Meet LLA Therapy Speech Therapist, Matt Hagge

What do you like most about being an SLP? 

I really enjoy that “ah-ha!” moment. For obvious reasons, difficulty with communication and/or speech can be really frustrating for any aged patient. The therapy process can be tough for some kiddos. But, when they have put in the practice, come to the sessions, and they have given it their all and have that first moment of success, that is really cool to see and it keeps me coming back for more on a daily basis.

What made you decide to become an SLP? 

I always wanted to help people. I thought about being a teacher or a counselor, then back in undergrad when I was still undecided on my future, I had an opportunity to work at a camp for kids with special needs. I found out that being a speech therapist is sort of like being a teacher and a counselor all in one. Plus it really felt rewarding to work with those kids.

What do our facilities allow you to accomplish as a clinician? 

I am able to collaborate with a lot of great therapists on a daily basis. This really allows me to provide the highest quality care. Our staff is full of creative people who have tons of awesome ideas and suggestions.

What is an SLP topic you are passionate about and why? 

I like to think my concentration is in school based delivery of services. I really enjoy being part of an educational team and collaborating with teachers, school psychologists, counselors, and families. Speech and language skills spill over to the school setting and have a direct correlation with learning, so, the school is just a natural arena to provide services.

Do you have any special credentials or certifications?

I am certified in the Orton Gillingham Approach to Reading. It is a multidimensional and multisensory approach to teaching reading skills and spelling skills. Kids who have difficulty with reading comprehension often have difficulty with the actual skill of reading and spelling. So, the approach allows me to treat all of the weaknesses instead of just focusing on the language component.

What kinds of school or educational problems might be treated by an SLP? 

I have the most experience in working with students who are at the middle school level. This is an age where the work load really increases and so does educational independence. At this level I see a lot of difficulty with language processing. Essentially, this will manifest itself as word finding difficulty, weaknesses with vocabulary acquisition, vocabulary relationships, writing difficulty, and what I call “language organization”. In other words, summarizing or recalling information to provide the main idea or to find the most important information when providing answers to comprehension questions. I also work with a lot of students who have difficulty with social skills.

What advice do you have for parents who are seeking a Speech, Language, or Hearing evaluation? 

Make sure you find someone you are comfortable to work with. Just like doctors, all therapists are different. Ask about areas of expertise and maybe even some personal questions about interests and hobbies to gauge if the therapist will be a good fit with your child. The great thing about LLA is that we have so many great options for therapy and therapists across all of our locations.

What are some activities you would recommend for a child to practice at home?

 I am a big supporter of making practice activities applicable to real life experiences. Being able to complete a work sheet or say words from pictures is definitely necessary  for repetitive and structured practice. But, I always try to get my parents to work in practice when playing with your child or when talking to your child in the car. In a roundabout way without your child realizing it, you are showing them that communication occurs across all environments.  

What is your favorite smartphone app for clients? 

I like anything from My Play House. There is My Play House, My Play House Store, and My Play House School. I also use a lot of pictures for speech sound practice, and sentence expansion practice.

What do you like to do for fun when you are not working? 

I like to spend time with my family. I am actually married to a speech therapist, Ashley. We have a two year old daughter with another on the way. My wife and I love DIY projects. So, you can usually find us working on our house on the weekends. I am also a HUGE Cleveland sports fan and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan!