Speech Therapy Jargon: Diagnosis

by Jacky G. Speech Disorders
Doctor Cartoon

Image source: Baloo-baloosnon-politicalcartoonblog.blogspot.com

Previously, Speech Buddies has posted quick reference guides to some of the commonly used speech therapy acronyms, as well as speech and language terms. Here’s a another reference guide to some of the oft-used diagnostic terms in speech therapy. Use this guide to muddle through some of the language that you might come across when reading about your child’s speech disorder. Just try not to acquire a bit of hypochondria in the process. Just because your child has an extreme fondness for sugary cereals doesn’t mean he has an eating disorder, for example. Likewise, just because your child might pronounce “watah” instead of “water” does not necessarily mean that he has an articulation disorder. Always consult your child’s speech-language pathologist or his pediatrician if you’re unclear about any speech-language pathology or medical terms.

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Writing Actionable IFSP Outcomes

by Jacky G. Legal Issues
Child Fingerpainting

Image source: Healthychildcare-wa.org

If your child qualifies for speech therapy and other services through an early intervention program, the service coordinator for the program will schedule a meeting to write his Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The IFSP details the services that your child is to receive. You are your child’s best advocate and you understand his needs well. You and your entire family are strongly encouraged to get actively involved in the development of the IFSP. The IFSP is written with the view that the entire family is essential to the child’s progress, so it takes a family-centered approach. That is, your child’s needs will be identified, along with the needs of the entire family in supporting your child.

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Indiana Early Intervention Program

by Jacky G. State Resources
Indiana Service Areas

Image source: Firststepssoutheast.org

While public school systems are legally required to provide access to services in order to give a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with a qualifying disability, different states may implement these programs in different ways. As long as the programs comply with federal law, your state may develop its own special education policies and agencies. Indiana has an early intervention program called First Steps. The First Steps policies emphasize that it takes a family-centered approach. It is not a centrally located state agency, but rather First Steps is a network of locally based professionals and resources.

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Resolution Meeting FAQs

by Jacky G. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Legal Issues
Red Tape Cartoon

Image source: Colourbox.com

It’s easy to get lost in the mountains of paperwork and miles of red tape that comes with the special education process. And it seems like there’s always one more hurdle to clear before your child gets access to the services he needs. After you file a due process complaint about your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), you can’t automatically jump right to the due process hearing, for example. First, you’ll need to attend the resolution meeting, which is similar to mediation. The purpose of the resolution meeting is to hammer out an agreement so that both parties can (possibly) avoid the due process hearing. You’ll have lots of prep work to do to get ready for the meeting, so here’s a quick guide to the basics.

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The Latest in Apps: Expedition with Plurals

by Jacky G. News
Baby Using iPad App

Image source: Leanderwattig.de

As the technology continues to advance, apps users expect more and more out of their devices. Virtual Speech Center Inc. is striving to meet those expectations with the release of their latest speech therapy app, Expedition with Plurals. Expedition with Plurals is an iPad app released in late May, 2012. While there is currently no iPhone version, rest assured; there are plenty of other speech therapy apps for those with smartphones instead.

It might be tough for the less technologically eager among us to embrace the use of apps for education whilst ditching old-fashioned methods, but you really don’t have to. Try using both approaches simultaneously. Speech therapy apps should never replace sessions with a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP), but they do provide a fun, engaging way for parents to do speech therapy for kids at home. Use apps in addition to other speech therapy tools and toys that are intended to encourage development.

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