What is a Speech Language Pathologist Anyway?!
What is Speech Language Pathology Anyway? Why would I contact a Speech Language Pathologist AKA speech therapist. When should I contact a speech therapist? Where can I contact a speech therapist in Vancouver?
When most people think about speech-language pathologists ( AKA speech therapists or for short SLPs) they probably think of someone who helps people who stutter or have a lisp. This is true, we do this and we do a lot more too. Our scope is broad!
SLPs are highly-educated professionals who have a minimum of a master’s degree. SLPs are required to study anatomy and physiology, and they also study neuroanatomy, genetics, human and language development, linguistics, and psychology.
You can find SLPs (AKA your friendly neighbourhood speech therapist) working in schools, in preschools, in health units, in hospitals, long term care facilities, brain injury rehabilitation centres, and in private clinics.
SLPs help with:
Fluency - stuttering
Prelinguistic Skills- Skills that come before talking, like eye contact, imitation, play, and gestures like pointing.
Voice and resonance - the way the voice sounds, such as hoarseness or the way anatomy affects the way speech sounds, as in cleft palate.
Receptive Language - understanding language, concepts questions, and following directions
Expressive Language - using words, putting words together, grammar and sentence structure, knowing the words to use.
Articulation & Phonology - the way we say our speech sounds, and the way we put speech sounds together.
Social communication; how words are used to communicate to others and use body language and eye contact, rules of conversation.
Deafness/Hearing Loss - loss of hearing; therapy includes developing lip-reading, speech, and/or alternative communication systems
Swallowing/Feeding Disorders - chewing and/or swallowing
Cognitive-communication disorders including reasoning, problem solving and executive functions.
Pre-literacy and literacy skills including phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension and writing.
Accent Reduction
Stroke Recovery
Alternative Communication Systems to help kids who can't talk by using pictures or computers, as well as children and adults who have progressive diseases such as Parkinson's or Huntington's, those who have suffered brain injuries or stroke.
Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms-changes in voice or swallowing as the result of surgeries or treatments.
I am sure I have missed some-the point is, as I mentioned above is that the field of Speech Language Pathology is a broad one.
In the Vancouver area, (Burnaby, Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, lower mainland area) I have opened a clinic "Vancouver Speech Therapy" (AKA) Van Speech
that serves infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and their families. My expertise falls in the areas of working with little kiddos that are not yet talking on early communication skills, early language development of infants and toddlers, preschool language development, articulation and phonology, school aged language development, feeding and swallowing, and alternative and augmentative communication providing speech therapy and language services and support in Vancouver.
If you have questions or would like more information about accessing speech language pathology services in the Vancouver area, let's chat! Shoot an email vancouverspeechtherapy@gmail.com, visit us on the web www.vancouverspeechtherapy.com or give a shout at 604-356-8250.
Your friendly Vancouver speech therapist (AKA SLP)
Jessica
