A Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) is qualified to work with children, young people and adults who have some form of communication disorder.   It is often thought that a Speech and Language Therapist is only able to help with actual speech production problems, but in fact the range of services is much wider.

What does a Speech and Language Therapist do?

A therapist working with children and young people will initially assess both comprehension (understanding of language) and expressive language (how language is used).

Comprehension

The Therapist will look at various areas where difficulties might occur including:

    * Vocabulary – types of words such as nouns (naming words), verbs (actions) and prepositions (in, on, under etc.)
    * Understanding language structures such as following instructions – eg. “brush dolly’s hair”,  “give me the yellow pencil”
   
Expressive Language

Spoken language may be assessed for the following:

    * Speech sounds – often termed phonology.   The child or young person may not have certain speech sounds in their vocabulary, or may use them inappropriately eg. “dog” becomes “dod” (termed fronting) or “glove” becomes “glub” (termed stopping)
    * Articulation difficulties – the production of speech sounds may be difficult, possibly due to a physical problem such as cleft lip/palate or poor dentition or even a co-orindation problem – Dyspraxia
    * Fluency – is there any evidence of dysfluency (stammering) or general hesitancy in speech

What can be done if the child/young person has little or no speech?

Language is not only the spoken word but can include communicating by various alternative methods.  Some of the more common ways are:

    * Symbol systems – a simple line drawing is used to represent an object or concept eg. Makaton, Rebus, Mayer Johnson
    * Pictures/photo systems – actual pictures or photos are used to indicate objects, activities etc.
    * Signing systems – include British Sign Language (BSL) and Makaton.   These systems use manual signs to convey meaning
    * Eye pointing – by using a special board with symbols or pictures, it is possible for a parent or carer to interpret what the child/young person wants to communicate by following their eye gaze until it stops at the item they want.   This can be useful for children or young people who have physical difficulties and no speech.
    * Communication aids – these can range from simple picture boards to complex computers with voice synthesizers

What other aspects of communication are assessed?

Other areas which Speech and Language Therapists might look at and which underpin communication are:

Listening and attention skills/concentration – can the child or young person attend to a task?   Not to be confused with a hearing impairment – the child or young person may hear what is said but cannot concentrate sufficiently to process the information

Play and imagination – can the child play alone, alongside others (parallel play) or take part in group play?   Is imaginative play present ? eg. putting doll to bed, pretend tea parties

Social communication – can the child or young person interact with others?   Do they understand the rules of conversation, such as turn taking, repairing conversations, keeping on topic and appropriate greetings?

Functional use of language – can the child/young person use whatever system of communication is appropriate to them to make choices, comment on events, question or refuse?

Behaviour – an inability to communicate can be very frustrating for the child/young person and may result in agitated or challenging behaviour patterns.

How does the Speech and Language Therapist carry out the assessment?

The Speech and Language Therapist will look at all areas in which the child/young person is experiencing difficulty.

    * This may include observation or direct working with them in various settings, such as the home, school or college.
    * Liaison with people who come into frequent contact with the child/young person is also very important.   As well as parents, teachers, carers, other health professionals etc. may be consulted.

What happens after assessment?

After a thorough assessment, therapy options are discussed which could include one or more of the following options:

          o Direct therapy -  the therapist working with the child/young person on a 1:1 basis
          o Indirect therapy – a programme of work is carried out by a named person eg parent, carer, teaching assistant under the guidance of a Speech and Language Therapist who monitors progress and reviews the programme as necessary
          o Changes to communicative environment eg. ensuring an appropriate symbols system is used in the home/classroom etc.,   advising on effective communication and training staff how to use alternative methods of communication

Is the Speech and Language Therapist qualified?

All Speech and Language Therapists will have undertaken a three or four year degree course at university.   Some therapists may have completed a post graduate course after following a previous degree.   Candidates require three A levels to enter the course, although mature students may be accepted with equivalent qualifications.

The courses are intensive and consist of both theoretical work and clinical placements and all students experience working with a wide range of communication disorders.

All practising therapists must be registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Health Professions Council (HPC).   Therapists working in the Independent Sector may also be registered with the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP).

