School presents a particular challenge to children with communication disorders because:

• The language used in the classroom is complex.


• Most instruction is delivered through the language code in spoken or written form so you must be able to listen or read to understand.

• The child lets the teacher know what they have learned by speaking or writing.

• Children are expected to learn through listening at least 60% of the time during the elementary school years and 90% of the time during the secondary school years.

• Learning to read requires good language skills, since reading is simply another code which depends upon oral language knowledge.

• Learning to write involves high level language skills.

• It is estimated that 10% of students will have a language delay or disorder

What is the solution?

• There is clear evidence that language intervention is effective and that the earlier treatment is begun, the better the outcome.

• For school children with weak language skills, language services which are integrated into the education setting by school Speech-Language Pathologists have resulted in important educational outcomes:

• Significant gains in reading skills for elementary school children
• Meaningful improvements in adaptive behaviour in the classroom and at home
• Substantial reductions in the drop-out rate for students in secondary school
• For children at risk for poor life outcomes, lasting benefits representing a significant savings to the social support system and society
• Better outcomes in education for children mean that these children become contributing and independent members of society thus saving our limited resources.

Support Documents

The following OAFCCD documents may be used by families and professionals when making the case for why speech and language pathology services are needed in schools.
 

OAFCCD Presentation to District School Boards
Two page presentation for Trustees

Children’s Speech and Language Development is a Concern for Everyone! Why are Speech-Pathology Services Needed in Schools?
Two page Fact Sheet in Adobe PDF format

Why are Speech-Pathology Services Needed in Schools?
One page Fact Sheet in Adobe PDF format

Did you know that......
4 page Fact Sheet with bullets

Support For Speech And Language Services in Education Settings (1994) by Genese Warr-Leeper, Professor, University of Western Ontario
Two page referenced document

The Case for Management of Language Disorders in the Schools (1994) by Genese Warr-Leeper, Professor, University of Western Ontario
Two page referenced document

The Social Consequences Of Failure in Communication (1991)
One page referenced document

Continuum of Speech and Language Services will Enhance Educational Outcome (April 1998) by Genese Warr-Leeper, Professor, University of Western Ontario
Six page referenced document

OAFCCD  Service Delivery Model Analysis of School Speech-Language Pathology Ratios And Costs (1998)Five page referenced document

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