Meet LLA Therapy speech-language pathologist, Carrie Ravine. Carrie enjoys treating stuttering. Check out her awesome tips below!
What do you like most about being an SLP?
Being an SLP is so rewarding! I love that I can help children improve
their ability to communicate.
What is a day in the life of an SLP like?
I usually start my day playing Candyland, next build with blocks and play with
puzzles, then I break out the play-doh and bubbles! Just kidding, it's a
lot more than that, but we do get to have fun every day : )
What advice do you have for parents who are
seeking a Speech, Language, or Hearing evaluation?
If you have any concerns with your child's speech or language, do not hesitate
to come in for an evaluation. Sometimes parents put it off because they
are just "waiting to see" if their child makes progress on their
own. The speech therapist will be able to provide a detailed assessment
about your child's speech and language skills, and also be able to show you
ways you can help your child at home. I find that parents learn a lot
during the evaluation process. It's like I always say, "If you are
worried about your child's speech then you will be better rested, if you get
your child's speech and language tested!"
What are some activities you would recommend for
a child to practice at home?
Whatever you can do to make it fun and make it part of their child's
routine. I have parents who practice every morning at breakfast, or
before bed, or while they are in the car. It doesn't matter where, or
what the activity is, as long as they are thinking about their speech!
What is an SLP topic you are passionate about
and why?
I enjoy working with kids and adults who stutter. It is a topic I am
interested in, and I just really enjoy that type of therapy.
When should I be concerned about a stutter my 4
(or 5 or 6) year old recently developed and will my child grow out of it?
Research has shown that as many as 70% of children who start stuttering will
outgrow it on their own without speech therapy. However, if the
stuttering persists longer than one year, the likelihood of outgrowing it
decreases. If the stuttering lasts longer than 6 months, if there is a
family history of stuttering, if the child or parents have concerns about the
stuttering, then I would recommend seeking out help from a speech
therapist
What should I do about bullying?
If your child is being bullied, help them to learn some conflict resolution
strategies. They could walk away, think of things to say to the bully
ahead of time, use humor to diffuse the situation, or tell someone and get an
adult involved. There are many additional resources regarding bullying on
the stuttering foundation website (www.stutteringhelp.org).
What will an SLP do when working with my child?
Depending on the child's age, the therapy will look a little different.
In younger children we may introduce some more indirect techniques like
modeling a slower rate of speech, adding pauses and reducing communication
demands. In the older child, we will discuss stuttering modification
techniques more directly and focus on smoother, less tense speech. In general
we will teach the child techniques to alter their speech or their stuttering
moments to result in more fluent speech.
Will your therapy be like "The King's
Speech"?
Some of the techniques shown in the movie are still used today, and some are
very outdated! They showed in the movie using diaphragmatic breathing, light
contacts, and starting a problem word with a slight exhale, which are all
techniques that speech therapists still teach. But rest assured we will
not be put marbles in your child's mouth and have them speak!
Labels: Behind the Scenes