Jeff
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/what-is-speech-and-language-therapy-620637.html

If you are just beginning your international business development you are probably concerned about avoiding cultural communication blunders. There are stories out there of major companies making major business mistakes.

Enough to damper any business’ international fervor. Most peoples reflex is to look at the other cultures first. After all, they are the ones that are different.

You might be tempted to start by researching all the possible types of cultural communication blunders with all of the different cultures out there.

Stop!

International business is different today than before. Internet marketing provides businesses a universal international communication tool. If you are lucky enough to be a native English speaker you are probably using internet marketing as a key element to your international business expansion. English is the second language of choice throughout the world.

Most initial international business development is done in English, or at least with very little foreign language content. There is no reason to become confused with studying different cultures first. You will probably be wasting your time.

Here is why:

Of course your foreign prospect or client will be different from you if he lives in a different culture. You will need to find a common ground to communicate with him.
If he speaks some English this is not common enough ground. His language skills will not be the same as yours.

Cultural Communication Visualization

If communication barriers represent the distance between the two of you, you will need to move from where you are to meet him somewhere along the path separating you.

So if you visualize this, what’s the first thing you need to do?

Review Your Own Communication First

Before studying other cultures, you must look at your own communication. Here’s why:

• Your own communication represents half of the cross cultural communication equation.
• You are more capable of understanding your own cultural communication than a foreigners communication habits.
• Adjusting your own communication will signal to your foreign clients that you actively seek to communicate with them.

How can you make communication easier with your international prospect or client?

Some people’s reflex is to speak to foreigners like babies. This is not the solution.
So how can eliminate blunders when communicating with your foreign clients?

Internationalize Your English

• Adapt your own communication to make yourself easier to understand.
• Eliminate your own cultural filters.
• Use simple English
• Internationalize your own language.

The English language is widely used in international business. So much so that we can often overlook our own English language communication practices.

Before looking at the differences in other cultures and learning about them, turn your focus onto your own communication style. If you give each individual communication with your foreign clients your full attention and adapt your own language to something they can understand you will create more

Are you committed to speeding up your international sales cycles?

Learn how to combine cross-cultural marketing tools and international sales strategies for faster sales.

Join us on the International Sales Road Map.

Cindy King
http://www.articlesbase.com/international-business-articles/why-you-need-to-internationalize-your-own-communication-first-to-avoid-cultural-blunders-712406.html

To discuss Vlogs–go to forum at http://www.desteni.co.za

Duration : 8 min 57 sec

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An expensively produced mixture of infomercial, science fair, and game show, this film is the perfect look at vintage marketing. Demonstrating the wonders of DuPont’s latest product, Mylar, the film takes camp to the next level. A super strong transparent polyester film, Mylar is resistant to temperature changes, stress, acid, and more. Its durability is apparent, because this film documents many dramatic (and hilarious) “tests” being performed on this new material. Narrated and hosted by a scientist and his cute female assistants, the film shows Mylar being used as a trampoline, being boiled in acid, catching a bowling ball, and trapping odors by enclosing a live skunk! Bizarre and fun to say the least, this film excels with all the charm, creativity, and general wackiness that simply can’t be found in promotional videos today.

Duration : 1 min 11 sec

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In Video Marketing Secret # 4 Mark Hoverson tell us to, “Understand intimacy through non-verbal (unspoken) communication.
You are communicating at a subconscious level through your videos. A. Smile B. Look into the eye of the camera C. Shoulders back.
You will gain the confidence of your viewers through your smiles, eye contact, and good posture.

The impact that your Internet Marketing Videos have on your prospects and customers depends upon the several factors. One of these
factors is your non-verbal communication. So good ahead …… smile, maintain eye contact, and keep your shoulders back. Developing
intimate relationships with your prospects and customers is key to your long-term business success.

To your amazing success in 2010!

Ben

Ben Wardlaw
Internet Marketing Professional

http://benkwardlaw.gogvo.com/contest.php

Hilton Head Island, SC USA
(843) 341-5066
SKYPE: benkwardlaw

Duration : 2 min 22 sec

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