Speech Class Information

    Each class session is 15-20 minutes in length.
    Students are grouped according to needs. 
    Services are provided in the following areas:

    Language: The development of verbal and 
    non-verbal communication skills.

    Voice: Abnormalities of the voice may occur 
    in pitch, loudness, quality, nasal and oral 
    resonance. The child’s voice will sound 
    different from their peers.

    Fluency: Disfluent speech may occur in the 
    form of sound prolongations, part and whole 
    word repetitions, phrase repetitions, and 
    blocks (no sound is produced). 

    Articulation: A child may display sound 
    substitutions (ex. t/k, th/s, w/l), distortions 
    or omissions of sounds during speech.
             
    Prior to being served in any of previously 
    mentioned areas, a school-age child must 
    observed in a classroom, by the speech 
    pathologist, then be referred to the Student 
    Assistance Team, by the classroom teacher. 
    The area of need is discussed and the parents 
    are notified. A consent form for an initial 
    evaluation must be signed, in order to proceed 
    with testing.

    Upon completion of the evaluation, the parents 
    are asked to attend a MDT meeting to discuss 
    test results. If the student is verified, then 
    a meeting to develop an Individual Education 
    Plan (IEP) is scheduled. At the IEP meeting the 
    needs of the student are discussed and goals 
    are developed. The parent is requested to sign 
    an Initial Consent form, giving permission for 
    their child to receive special education services. 
    In order to be verified in the area of special 
    education, test results must meet the criterion 
    of Special Education Rule #51 and in the case of
    articulation, the Iowa-Nebraska Articulation 
    Norms must be consulted.