At Pediatric Therapeutics, our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children. We work very closely with family members and frequently collaborate with physicians, school personnel and other health professionals to provide a unified approach to treatment. In asking our SLPs to share one of their favorite treatment activities, the responses are all varied and interesting with one common thread. Can you guess each therapist’s choice?
1. This therapist says one of her favorites is the Curious George Beach Discovery Game! All the kids enjoy it. She loves the versatility—she uses it to assist with multiple skills including articulation activities, memory skills, vocabulary building, turn taking, sequencing, direction-following and answering questions.
2. This therapist enjoys using her iPad with communication therapy apps. Among her favorites are those which allow the child to create something unique such as a story which they can then illustrate. There are apps with animation, sounds and visual input to assist with sound production skills and social stories which assist with social communication skills. She loves that her clients are empowered by the use of technology while staying focused on the goals of the session.
3. This therapist says Balloon Lagoon is one of her many favorites! The four stations allow for practice of a variety of skills including turn taking, vocabulary, matching, sorting, phonemic awareness, articulation, and much, much more. She and her friends can focus on any one or a combination of many skills. Kids love it because it’s just plain FUN!
4. This therapist prefers toys where the emphasis is on eye contact, attention, interaction and reciprocity. Blocks are a favorite for their myriad uses in building skills and practice for every treatment goal. Whether improving vocabulary, listening skills, counting, articulation or verbal elaboration, building all kinds of structures requires a combination of skill and interaction. Versatility and FUN remain a common thread among us all!!
ANSWER KEY:
1. Karen Betheil
2. Maureen Harper
3. Terri Jones
4. Anne Toolajian
–Anne Toolajian, MA, CCC-SLP