therapy services
Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
Speech-language therapy services are designed to assist in the development of children’s verbal and non-verbal communication skills, including the following:
- Understanding and using language – words, sentences, telling stories
- Social uses of communication – greeting people, playing with peers, holding a conversation etc.
- Clarity of speech, including the ability to produce and combine the speech sounds of the child’s language; use of the voice.
- Facial expression, body language and gesture
- Alternative or augmentative ways of communicating, such as sign language or picture symbols
- Fluency
- Pre-literacy skills
Speech-Language Pathologists also manage feeding difficulties in
young children when they involve the ability to suck, chew and swallow.
When trying to improve the communication of young children, it
is necessary to take a broad view of the child. Speech-Language
Pathologists are therefore concerned with the child’s hearing, general
health, attention, memory, personality, socialization, movement skills,
play and concept development. Family needs and lifestyle are considered in selecting treatment content and options, too.
Speech-Language Pathologists have a Master’s degree, or
equivalent, in Speech-Language Pathology, and they are registered
members of the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia.
