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Speech and Language Pathology

Our Speech-Language Pathologists support students with speech and language difficulties in accessing curriculum.

Services provided

Speech-Language Pathology services may include one or more of the following services:

assessment;
consulting in-class programming through school staff
specialized programs where needed such as:
- Kindergarten language;
- enrichment;
- Early Intervention Classroom; and
- Autism Resource team.
participation in school team meetings;
referral to a community agencies;
provision of workshops for staff and parents regarding communication development disorders; and
supporting language development in Kindergarten.

When is a student referred?

Referrals are initiated at school team meetings with Speech-Language Services staff, school staff and parent(s) or guardian(s). Students are referred for the following reasons:

limited or no means of communication such as:
- students with Autism Spectrum Disorder;
- students who are non-verbal;
- students with developmental delays;
- students using augmentative communication systems.
students in primary grades who are experience significant language and/or phonological awareness difficulties and therefore unable to access curriculum.

students with unintelligible speech;
reluctant speakers (students who limit communication at school and are expressive in other environments e.g. at home)

students with fluency disorders;
voice disorders;
cleft palate; and
significant speech-sound production difficulties

Our Team

Our team consists of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) and Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA). A CDA works with an SLP to provide support to students. CDA does not work independently from a SLP.

Definitions

We use the following words and phrases when assessing a student's speech:

Receptive language: The understanding of language.

Expressive language: the ability to use words, signs, symbols to express one's thoughts, feelings and needs. This includes grammar, vocabulary, syntax and conversational skills.

Articulation: the physical production of speech sounds.

Fluency: how smoothly sounds, words and phrases flow together during connected speech.

Voice: the sound produced by vibration of the vocal folds including loudness, voice quality and resonance.

Phonological awareness: the ability to notice, think about and manipulate the sounds, syllables and words of a language.

Social Communication: using verbal and non-verbal means to interact with others.

Literacy: reading, decoding and writing.

Contact us

For more information call your child's principal or our Student Services department at 905-576-6150 ext. 22279.