SLPA Specialization: School Age

This certificate prepares students to assist Speech-Language Pathologists in treating disorders of communication occurring in the school age population. Such disorders may be related to articulation and phonology, language, motor speech, voice, fluency, and hearing. Topics include child development, children with special needs, school age therapy techniques, childhood language development, and fieldwork experience.

Successful completion of the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) program qualifies the student to earn an Associate in Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. The SLPA graduate possesses the course work and field work experience to apply to the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SLPAHADB) for registration as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in the State of California.

The registered SLPA may work in both private and public agencies, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and the public schools serving infants through adult-age clients.

This certificate will indicate specialized learning opportunities for addressing the communicative needs of the school-aged population.

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Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

• describe various communication disorders affecting the school age population (3-21 years), including etiology and remediation techniques.
• demonstrate skills needed to assist in the management of school-aged speech-language pathology programs and services.
• describe the therapeutic process especially in terms of how learning occurs and strategies for effective lesson delivery for the school-aged population.
• implement a treatment protocol as prescribed by the supervising Speech-Language Pathologist.
• explain service provision differences between clinic and educational therapeutic models for the school-aged population.
• describe professional responsibilities and ethical behavior appropriate for the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant.

The majority of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) work with pediatric clientele. The proposal of this pediatric certificate was reviewed by the SLPA Department and encouraged by the SLPA Advisory Board and was determined that it will give the graduates/completers of the SLPA Program an edge in employability and marketability. It will create additional educational opportunities to learn and practice therapeutic techniques for the school-aged population.