social aspects of communication
challenging behavior, ineffective social skills, lack of communication opportunities
Communication modalities
including oral, manual, augmentative and alternative communication techniques, and assistive technologies
SLPs collaborate with educators, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, occupational therapists and physical therapists and neurologists in various settings including private practice, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, home health and more. SLPs are trained at the master’s level earning an M.C.D. (Master in Communication Disorders) or M.S. (Master of Science) and also complete a one-year fellowship post-graduation to earn a Certificate of Clinical Competence. They are licensed by the state and certified by ASHA. Additionally, SLPs are required to continue their education annually to maintain licensure.
