The Speech Umbrella

Have you ever wondered how the simple word ‘too’ can shape a child’s comprehension of the world around them? Join me, your host Denise Stratton, as I delve into the unexpected depths of language and transform this overlooked adverb into a powerful tool for understanding, comparisons, and explanations.  I’ll be dissecting the multifaceted role of ‘too’ in language development and sharing practical ideas for employing it in speech therapy.

 Explore with me why mastering this word is vital for children, particularly those on the Autism spectrum and discover how the nuances of the English language can open up a world of understanding for children. 

--- Useful Links ---

To Infinity and Beyond 

Making Movies, Making Inferences 

Story Retelling Activity: Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

Tired of feeling perplexed by nasal air emission and phoneme-specific nasal emission? We’ve got you covered in this enlightening episode! We’ll unravel these complex issues that often trip up even the most experienced SLPs, providing you with a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies. Expect to gain a clearer understanding as we dissect hypernasality, nasal air emission, and phoneme-specific nasal emission, shedding light on how to distinguish and treat these conditions effectively. Through engaging case histories, we share our journey to resolution.

Two cases are discussed, along with the considerable it took to correct them: a case where a preschooler produced a pharyngeal fricative for S and Z, and a case of phoneme specific nasal air emission.  Tune in to get some tips on solving the puzzle of nasal air emission.

--- Useful Links ---
13K Podcast Download Giveaway!
https://www.instagram.com/dstrattonslp/
https://www.facebook.com/SpeechUmbrella

SpeechPathology.com
Impossible R Made Possible
Top 10 Toys for Speech and Language
PROMPT
Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

Prepare to unravel the mysteries of airway health as we journey into the realm of healthy sleep and jaw development with our distinguished guest, Dr. Shereen Lim, a dentist specializing in this unique field. We’ll shine a light on intriguing topics such as the impact of breastfeeding on muscle development and airway health, and the significance of early intervention. Harnessing Dr. Lim’s expertise, we’ll venture into discussions about common problems like breastfeeding issues, reflux symptoms, swallowing challenges, and speech troubles, and how they’re linked to airway health and tongue ties.

Discover the significant role that tongue positioning plays in neural transmission to the brain, guided by Dr. Lim’s insight. As we continue along this investigative journey, we’ll explore the potential risks associated with overlooking these problems, highlighting the importance of early intervention before they become a lifelong struggle.

But that’s not all, we’ll also be discussing the myomunchee appliance and its role in promoting lip seal and more normal swallowing patterns. These concepts are not just related to speech development, but can also help those grappling with thumb-sucking and posture issues. Also, Dr. Lim will be sharing valuable resources such as her book, “Breathe, Sleep, Thrive” and her professionals-only Facebook group “Airway Health 4 Kids”. Join us for this enlightening episode and gain an in-depth understanding of the significance of airway health and its far-reaching effects on both infants and adults.

Ready to uncover the magic of playtime and how it can fuel your child’s language development? Join me, Denise Stratton, an experienced pediatric speech-language pathologist, as I reveal my top 10 toy picks for therapy with the preschool/kindergarten age group. These game and activities are perfect for both articulation and language therapy better, and they meet my three criteria for therapy toys and activities:

• Lots of attributes to talk about
• Plenty of opportunities to talk about location and use prepositions
• Stimulate the imagination

 So, whether you’re a parent looking for guidance or a speech-language pathologist aiming to add more zest to your sessions, get ready for some practical advice on toys that enrich speech and language development. 

Imagine transforming the world of speech therapy by bringing it outdoors and combining it with the joys of preschool! That's exactly what Lisa Boyce has done with her unique outdoor preschool, Garden Gate Preschool.

When Lisa moved her preschool outdoors during Covid, she discovered how much better children became at self regulation. In fact, the results were so fantastic she decided to keep her preschool outside. 

Here are some topics we explore in this interview:

• Outdoor learning environments and emotional regulation
• The power of child lead unstructured play 
• Teaching phonological awareness in preschool 
• How to set up an outdoor preschool

That’s only a small sample of what we cover. You’ll want to hear how Lisa utilizes real-world experiences – like the annual grape harvest at the preschool — to promote learning. And her use of glitter jars for social emotional learning is something I can’t wait to try in my practice! Tune into episode 90 of The Speech Umbrella, Harnessing the Power of Play in Speech Therapy with Lisa Boyce, and come away inspired

Do you ever wonder how closely motor and language development are intertwined in children? Discerning the subtle ties between these two fundamental areas can be profoundly insightful, especially for those of us in the field of pediatric speech-language pathology! I am Denise Stratton, bringing you episode 89 of the Speech Umbrella, as we delve deep into this fascinating correlation, especially concerning children with autism. Drawing from a wealth of research, we underscore the reality that language impairment often goes hand-in-hand with motor skill development issues.

Let's dive into how motor skills might actually be the first domain where developmental divergence appears in children diagnosed with autism. We bring light to the valuable resource - the 16 actions with objects by 16 months - developed by the First Words Project. This tool has innovatively changed the game for me in my practice, and I can't wait to share it with you! Understanding and fostering the development of motor skills can lead to future gains in communication. So join me as we celebrate the power of simple therapies and their potential for improving outcomes in our young patients' lives.

Ever wondered how a deeper understanding of brain plasticity could revolutionize your language therapy sessions? Join me as I share my key takeaways from Norman Doidge's eye-opening book, "The Brain That Changes Itself", and how we can harness the power of brain plasticity to create more effective and efficient therapy practices. Discover how roadblocks can pave the way for new brain maps, the significance of clear signals in information retention, and why focused attention is indispensable for molding and reshaping our brain maps.

Let's dive into the fascinating world of auditory processing and its connection to language and speech impairments. Learn how I use pictures and descriptors to aid clients in naming exercises, and a shopping activity that helps improve word retrieval. We'll also explore the challenges language-impaired children face in perceiving the fast parts of speech and shed light on David Kilpatrick's "Equipped for Reading Success" program, which has been a game-changer for me as a clinician. Don't miss this enlightening episode that will transform the way you approach language therapy and help you unlock the full potential of the brain's plasticity!

--- Useful Links ---

The Brian that Changes Itself 
Picnic Fun
That Thing That Isn’t APD
Equipped for Reading Success
Phonological Awareness Tracking Tool
Whole Body Listening
Impossible R Made Possible

Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

Having a stash of fun and effective games for therapy you can turn to at a moment’s notice is standard practice for pediatric SLPs. 

But sometimes we end up buying a game that’s not so great—it’s not fun, takes too long to set up, doesn’t have enough practice opportunities, is finicky to play . . . the list goes on. Those games get shoved to the back of the closet quickly. 

To save you time and money investing in not-so-great games, I’ve rounded up nine of my favorite games. In this episode I describe these games plus how to incorporate target words in a way that promotes carryover from day one. 

Tumbling Tower , Jenga , Kerplunk , Connect 4 , Suspend , Dominoes , Pick up Sticks , Spot It , R Memory Cards , Impossible R Made Possible 

Even with the many AAC resources out there, the pathway for those with complex communication needs is not always clear cut.

 We all want our clients who use AAC to make that leap to becoming proficient communicators. Understanding more about how they learn is one way to help them progress, and that’s what this episode is about. It covers:

 •    Core and fringe vocabular

•    Stages of motor learning

•    Meeting sensory and language needs simultaneously

•    Descriptive teaching

 By the way— descriptive teaching is awesome—even if you don’t have clients who use AAC!

--- Useful Links ---
Stage One Sentence Types
Understanding Motor Learning Stages Improves Skill Instruction by J Huber
The Center for AAC and Autism
Sensory Books by Lizzie
Descriptive Teaching
Ready, Set, Go! with AAC
Get Set with AAC: Mythbusting
Everything Has a Name
Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

As speech therapists we know the value of early intervention, and judging by the increase in toddlers on my case load, parents understand the value too. But—therapy with a two year old ain’t no picnic!  A cranky two year old who wants to do things their way, doesn’t want help, and can’t communicate well makes for a trying therapy session. 

 What can help us understand two year old behavior better? Play schemas! Play schemas help toddlers make sense of the world, and they involve a fair amount of bashing, banging, pushing, pulling and general destruction testing. Because schemas seem like an obsession when the child is in full throttle mode with them, it helps to understand what schemes they are exploring. That way you can structure therapy to satisfy their needs and meet therapy goals.
--- Useful Links ---
A Guide to Schema Play in Toddlers
Quote Investigator
Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission