How a Speech Pathologist Can Help Kids with Cognitive Challenges
We talk about how a speech pathologist can help kids participate in everyday life skills, perform better in school and build a foundation for the future. Cognitive challenges in kids may mean struggling to follow directions, remember crucial information and maintain friendships. While many people may know that SLPs treat speech and language difficulties, parents may not know they support kids’ thinking skills too. We call these specific thinking abilities ‘Executive functioning’ skills.
Speech Pathologists Specialize in Thinking Skills
Speech pathologists specialize in giving kids the opportunity to build stronger thinking skills. These critical skills have wide-ranging effects on all other aspects of a child’s life.
For example, a child who has these difficulties may struggle to:
- Follow directions
- Recall important information
- Stay organized
- Make plans with friends
- Complete everyday activities
- Make and achieve goals
How These Skills Impact Success at School
Behind every academic task, thinking skills provide critical support. We may take these skills for granted. While we may organize ourselves, multi-task, and plan for the future, children may greatly struggle to do the same. Once parents recognize that their kids struggle with everyday tasks or in school, they can take steps to get the them the support they need.
When a teacher asks a child to remember something, follow directions or prepare for a test, the child uses these important skills. In the case that children need to organize and do their homework, plan to spend time with friends or get ready for a job interview, they also use these skills.
We share examples of school tasks that require executive functioning skills:
- Preparing for tests
- Studying and recalling facts
- Following written and spoken directions
- Organizing and completing homework
- Attending to the teacher
How These Skills Impact Success at Home
Parents may wonder or share concerns that their child struggles to do everyday activities at home. Speech pathologist can help by learning the strengths and needs of the child and giving unique and personalized therapy.
These activities may involve chores around the house, listening to and following the directions of a parent and performing life skills, such as brushing their teeth and getting dressed.
A child who may need support for these thinking skills at home may struggle to:
- Brush their teeth on their own
- Do chores around the house
- Get dressed on their own
- Maintain friendships
- Make meals on their own
A Speech Pathologist Treats These Skills in a Meaningful Way
A licensed speech therapist treats these skills by focusing on each one in an effective and meaningful way. When a speech therapist supports these skills, she or he makes sure that the therapy involves activities important to the child’s life.
These skills include:
- Memory
- Attention
- Organization
- Planning
If a child needs support in one of these areas, an SLP provides therapy in a meaningful way, related to the child’s interests. This means providing therapy that includes everyday tasks, schoolwork and job-related activities. When a parent gets therapy for their child, she or he should make sure that goals include these important parts of their life.
Getting Started with Effective Speech Therapy
Once a parent decides to get their child the support they need, they may contact a speech therapist. If the child struggles to follow directions, make plans and stay organized, they might tell a therapist and ask for suggestions. Parents first get started by scheduling an evaluation to learn if the child needs therapy.
By parents finding out exactly what their child needs, they give them the opportunity to build critical skills they will use for the rest of their life. Importantly, these skills support other skills. Through research-based speech therapy, kids get the means to participate in life and perform better at school.
