Speech-Language Pathologists

​​​​More Information on Speech-language Pathologists (SLPs)*

*The information on this page was originally developed by a team that created a website for families focused on 'raising deaf kids' (See About Us​). Edits and updates were made.
 

What is a speech-language pathologist (SLP)?

A Speech Therapist is also called a Speech/Language Pathologist (SLP). An SLP serves a very important role in your child's education. An SLP:

• Builds your child's ability to communicate with other people by helping her improve her speech and language skills (spoken and/or signing).
• Shows your child how to listen and understand when people communicate with her. This helps her connect with the world around her.
• Helps your child learn to express herself to the best of her ability.​
  

Why Your Child Goes to Speech Therapy

What is the goal of going to speech therapy?

The goal for your child is to learn as much about speech and language as she can. Every child is different, so every child will have different goals. For some children, the goal is speech. For other children, the goal is to communicate their needs.

• Speech. This means that:
• She will learn to use her voice and pronunciation to say clear words and sentences.
• People who don't know her will be able to understand what she says.
• She can go where she wants in public and use her voice and speech.
• Communicate needs. This means that by using things like signing, gesturing, and speaking, your child can:
• Communicate with her friends and family.
• Tell you what she needs.
• Talk about her feelings and ideas.
• Language. This means learning vocabulary, word meanings, grammar, and word order that are appropriate for the spoken and/or signed language you are using with your child.
• Learn the tools to express her thoughts and feelings.
• Learn to use language to share her experiences (tell what happened).
  
• Learn to use language to ask and answer questions.
  
• Learn to follow social rules that languages use (being polite [saying please and thank you], explaining what we mean, etc.).

What are the benefits of speech therapy?

Speech therapy is good for your child for many reasons:

• It will help her become a capable adult who can communicate with hearing people.
• If she learns to speak better, it may also help her read better.
• She will know how language works better. For example, she will know when people ask her a question and how to answer that question.​
  

Speech Therapy FAQs

"Frequently asked questions" about speech therapy for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH):

1.   Do all children who are DHH need speech therapy?

• A child with even mild levels of hearing loss may have problems saying and hearing some sounds. For children who have no hearing at all, speech therapy is still very important.
• Speech therapy helps children who are DHH by:
• Improving your child's ability to follow directions and understand what others say.
• Improving your child's ability to understand and answer questions.
• Building language and vocabulary skills to help the child express thoughts, ideas and feelings.
• Increasing the length of sentences your child says or signs.
• Improving ability to use correct grammar.
• Improving listening skills using hearing technologies.
• Improving speech-language skills so your child is understood by others.
• Supporting reading, writing and other academic subjects.

2.   When should my child start speech therapy? 

• Speech and language therapy is often included as a part of early intervention.
• This means it can start as early as possible.

3.   Where will my child get speech therapy?

• If she is young, she may get speech therapy through your state's early intervention program. (see: Getting Started with Early Intervention - My Baby's Hearing (babyhearing.org).
• If she is school age she may get a speech-language therapist through the IEP process (see: Your Rights As a Parent - My Baby's Hearing (babyhearing.org)
• Many communities offer private speech-language therapy sessions. These are paid for privately or sometimes through insurance.

4.   How much speech therapy is the right amount?

• This depends on a number of factors, including your child's needs, age, and developmental levels. You and the IEP team will determine the frequency of visits and then monitor to ensure that your child is making progress.
  

5.   How will I know if speech therapy is helping?

• She will make progress toward the individual speech-language goals and objectives on the IFSP or IEP.
• Her vocabulary and language skills will increase.
• Your family may understand her spoken words better.
• She will make her needs known more easily.
• She will understand others better.
  

6.   How long will my child need speech therapy?

• She may benefit from speech-language services for a long time. You and the IEP team will decide when services need to change or stop as your child makes progress.
• To learn a language well, a deaf or hard of hearing child is helped a lot by speech therapy to support language development (spoken and/or signed).

7.   How do I find and choose a speech therapist? 

• Some public schools may have only one or two speech therapists.
• If your child goes to a school for the deaf there may be several speech therapists. Sometimes you cannot choose a therapist and one is assigned to your child.
• Sometimes you cannot choose a therapist and one is assigned to your child.
• If you can choose, find someone that both you and your child feel good about.

8.   Who will pay for speech therapy?

• When speech therapy is given by early intervention services or is part of the individual education plan (IEP), your state or local government pays.
• Some insurances pay for your child to get private speech therapy.

9.   My child uses sign language. Does she still need speech therapy?

• A speech therapist does not only teach how to sound words out.
• A speech therapist can teach and strengthen your child's use of sign language.
• A speech therapist also teaches children how to interact with hearing people and be independent in communicating.​
  

Get Speech Therapy for your Child

Read this section to find out how to get speech therapy for your child Getting Speech Therapy help for your child

If your deaf or hard of hearing child goes to public school she has the right to a number of services. This is because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

For more information on IDEA, please go to: https://www.babyhearing.org/language-learning/your-rights-as-a-family

Most States offer Speech Therapy through IDEA

Services available through this act are different in each State. However, one of the things almost every State offers is speech therapy. When you talk with your school about this, remember: 

• Speech therapy (i.e., or the services of a speech-language pathologist or SLP) is usually part of an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
• You and a team of professionals write the IEP for your child.
• Talk with your child's team about the amount of speech therapy services that your child needs and request that it be included in the Individual Education Plan.
• For more information, please go to the section on IEPs at  https://www.babyhearing.org/language-learning/your-rights-as-a-family
  

How You Can Help Your Child's Speech Therapist

Read this section to find out how you can help your child's SLP

What can you do to help the speech therapist?

Because you spend the most time with your child, you can be her best teacher. The most important thing to do is to always communicate with her. You should also do this:

• Ask the SLP to show you things you can do to help your child's speech and language.
• Practice the things at home everyday that the SLP suggests.
• Keep a book or binder at home with all the things she does in speech therapy.
• Be mindful of introducing new words and concepts throughout the day in your natural routines.
  

What do other parents and teachers have to say about this?