SPEECH THERAPIST
WHAT ARE SPEECH / LANGUAGE SERVICES?
Speech and language services are provided to students at both HilltopSchool and Mountain ViewSchool. In order to be eligible to receive speech/language services, a student must be evaluated by the speech/language therapist and found to exhibit a problem in one or more areas of communication in addition to academic and social impact:
Articulation -- A child has an articulation problem when he or she produces sounds, syllables or words incorrectly so that listeners may not understand what is being said or may pay more attention to the way the words sound rather than their meaning.
Stuttering -- Stuttering is a condition where the flow of speech is broken by abnormal stoppages. These interruptions in speech fluency may take the form of repetitions (re-re-re-repetitions), prolongations (prooolongaaations), or blocks (no sound). There may also be unusual facial or body movement associated with the effort to speak.
Voice -- Voice problems exist when the pitch, loudness or vocal quality calls attention to itself rather than what the speaker is saying., or if the speaker experiences pain or discomfort when speaking or singing. Voice problems can range from temporary hoarseness, as in when one cheers too much at a football game, to more serious problems such as vocal nodules or polyps.
Language Delay or Language Disorder --Language delay is a noticeable slowness in the development of vocabulary and grammar for expressing oneself or in understanding others. Language may also be impaired as a result of a hearing impairment, stroke, or head injury. Children who exhibit language delays or disorders receive speech/language services as a related service to their special education program. When parents suspect a lag in language development, referral must be made to the Child Study Team for assessment. A speech/language evaluation is completed as part of this assessment.
