If narrative language intervention is one of the pillars of your therapy, then you’re going to love what I have for you. As much as I love teaching narrative language, I always struggled to find enough stories to feed the therapy machine. A couple of years ago, in a somewhat desperate state of mind, I took pencil in hand and drew my own stories, featuring Wanda Witch. My clients loved the Wanda stories, despite my rudimentary drawing.Wanda Witch was soon followed by the Tony character, ...

No doubt you've noticed how our role as SLPs overlaps with other professions. Collaboration is highly desirable of course, but sometimes roles overlap so much as to be almost indistinguishable. It can be a disconcerting feeling - as though the earth has moved beneath your feet! Today, Denise Stratton, a veteran pediatric speech-language pathologist, tackles the confusion and frustration that can arise in this multifaceted field. Join us as we explore the root causes of speech and langua...

Stepping into a job interview is intimidating for many of us, but when you're a teen or young adult with a communication disorder, it can feel overwhelming. On the Speech Umbrella podcast, we tackle this subject head-on, with my husband, Dan Stratton, bringing his IT management and interview expertise to the table. One of Dan's passions is helping young adults in their career searches and interviews. Together we demystify the interview process, transforming it from a daunting task...

To mark the 100th episode, Dan (our business manager) interviews Denise about her favorite episodes, the beginnings of the podcast, and what the future holds for The Speech Umbrella. --- Useful Links ---Free Resource LibraryWhere Everybody Knows Your Name Interview with Char Boshart Interview with Dr. Shereen Lim To Infinity and Beyond The Power of Too Follow the Narrative Road The Conversation Game Phonological Awareness Tracking Tool Impossible R Made Possible Simple Tools Interview with Dr...

Don’t we hear some of the funniest, wisest, all around best things from children? Here’s a collection of some my best moments with clients in 2023. Enjoy Kids Say the BEST Things, 2023. --- Useful Links ---Emoji Handout Empowering Children with Autism Through Natural Language Acquisition Essential Language for Autism Open Doors A Parent, A Child, and Autism Kids Say the Best Things 2022 Music: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

Unleash the power of storytelling on your child's developmental journey! Join us as we explore the transformative influence of family narratives on children. Based on the research of Robin Fivush and Marshall P. Duke, we reveal the multitude of benefits kids reap when they know their family tales. Their resilience, self-esteem, and social skills see a significant boost. More than that, we consider how these stories can be effectively integrated into therapy, serving as instruments to enhance ...

Ever wondered how to effectively enhance language development in children with autism? The Speech Umbrella's 97th episode is here to illuminate your path! I'm Denise Stratton, and I'll be unpacking the power of child-centered approaches like Natural Language Acquisition (NLA), explaining how it helps build spontaneous and generative language. We'll decode complex terms such as Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs), Analytic Language Processors (ALPs), and Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) usi...

Do you ever wonder just what your data is telling you, and how to use your data to help your clients progress? If so, then this episode is tailor made for you! In part two of Leading and Lagging Indicators you’ll learn about some therapy ideas for measuring leading indicators. Leading indicators are so helpful, because they predict future success and help us chart the way forward with our clients. --- Useful Links ---Leading and Lagging Indicators, Part One Body Awareness Fun Deck Orange is a...

Are you curious about how leading and lagging indicators, concepts borrowed from the business world, can revolutionize your speech therapy practice? That's precisely what I explore in this episode. From predicting future outcomes to measuring past success, I'll guide you on how these indicators can boost your effectiveness and transform therapy results. We discuss relatable examples from various fields and how, with accurate measurements, these indicators can be harnessed for maximum impact.-...

Have you ever wondered how the simple word ‘too’ can shape a child’s comprehension of the world around them? Join me, your host Denise Stratton, as I delve into the unexpected depths of language and transform this overlooked adverb into a powerful tool for understanding, comparisons, and explanations. I’ll be dissecting the multifaceted role of ‘too’ in language development and sharing practical ideas for employing it in speech therapy. Explore with me why mastering this word is vi...

