The language processing hierarchy is a general overview of language acquisition skills that can serve as guide for professionals. Language Processing Disorder (LPD) is a neurological condition that affects how language is processed in the brain. It affects the ability to understand spoken language and/or clearly express oneself. Some main characteristics of LPD are difficulties…
Literacy Strategies for Language Development
Welcome and thanks to my guest blogger, Mary Elizabeth Shaw! Today she is sharing literacy strategies to utilize in speech therapy or at home. Mary Elizabeth Shaw has her masters in language and literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and her doctorate in educational leadership from University of Bridgeport. You can follow her…
The 5 Components and Development of Language
Treating language is a huge domain of what is treated in speech therapy. But what does “language” in “speech-language pathology” mean? Language is the system of words and symbols, whether they are spoken, written, or signed that are used to communicate meaning. This encompasses both expressive (speaking, writing) and receptive (listening, following directions, reading) language.…
The Best Preschool Language App EVER
I love love love working on preschool language and the app that I find myself continually coming back to time and time again with my students no matter their interests is called “My PlayHome.” It is perfect for speech therapy and developing language skills. Discover why I love it and how I use it! This app…
25 Books to Target Verbs in Speech Therapy
Books are a great way to work on verbs and actions in your speech therapy sessions, at home, or in your classrooms. Verbs, or action words, are a key part of language development. They allow a child to begin to create early sentences that typically emerge at 2 years of age. Some common first verbs…
The Best Games to Target Multiple Goals in Speech Therapy
Board games and card games are great tools to help expand and facilitate language. They are a relevant and meaningful way to target many speech and language goals in a natural environment – eye contact, turn taking, following directions, basic concepts, vocabulary, attention, and so much more! These games also provide an ideal way to…
Teaching How to Formulate and Ask Questions
Asking and answering questions is a critical skill in language development, and are two very different concepts to teach! Teaching a child HOW to formulate questions gives them the power to communicate on a different level – gather information, connect with others socially, and initiate conversations. First off, let’s discuss the developmental norms of asking…
Why You Should Be Using Barrier Games in Speech Therapy
Barrier games are a great tool for speech and language intervention! Students love them and they are a great way to incorporate many expressive skills (giving directions), receptive skills (following directions), and social skills in an engaging way. I’m a big fan of therapy materials that serve multiple functions. Anything to save time, money, and…
