Neurodiversity (“neuro” = brain + “diversity” = varieties) is a term used to describe differences in the ways individuals’ brains work. This is in contrast to neurotypical brains that function within an established range of expected development. So, what falls under neurodiversity? Any person with a brain difference is neurodivergent, including those who are gifted, autistic, and/or have genetic variations, ADHD, learning difficulties, mental health challenges, and more. It is important to understand that not all brains function the same way; they are diverse.

Your child needs speech-language support – but where do you go??? Speech-language evaluations and therapy can be delivered in a variety of settings including schools, private clinics, and outpatient facilities. Qualifications for therapy depends on the setting you are seeking.

Speech-language therapy can support your student at any point in their academic career. Language is an essential element of communication and learning at school. Students in nearly all grades and subjects rely on listening, speaking, reading, writing, and social skills. Higher-level language skills, like inferencing, connecting, problem-solving, organizing, and more, become more important as students advance through grade levels. When students have strong communication skills with the adults and children around them, they are much more likely to be successful in school. Here are a few ways in which a speech-language pathologist can help:

Learn about the benefits of private-pay services.

The earlier that services are delivered, the more likely children are to develop effective communication, language, and swallowing skills and achieve successful learning outcomes (Guralnick, 2011).

Over the past 20 years, parents have become increasingly interested in teaching their young children sign language. Other parents wonder about the downsides of sign language, with concerns that sign language will keep their child from speaking or isolate them socially. Luckily, the research here is clear: Sign language does NOT impair social or language development. In fact, early exposure to sign language actually improves child development in several ways.

We all know that encouraging our children to read is important. We want them to do well in school (where reading is a must). We know that reading helps with critical thinking. And we might even hope for them to enjoy discovering new ideas and adventures in stories. But how can parents support our children’s literacy at home? There are important and different reading strategies parents can incorporate at each level of development.

In the United States, Thanksgiving is widely considered a time of reflection. Setting aside the complex and controversial history of this holiday, Thanksgiving offers opportunities for fun, meaningful family conversations with children of all ages.

The “new” speech and language milestones being suggested don’t jive with the evidence-based norms we have been using to measure development for decades.

Children learn most of the speech-sounds in English from ages 1-6 years in a generally predictable order. When children have trouble with a sound or multiple sounds, we get lots of questions from parents about how we can help.

Children generally learn the speech-sounds of their language in a predictable order by certain ages. A recent cross-linguistic review updated this normative information by gathering previous results from the best studies and averaging the data (McLeod and Crowe, 2018).

All children need to hear that they are valued. Sometimes, children with communication disorders need a little *extra* reassurance.

Video Modeling is a low-cost, easy, and effective tool to teach children new play, language, self-help, and social skills.

The holiday season is here! It's full of fun but can also be overwhelming. If your child is struggling with the different colors, smells, tastes, events, and routines of the holidays, a social story may help.

Shyness? Or something more?

Our kiddos are back to school, and many parents are wondering what happens during their children's days in new classrooms with new teachers and new friends. But, it can be hard to get details from kids, and even more so from children with communication difficulties.

Parents wonder how to keep up communication practice during vacations. Here are some FUN suggestions to pass the time and build language tasks into road-trips. Enjoy!

Resource Alert: Animal Antics A to Z, which are amazing books for letter and sound practice!

Sometimes, children's communication difficulties can affect their self-confidence. In March, show the children in your lives how LUCKY you feel to have them in your school or family.