Tired of feeling perplexed by nasal air emission and phoneme-specific nasal emission? We’ve got you covered in this enlightening episode! We’ll unravel these complex issues that often trip up even the most experienced SLPs, providing you with a wealth of knowledge and practical strategies. Expect to gain a clearer understanding as we dissect hypernasality, nasal air emission, and phoneme-specific nasal emission, shedding light on how to distinguish and treat these conditions effectively. Thro...

Prepare to unravel the mysteries of airway health as we journey into the realm of healthy sleep and jaw development with our distinguished guest, Dr. Shereen Lim, a dentist specializing in this unique field. We’ll shine a light on intriguing topics such as the impact of breastfeeding on muscle development and airway health, and the significance of early intervention. Harnessing Dr. Lim’s expertise, we’ll venture into discussions about common problems like breastfeeding issues, reflux symptoms...

Ready to uncover the magic of playtime and how it can fuel your child’s language development? Join me, Denise Stratton, an experienced pediatric speech-language pathologist, as I reveal my top 10 toy picks for therapy with the preschool/kindergarten age group. These game and activities are perfect for both articulation and language therapy better, and they meet my three criteria for therapy toys and activities:Lots of attributes to talk aboutPlenty of opportunities to talk about location and ...

Imagine transforming the world of speech therapy by bringing it outdoors and combining it with the joys of preschool! That's exactly what Lisa Boyce has done with her unique outdoor preschool, Garden Gate Preschool.When Lisa moved her preschool outdoors during Covid, she discovered how much better children became at self regulation. In fact, the results were so fantastic she decided to keep her preschool outside. Here are some topics we explore in this interview:Outdoor learning environm...

Do you ever wonder how closely motor and language development are intertwined in children? Discerning the subtle ties between these two fundamental areas can be profoundly insightful, especially for those of us in the field of pediatric speech-language pathology! I am Denise Stratton, bringing you episode 89 of the Speech Umbrella, as we delve deep into this fascinating correlation, especially concerning children with autism. Drawing from a wealth of research, we underscore the reality that l...

Ever wondered how a deeper understanding of brain plasticity could revolutionize your language therapy sessions? Join me as I share my key takeaways from Norman Doidge's eye-opening book, "The Brain That Changes Itself", and how we can harness the power of brain plasticity to create more effective and efficient therapy practices. Discover how roadblocks can pave the way for new brain maps, the significance of clear signals in information retention, and why focused attention is indispensable f...

Having a stash of fun and effective games for therapy you can turn to at a moment’s notice is standard practice for pediatric SLPs. But sometimes we end up buying a game that’s not so great—it’s not fun, takes too long to set up, doesn’t have enough practice opportunities, is finicky to play . . . the list goes on. Those games get shoved to the back of the closet quickly. To save you time and money investing in not-so-great games, I’ve rounded up nine of my favorite games. In this e...

Even with the many AAC resources out there, the pathway for those with complex communication needs is not always clear cut. We all want our clients who use AAC to make that leap to becoming proficient communicators. Understanding more about how they learn is one way to help them progress, and that’s what this episode is about. It covers: • Core and fringe vocabular• Stages of motor learning• Meeting sensory and language needs simultaneously•&nb...

As speech therapists we know the value of early intervention, and judging by the increase in toddlers on my case load, parents understand the value too. But—therapy with a two year old ain’t no picnic! A cranky two year old who wants to do things their way, doesn’t want help, and can’t communicate well makes for a trying therapy session. What can help us understand two year old behavior better? Play schemas! Play schemas help toddlers make sense of the world, and they involve...

Great ideas for speech therapy materials abound, time to make them does not. That’s why The Speech Umbrella has a Free Resource Library for SLPs on the front lines. In the ever growing library you’ll find material for articulation, autism, clinic management, early listening and phonological awareness, fluency, and oral and written language. This episode takes you on a tour of some of my favorite resources in the library. Tune in and find the resource you’ve been looking for to make...