Speech/Language Pathologists

Speech/Language Pathologists

These services address the ability of a person to communicate effectively with other people.  A speech/language program begins with an evaluation that describes a student's communication skills in detail.  If the evaluation reveals delays that negatively affect the child's ability to benefit from his or her educational program, then therapy services can be offered.

Pickaway County ESC speech/language therapists provide services in the following areas:

  • Articulation - This refers to the ability to physically make sounds in speech.  Students with delays in articulation may substitute one sound for another, leave out certain sounds, or have difficulty putting sounds in the right order in words.

  • Voice - This refers to the quality and volume of speech.  Voice disorders may include excess hoarseness or a very nasal quality.

  • Fluency - This refers to how smoothly sounds, words and phrases flow.  Students with fluency disorders may repeat a sound, word, or phrase over and over or have very long pauses between sounds and words.

  • Language - This covers the skills needed to understand and express spoken messages.  Receptive language refers to the ability to understand a message.  Examples include following directions, understanding a story and understanding the meanings of words.  Expressive language refers to the ability to convey a message to someone else.  It includes using words appropriately and knowing how to put words together to form sentences.

  • Social Communication Skills - This may also be called "pragmatics."  This is the social knowledge necessary to use language skills properly.  Included in this area are skills such as how to initiate a conversation with another person and how to continue that conversation.

  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication - This refers to augmenting, or adding to, natural speech to help a person communicate effectively.  Tools used to augment a person's natural speech can include gestures, signs, pictures/symbols or electronic devices.