Information for Teachers and Parents

What is a Speech Pathologist?

A speech pathologist or speech therapist has a qualification specialising in speech, language, communication, swallowing and literacy. Speech pathologists work with children and adults in a variety of settings including clinics, hospitals and schools.

The speech pathologists at the Preventing Literacy Difficulties Clinic specialise in:

• Comprehension: the understanding of spoken and written language. 
• Speech or Articulation. 
• Grammar: The way words are put into sentences.
• Narrative Skills: the ability to tell or write stories. 
• Vocabulary: Knowledge of words. 
• Semantics: Knowledge of word meanings, the relationships (similarities and differences) between words. 
• Reading, writing and spelling. 
• Phonological Awareness: ability to hear, identify, process, blend and segment individual sounds in words. 
• Social Skills: how we interact with other people in different situations. 
• Stuttering

What is an Occupational Therapist?

An Occupational Therapist is concerned with how well a person is participating in their daily activities. OT's work with children and adults in a variety of settings: homes, schools, work places, hospitals, clinics or within the local community. OT's work with children when they have difficulties in the following areas:

• in self care e.g. eating, dressing,
• at school/day care e.g. attending to people, staying on task, participating in craft, writing activities
• in play e.g. difficulties controlling and co-ordinating body, taking turns, understand rules
• sharing in family and community life e.g. eating out, enjoying birthday parties

OT's assess a child's performance in:

Information Processing: this is all about how we process incoming information from our senses, our bodies and the environment so that we can attend, move, interact, with and understand the world we live in.

Fine Motor Skills: this is how we use our hands and fingers to touch and manipulate and use different objects. We need fine motor skills for self care e.g. dressing and eating but also at school e.g. writing and cutting, at work e.g. typing, and in recreation e.g. sewing, painting.

Gross Motor Skills: these are the skills we have to move our bodies to move and play. These include running, hopping, balancing, ball skills plus many more.

They liaise with parents, teachers, other professionals to gather more information and plan for intervention that matches the individual child's and family's needs.

How do Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work?

Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapists work individually or with small groups of clients in settings such as clinics, at the client's home, within schools, hospitals etc. They are involved in the assessment, treatment and management of their clients and also provide advice, education and training to other carers, teachers and other professionals.

The Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists at PLD generally work with individual children at the clinic on a weekly or fortnightly basis depending on their needs. Sessions tend to run between half an hour and an hour. Services can also be provided at a child’s home or school.

What does treatment do?

Treatment aims to accelerate an individual's speech, language, motor and literacy growth. Therapists at PLD work closely with families and schools, demonstrating, discussing and providing ways to achieve learning objectives. Sessions are tailored to meet an individual's needs and are aimed at making therapy an enjoyable and fun experience. 

The therapists at PLD provide families and with the resources and training they require to assist their children’s growth. In this way families can practice with children on a daily basis.