Speech and Language Services
Lead Speech Pathologists, Andrea Briceno or Mary Diharce
What is a speech or language impairment?
A speech or language impairment is a communication disorder that may affect speech sounds, understanding or using language, stuttering, or voice. These identified difficulties must significantly impact a student’s ability to learn, participate, or make progress at school.
Students with communication needs may receive special education services for a Speech Impairment (SI) alone or along with another disability, such as autism, an intellectual disability, or a learning disability.
What do speech services look like in the school?
Speech Direct Therapy: The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) or SLP Assistant works directly with the student to help improve communication skills. This may include speech sounds, understanding and using language, talking with others, stuttering, or voice. Therapy is based on the student’s IEP goals and helps the student communicate and participate at school. Direct speech therapy may include teaching, showing examples, practice, and feedback. Students are given opportunities to build and use their communication skills in different settings to help them participate and make progress at school.
- An SLP has a master’s degree and is licensed by the state of Texas. SLPs evaluate students, develop speech and language goals and services, provide therapy, and work with teachers and other school staff to support students at school.
- An SLP Assistant has a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and is also licensed by the state of Texas. SLP Assistants work under the supervision of an SLP to provide direct therapy to students.
Speech Consult: The Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) works with teachers and other school staff to support the student’s communication needs. This may include checking the student’s progress, sharing strategies and recommendations, and helping staff use communication supports in different school settings. Consult services are based on the student’s individual IEP needs.
Will my student need speech services throughout their educational lifetime?
Many students meet their goals and are dismissed from speech therapy services. Sometimes, as students get older, their communication needs change. When the supports provided in the classroom and throughout the school day are enough to meet a student’s communication needs, support by a speech-language pathologist and/or SLP Assistant may no longer be needed; this supports the student’s communication in the least restrictive environment.
When is a speech-language evaluation needed?
If the district or parent suspects a disability of speech impairment that is impacting their performance in the educational setting a referral can be made through the Child Find process or through the campus referral process. Children ages 3 to 21 years of age can be considered for an evaluation.
Did you know that a student may qualify for speech or language therapy in a medical or private setting but may not qualify at school?
School-based speech services are provided only when communication difficulties affect the student’s learning, participation, or progress at school.