Our Psychology Team | Speech Therapy

Speech-Language Therapy In Calgary

Traditionally, speech- language pathologists have been known for their work with sound development, stuttering, and voice concerns. However, speech-language pathologists also specialize in the development and understanding of language.

Language covers three main areas:

How we talk:

• Oral-motor development: the development of speech muscles for talking
• Articulation development: the ability to make speech sounds
• Phonological development: the knowledge of the rules of the language
• Fluency skills: the reduction of stuttering

The content of language:

• Expressive language development: using the words we know; what words mean; how we tell stories, retrieving words
• Receptive language development: understanding words and what they mean; storing words efficiently and effectively; listening skills

The use of language:

• Social skill development: turn taking; greeting friends, talking to peers and adults, sharing, non-verbal communication, etc.
• Conversation skills: staying on topic, telling a story, giving enough information, asking questions, etc.
• Play skills: Greenspan Floortime, supporting play skills, developing a variety of play skills.

Speech- language development is an essential prerequisite to academic success. Much of school instruction is based on listening and talking skills. Children with difficulty learning sounds and language can have language and reading difficulties. Many learning disabilities have roots in oral language difficulties.

Our job is to help children learn how they learn. We can problem solve together to develop strategies or "tricks" to enhance learning and language use. Parents gain knowledge of how to support their individual child's learning and educate others about their child's strengths and needs. Children become skilled at self-advocating and coping with situations by focusing on their strengths and using these tricks to help themselves.

Our team

Arlene Klooster and her associates have extensive knowledge and skill development in the areas of oral-motor skills (PROMPT and Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson), sound development, fluency (stuttering) skills, Floortime, expressive and receptive language development, social skills development and early reading skills. Our team has strong background with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and learning difficulties.

Assessments:

Assessments are team based with a family focus and therefore, parents are encouraged to participate in all sessions. Both informal and formal results are shared with parents and a written report provided. This report includes recommendations to assist families and schools to work toward well-defined goals.

Action Plan:

Our team can be involved in developing the best action plan for your child. Interdisciplinary assessments or consultations to other professionals within the center are an essential service provided by our team. If speech-language therapy is recommended, options are discussed with the family.

Speech-language therapy can take many forms:

• Group sessions
• Individual sessions
• School/Parent consultations
• In home support and strategies

Funding may be available through private insurance, program unit funding, or mild- moderate funding.

ACHIEVE Communication Excellence

For more information, please contact:

Arlene Klooster
Phone: (403) 230-2959
achievecommunication@shaw.ca

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