Speech / Language Pathologists

The mission of the Communication Disorders program is to ensure opportunities for all students to acquire and develop the speech and language skills necessary to reach their full potential.

Speech-language pathologists in the schools:

• Work as members of an educational team to determine the educational needs of students with special needs in the area of communication.

• Make sure that communication goals support students’ development and learning.

• Assist in developing and delivering programs that enhance or support students’ communication skills necessary to participate in the classroom.

• Keep track of progress towards speech and language goals on a scheduled basis.

• Serve as a resource for teachers, support staff and parents to develop and implement appropriate services.

To assist students in achieving their educational goals, speech-language pathologists use specialized knowledge of:  

• Articulation—the ability to produce speech sounds correctly in words, sentences, and conversation.

• Language– vocabulary, concepts, grammar; includes how well words are used and understood.  Language problems can lead to difficulty reading and writing.

• Pragmatic Language– social communication skills; how close to stand to someone when talking, how to take turns, following the rules of conversation, etc.

• Voice– the ability to generate an appropriate vibration as the air flows through the larynx (voice box)

• Fluency– the ability to control the rate and rhythm of speech (also known as stuttering)

• Cognitive Communication– thinking and memory; problem solving, attention, staying organized, etc.