Speech Therapy Blog | SLP Blog for Parents & Teachers

How Is AI Affecting Speech Tele-Therapy?

by Peter Johansen December 20, 2023

Title: Revolutionizing Child Speech Therapy: The Role of AI in Tele-Therapy In the realm of pediatric speech therapy, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into tele-therapy has opened new horizons, transforming the way children with speech disorders receive support and guidance. The marriage of AI and speech tele-therapy presents a myriad of opportunities specifically tailored to cater to the needs of young learners. Early Intervention and Accessibility AI-powered speech tele-ther...

AS SEEN ON SHARK TANK...OR NOT?

by Peter Johansen August 11, 2022

Since we formed SmartFelt Toys a few years ago, A LOT of people have told us: "You should go on Shark Tank!" We hear it everywhere we go; from trade shows to conferences and dinner parties. From parents and educators to Toy Biz Experts and Specialty Toy Store owners. Whatever the reasoning behind it (our inspirational origin story, unique patented, award-winning products or the fact that we are literally a mom and pop shop) the chorus has been a consistent one. "You should go on Shark Tank." ...

#entrepreneur, #PLAYSET, #sensory toys, #slp, #smallbusiness, #smartfelttoys, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #speechlanguagepathologists, #speechlanguagepathology

THOSE AWARDS JUST KEEP COMING!

by Peter Johansen July 11, 2022

Hi Everybody, Those of you who've followed our company's journey are aware that our first two language-building felt playsets - MY LITTLE HOUSE and MY LITTLE FARM - have won a ton of awards from both mainstream organizations and those dealing with differently-abled kids. You can see most of those awards seals proudly displayed on our website. www.smartfelttoys.com AND NOW... we're honored that our two new products for 2022 are getting a lot of love and recognition from a prestigious source. M...

#autism, #AWARDS, #BINGO, #BOARDGAMES, #classroom, #CREATIVECHILD, #CREATIVECHILDMAGAZINE, #early language, #elementaryschool, #FELT, #kindergarten, #languageservice, #learning environment, #PLAYSET, #sensory toys, #slp, #smallbusiness, #special needs, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #speechlanguagepathologists, #speechlanguagepathology

Voyage LA profile of SmartFelt Founder/Owner Yvonne Johansen

by Peter Johansen January 27, 2022

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Johansen. Hi Yvonne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? As a Speech Language Pathologist who has been working with little ones for more than three decades, it’s rewarding, a little surprising and very fulfilling to look back at the road I’ve traveled and the journey I’ve taken. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to work with children. I enrolled in college not knowing exactly what my role with k...

#autism, #early language, #entrepreneur, #giveback, #languageservice, #sensory toys, #slp, #smallbusiness, #special needs, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #speechlanguagepathologists, #speechlanguagepathology, #speechservices

Everything you always wanted to know about Speech Pathology, but were afraid to ask!

by Yvonne Johansen December 8, 2021

Everything you always wanted to know about Speech Pathology, but were afraid to ask!

Over the course of my 30+ career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, I've been asked many questions by parents and those interested in getting into the field. Here, in no particular order, are some of the most common. What is Speech Pathology? Speech pathology, or speech-language pathology, is the study and treatment of speech and language problems. It can be extremely rewarding for those of us who love to help others overcome obstacles, build confidence and develop communication abil...

#autism, #early language, #languageservice, #slp, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #speechlanguagepathologists, #speechlanguagepathology, #speechservices

Speech Therapy at Home

by Yvonne Johansen November 4, 2021

You don't need any special credentials to help your child work through difficulties with speech. A speech pathologist can diagnose the cause of a speech difficulty and create an action plan to support all of a child's needs in the development of speech and language, but anyone can help a child to build their language skills. Whether working with a speech pathologist or on your own, a little knowledge goes a long way. This information can help shape your at-home speech therapy into a positive and fruitful experience.

How to Create a Positive Learning Environment

by Yvonne Johansen October 4, 2021

How to Create a Positive Learning Environment

The debate about the ideal learning environment has been ongoing through the centuries, and the shape and style of classrooms has shifted to meet different needs and follow different visions about learning. What makes this debate exciting is the many learning settings that have developed, from seminars to apprenticeships to mixed-age classrooms and self-paced online courses. There is most likely no single best learning environment, as different elements are conducive to different types of lea...

#classroom, #classroom climate, #classroom vibe, #early language, #elementaryschool, #flexible learning, #kindergarten, #languageservice, #learning environment, #positivelearning, #sensory toys, #special needs, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #speechservices

THE BEST LEARNING TOYS FOR NONVERBAL CHILDREN

by Yvonne Johansen August 27, 2021

THE BEST LEARNING TOYS FOR NONVERBAL CHILDREN

There is no single miracle toy that jump-starts every child’s path in learning communication and speech. In fact, kids learn best in different ways, and a variety of different toys and techniques can help kids develop skills more fully. Different toys have certain elements that can really help with language development, many providing special support for nonverbal children who are putting together the building blocks of speech. Making any Toy a Learning Toy Whether you’re playing farm togeth...

TOP 10 THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE AN IEP MEETING!

by Yvonne Johansen August 5, 2021

TOP 10 THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE AN IEP MEETING!

TOP 10 THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ATTENDING THEIR FIRST IEP MEETING!

#autism, #early language, #elementaryschool, #giveback, #IEP, #iepmeeting, #individualeducationprogram, #kindergarten, #languageservice, #special needs, #specialneeds, #specialservices, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #speechservices

I Married an SLP: Part Trois!

by Peter Johansen February 25, 2021

Hey y'all, Those of you who have read my previous I Married an SLP blogs are aware of one thing: that I have always been, and continue to be, in awe of my wife the SLP. NOW MORE THAN EVER And the pandemic has only served to shock and awe me even more. My unbridled admiration is not limited to my better half: it extends to all of you SLPs, OTs, ESLs, EIs, clinicians, therapists, teachers and educators who work with our nation's little ones. Especially now, as most schools remain closed and di...

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS IN A PANDEMIC!

by Peter Johansen December 26, 2020

2020, Good riddance! If you're anything like us, you cannot wait to turn the page on this most heartbreaking, nerve wracking and devastating year anyone under 100 years of age can remember. It was a year of lost loved ones, lost businesses, lost jobs, lost homes and lost faith. Simply horrible. Almost no words to describe the toll this pandemic has taken on us all. Like 300,000 plus other American families, we also lost a parent to this scourge, and were - sadly and helplessly - not able to b...

#autism, #charity, #chelseascharity, #early language, #fosterkids, #giveback, #sensory toys, #special needs, #speech pathology, #speech therapy, #togetherwerise

Back to School, Sorta (Zoom There It is!)

by Yvonne Johansen August 11, 2020

Back to School, Sorta (Zoom There It is!)

Let's get this out of the way right off the top. I am incredibly grateful to have a job...especially at a time when unemployment in the US is at an all-time high. Now, having said that, as a School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist, I have been absolutely terrified, since our last school year ended, at the possibility that I'd have to go back to school in the middle of this pandemic. Yikes! The mere possibility of being inside a school building, surrounded by hundreds of adorable and l...

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