Tagged "speech therapist"


Every day, as an SLP: A Letter to the Parents of Children I Work With

Posted by Deborah Grauzam on

TalkTools | Vanessa Anderson-Smith

"Every morning I wake with cautious optimism for the day, hoping I have breakthroughs with your child and every other child I work with.

Every day I comfort a parent and a family. When I say we are on the right track to get your child to speak just one sound or even eat one mere meal a day, I believe it with all my heart.

Every day I pray that my small words may help the parent and family to get through not even the day, but the hour.

Every day I think and sometimes agonize about my patients from sun up to sun down. While I may be running late between sessions or seem frazzled, your child is never far from my mind.

Every day my heart bursts at the seams when your child accomplishes what could be considered a 'small' feat by some. It is never a small feat to me.

Every day I boast to my husband, sister, parents, and anyone else with ears about the accomplishments your child made.

Every day when I give hugs, a high-5, or a 'good job' I can feel the love and happiness in my bones.

Every so often the reality of working with children who have struggles ahead weighs heavy on my heart.

Every so often I am known to sit in my car and break down over the mountains my patients must climb in order to complete the most basic tasks of a human: eat and speak.

Every day I live out my dream and passion through my career of speech-language pathology.

Every night I count my blessings. You allowing me to be a part of your child's life story is the greatest gift you can give me."

~ Vanessa Anderson-Smith

Vanessa Anderson-Smith is a Speech-Language Pathologist born and raised in South Dakota. She received her Bachelor’s Degree at Augustana University and Master’s Degree from The University of South Dakota. In 2013 she began Anderson-Smith Speech Therapy, LLC. She is now the only TalkTools® Level 3 Trained Therapist in South Dakota. Her practice focuses on assessment and treatment of motor-based speech and feeding disorders among children and adults. Vanessa lives in Canton, South Dakota with her extremely supportive husband, Ryan.

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Win a Pre-Feeding Kit!

Posted by Deborah Grauzam on

We are happy to introduce our new Pre-Feeding Kit!

TalkTools - Pre-Feeding Kit

The goal of a pre-feeding program is to develop the oral sensory motor skills to support safe, effective and nutritive feeding. This kit was designed in response to therapist and family requests for a comprehensive kit appropriate across the ages and for a variety of feeding issues. It includes a DnZ-Vibe with a collection of tips, a replacement battery and a safe disinfectant, all in a sturdy travel case. Products are made in the USA out of medical grade materials that are FDA compliant and contain no lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA, or latex. Three colors are available for the Z-Vibe plastic handle: light grey, light blue and magenta.

The Pre-Feeding Kit is made of the following components at a discounted rate:

Additional tips are available here.


Feeding BookFor detailed instructions of pre-feeding activities to implement with this kit, refer to the course “A Sensory-Motor Approach to ​Feeding” (Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT) and the book A Sensory-Motor Approach to Feeding (Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT & Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP).

And here is the best part: we are giving away 1 FREE Pre-Feeding Kit / month. Enter now to participate!

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Better Hearing and Speech Month

Posted by Deborah Grauzam on

CELEBRATE BETTER HEARING AND SPEECH MONTH THIS MAY WITH THE AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION

Since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has celebrated Better Hearing and Speech Month each May to raise public awareness of speech and language disorders that affect 14 million Americans.

Speech and language disorders can take many forms and can limit academic achievement, social adjustment, and career advancement. An individual may be born with a speech or language disorder, or it may be caused by accidental injury or illness.

Fortunately, most people with speech and language problems can be helped. Even if the problem cannot be eliminated, we can teach people with speech and language problems strategies to help them cope. People may not fully regain their capacity to speak and understand, but a speech-language pathologist can help them live more independently.

Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who treat all types of speech, language, and related disorders. They hold at least a master’s degree and are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association., they also are licensed by the state. Speech-language pathologists work in schools, private practice, hospitals, clinics, and other health and education settings.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific and credentialing association for more than 145,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists.

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