Speech-Language Pathologists

Speech-Language Pathologists (S-LPs) assist students and schools by doing work in communication disorders, and help people to overcome challenges with their communication. The S-LPs of the Louis Riel School Division provide a continuum of services to prevent, identify, assess, and treat communicative problems. They work in conjunction with parents, students, teachers, and other professionals to assist students whose communication challenges have a significant effect on their educational or social growth.

Most often, there is no obvious reason why a child’s speech and language development is delayed. Communication disorders can result from a number of conditions: hearing impairment, recurring ear infections, cleft lip or palate, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, autism, or cognitive delay.

Communication challenges may include:

• limited vocabulary
• poor grammar
• mixed-up word order
• difficulty following directions
• inappropriate eye contact or body language
• unclear speech
• voice problems
• stuttering

It is important to treat a communication disorder as it can affect a student's reading and writing abilities, social development, and ability to learn. If left unidentified, communication problems may result in behavioural problems; if a child has difficulty following oral language, increased frustration levels may arise.