Teachers, grab your speech and language detective hats!
Sometimes being a classroom teacher can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You wear many hats day in and day out, including keeper of the bandaids, mediator and support system, curriculum expert, primary educator, and everything in between for every single one of your students. Second to parents, you know your students better than anyone else in your building and are there for every success and every struggle at school. I get it. I was in your shoes before becoming a SLP.
What if I told you there’s one simple thing you could do for your students that could potentially help them immensely? Some of these things are most likely already on your radar, but perhaps you don’t realize they are something a SLP can help with. Knowing what to look for and when to refer a student for a speech and language evaluation could possibly be a huge piece of a student’s success in school.
What to Look for:
inaccurate production sounds at the word, phrase, sentence or conversational level
difficulty being understood by others (people familiar or unfamiliar with the student)
inconsistency in accurate production of sounds or words
difficulty with phonetics (production or perception of speech sounds) or phonological awareness (more complex sound patterns and structures)
difficulty following directions
difficulty expressing his/her thoughts
difficulty saying the correct words or speaking only in short sentences
difficulties in reading/writing
difficulties with making friends or communicating with peers
difficulty remembering, solving problems, or using imagination
difficulty speaking smoothly
hoarse or nasal sounding voice
speaking too loudly or too quietly for the environment
frustration surrounding communication
Etc.! Anything you find concerning in regard to speech, language, and communication
When to Refer:
As soon as you notice any of the above!
The referral, evaluation, and IEP process takes time, and research has proven that early intervention is better. Making sure you refer as soon as you notice these types of difficulties is key.
It never hurts to ask! If you are unsure, reach out to your SLP.
Why to Refer:
The reasons a teacher should refer a student for a speech and language evaluation are complex. No situation is exactly the same and perhaps some students have more than just speech and language difficulties going on. However, there are some really important things to note under the category of ‘why’. These are just a few:
Reading is the foundation for almost everything academic. Extensive behavioral research and neuroimaging studies have shown a direct link between skilled reading and a child's spoken language, grammar, and vocabulary. When a child begins to read, they must make a connection between the language they know and the written code they are seeing. Whether a student has speech and language deficits that are impacting learning to read or reading to learn, this can have lasting effects on almost everything in life.
Communication skills are the foundation of personal connection and friendships, and they allow your students to express their thoughts and ideas. Communication deficits can leave a student feeling left out, frustrated, or misunderstood. This can have detrimental results when it comes to social interactions, as well as academic success.
Research has proven the earlier the intervention, the better. Sometimes, speech and language difficulties may not become evident until a student is new to school or reaches a certain grade or academic level. Some students may have had previous services and ‘graduated’ but might present with new or lingering difficulties. Whatever the case may be, the earlier a SLP can step in to help, the better.
I know your classroom teacher plate is overflowing. Hopefully the bullet points above are something simple to keep in the forefront of your brain as you work with and observe your students. The bottom line I always like to give to parents and teachers? When in doubt, reach out! Your local SLP will be happy you did and glad to help determine if intervention is needed.
I hope you enjoyed this “funtastic” blog post!
~Clara Klap, M.S., CCC-SLP
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