Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

You can find SLPs in many different settings including schools, private clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and public health agencies. In addition to these more common settings, you will find SLP's at universities, state and federal government agencies, health departments and research laboratories. Some SLP's specialize in working with children and some with adults.

Speech-Language Pathologists in the school setting help children who experience difficulties outside of normal limits for their age in one or more of the following areas:

Articulation/Phonology:  The ability to produce sounds in a manner appropriate to the child's age.

Fluency:  The ability to communicate ideas without excessive repetitions and hesitations (stuttering).

Expressive Language:  The ability to express and sequence ideas clearly using correct grammar and syntax (word order).

Receptive Language:  The ability to understand spoken language.

Voice:  The ability to use correct voice volume, quality, and pitch.

Often difficulties in these areas can interfere with a child's educational progress, academically, emotionally, or socially.  When one or more of these areas listed above begins to negatively impact a child's success in school, intervention may be necessary.