Speech and Language
Students at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf may receive Speech and Language services through the IEP process. The frequencies and goal targets are agreed upon by the Committee on Special Education members. Therapy may be provided individually, within a small group and/or during push-in sessions within the classroom setting.
Therapy Sessions include but are not limited to:
• Developing listening skills
• Developing speech production skills
• Improving vocal quality
• Vocabulary development
• Language comprehension
• Fluency
• Grammar and syntax
• Social language skills
• Communication repair strategies
• Cognitive organization skills
• Augmentative communication skills
Our speech and language clinicians have received specialized training in the following areas:
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing language development
• Developmental delays
• Listening and spoken language
• Use and troubleshooting of cochlear implants, hearing aids, BAHAs and other assistive technology
• Early intervention
• Educational audiology
• Contemporary issues and interprofessional practice
A Total Communication Approach:
Total Communication is an educational philosophy that embraces all methods of communication including amplification (hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive technology), speech and auditory rehabilitation, sign language, speech reading, voice, written English, and visual imagery.
Who Can Benefit from a Total Communication Approach?
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Down’s Syndrome
• Cognitively delayed
• Speech and language impaired
• Speech/language delayed
• Multiply disabled
• Autism
Benefits of using Sign Language:
• Sign language allows a child to communicate what they think, feel and need
• Sign language supports speech development as well as literacy development
• Sign language increases awareness of environment, self and others
• Sign language decreases frustration and tantrums
May & June At Home Calendar for Families:
For more information on sign language:
For More Information on Hearing Aids, Cochlear Implants and other Hearing Technology:
Information on Speech and Language Development:
Parent friendly information:
