Shows
The SLP Next Door PodcastMedicaid Cuts, Red Tape, and What You Can Do About ItWhat Medicaid changes mean for providers—and how to support families without the drama. In this episode, Megan is unpacking the real story behind the recent Medicaid changes—without the noise, drama, or clickbait. There's a good chance you've heard about Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and seen some intense headlines, but what does it actually mean for families and providers? This episode isn’t about politics—it’s about people. We’re looking at both sides of the issue and exploring how to be steady and informed advocates as the system shifts. Whether you're in...
2025-07-0909 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastHey Friends- Just Checking In!Just wanted to shout out THANK YOU- thank you my friends for your continued support as I walk this post partum anxiety journey. I see you, I appreciate you, and I am thankful for each and every one of you.
2025-06-2504 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastEmpathy and AnxietyIn this episode, I'm sharing my journey through the first 2 months post-partum and how it relates to parent involvement in speech therapy for toddlers. I pride myself on being an empathic person. Life has thrown a ton of curveballs my way. With each curveball, I've been left with a lesson and purpose that has helped me relate to parents on multiple levels. Today, I want to share some of that with you. Check out this episode if you're interested in learning about post-partum anxiety and more ways you can empathize with the parents of toddlers on...
2025-04-1014 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastSetting Boundaries, Find Peace; an Honest ConversationIn this episode, you'll find an honest conversation about setting boundaries, find peace, and making tough decisions about work life balance. If you caught the previous episode of The SLP Next Door Podcast, then you know I'm currently in the midst of new motherhood (second time around) and fighting an incredibly difficult battle with post partum anxiety. Today, i'm opening up and talking about big decisions I've had to make over the last few days and the ways I will be navigating life moving forward.
2025-03-2610 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastLet's Get Personal | Post-partum AnxietyIn this episode, I'm starting to share my journey with post-partum anxiety. Like many moms, my post-partum anxiety slammed me out of nowhere and left me feeling completely out of control of my life. After posting about it on Instagram, I realized that many others also experience crippling anxiety and so I've decided to carve out some time on The SLP Next Door Podcast to share my journey. I'm no stranger to anxiety disorder; in fact, I've experienced anxiety all my life. After my second baby was born, I knew it was coming, I just wa...
2025-03-1907 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastLanguage Based Learning Disorder | Language DifferencesWhat is a language based learning disorder? It’s exactly what the name says- a learning disorder caused by difficulties and deficits in language development. Language based learning disorders can impact a child’s ability to process, express, read, write, and comprehend language in written and oral form. Language based learning disorders include diagnoses such as Developmental Language Disorder, Dyslexia, and Dysgraphia. Developmental Language Disorder is a difficulty in learning, understanding, and using language. Impacts expressive and receptive language skills. (typically the children we see) Dyslexia is often linked with difficulties in phonological awaren...
2025-03-1208 minThe SLP Next Door Podcast5 Domains of Language & 3 Components of LanguageLanguage is the words we use and how we use them to communicate and share ideas. Effective language development is critical for a child’s development because language helps us learn, communicate, and socialize. Typically, we divide language into three categories: pragmatic language, expressive language, and receptive language. However, there are actually 5 domains of language and 3 components of language. The 5 domains of language are phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Phonology is the sounds and patterns of sounds in a language. [think: articulation, phonological processes, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, etc.] Morphology is the study of r...
2025-03-0507 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastFinding the Function of the Behavior in Early Communication DevelopmentIn this episode, Megan talks about a topic being discussed amongst many people working with (or raising) toddlers and preschoolers... behaviors! More specifically, finding the function of the behavior impacting communication development in early intervention speech and language. There are 4 potential functions of a behavior: seeking attention escape or avoid someone or something seeking access to someone or something seeking some type of sensory input Once we’ve determined the function or “why” behind their behavior, we can better understand, strategize, and respond to a child. To find the WHY behind a behavior, Talk...
2025-02-2613 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastWhat are Gestures?Gestures are actions produced with the intent of communicate. Gestures are typically expressed using fingers, hands, arms, facial features, and other body movements. Children produce gestures before their first spoken words. A 2009 study found that the number of gesture + speech combinations a child uses in early communication is a strong predictor of later language development. Tracking early gesture development may help us determine if a child is at risk for a language delay. Dietic Gestures: these are the earliest to develop. Pointing, reaching, showing, and giving are dietic gestures. Easy way t...
2025-02-1910 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastQ: Verbal Communication or Not Verbal Communication? A: Multimodal CommunicationIn this episode, Megan continues talking about communication in speech therapy for toddlers. Topics include: verbal communication, not verbal communication, and multimodal communication. Megan dives into examples of non verbal communication, gives a verbal communication example, and explains why multimodal communication is typically most common. Communication is the exchanging information between people through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Effective communication occurs when the intent and meaning of one person is understood by another. Here are some tips to remember when it comes to toddler language development and communication: ...
2025-02-1207 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastWhat is Communication? | Early Intervention Speech and Language Communication is the exchanging of information between people through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. Babies and toddlers communicate through a variety of methods that often get misconstrued. In this podcast episode, Megan talks about the importance of understanding what functional communication looks like in speech therapy for toddlers. The ability to communicate helps children build and establish relationships, express information, solve problems, and learn new ideas. Communication in toddlers is often widely misunderstood and misinterpreted We must begin to look at their toddler behavior and interactions t...
2025-02-0507 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCase Study & Examples of Language Skills: Prelinguistic Skill Delays Back by popular demand, this week’s episode is a case study featuring a 24-month-old toddler named Noah. Noah has been receiving speech therapy services but isn’t showing the expected progress. We'll take a look at his prelinguistic skills—those foundational communication abilities that set the stage for later language development. The goal for today's episode isn’t to diagnose or jump to conclusions about Noah. Instead, I want to challenge you to look at his development from a different perspective. When it comes to speech therapy for toddlers, remember to meet children...
2025-01-2908 min
The SLP Next Door Podcast4 Activities for Prelinguistic SkillsIn this episode, Megan shares 4 ways to encourage Prelinguistic Skills development. These activities can be easily implemented into any early intervention speech and language activities or daily routines; including language activities for infants! What are Prelinguistic Skills? How to monitor progress and track development. Even better, these activities also target multiple areas of communication and language development. Imitate the child’s movements: a child’s ability to imitate the action, sound, or words of another is very important. Show them how to point: early gestures are another important prelinguistic skill...
2025-01-2212 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastMaking & Monitoring Progress: Prelinguistic Skills In this episode, Megan chats about the 11 Prelinguistic Skills, gives examples of what each skill looks like, and different ways to take an inventory of a child’s prelinguistic skills while measuring progress in early intervention for speech and language. If you don’t have a copy of Communicate & Connect, today’s episode is still going to be beneficial, so stick with me. Visit theslpnextdoor.com/handbook to grab your copy. I’m a visual and auditory learner, so I created a video for today’s episode. You can watch it here! I recommend c...
2025-01-1513 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastImportant Skills for Language: the 11 Prelinguistic Skills! Prelinguistic Skills are the foundation for all language and communication across the first 2 years of life. Here’s the thing: if a child is lacking in one of these areas, it will lead to difficulties in language development. Understanding these skills helps providers and caregivers/parents determine how a child communicates and progresses through language acquisition and use. More importantly- these are the skills we want to fall back on whenever we aren’t seeing progress in speech therapy for toddlers. Here are the 11 prelinguistic skills: Responding to others and their environment: Turn-t...
2025-01-0814 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastLet's Dive into 2025!Today, I want to talk to you about what you can expect from The SLP Next Door this year and how you can be an important part of it! I’m not one for making New Year's Resolutions- mainly because I have terrible anxiety, and if I don’t complete whatever it is I set out to do, I’ll mentally tear myself down and spiral into the abyss and, frankly…. I don’t want to do that this year. I actually began to stop making resolutions a few years ago when someone introduced me to the con...
2025-01-0305 minThe SLP Next Door Podcast2024 Most Popular Episode: Signs of Autism in ToddlersAs we end this 2024 I wanted to take a moment to reshare the most popular episode that was listened to this year! Thank you all so much for being a continued part of this journey, I cannot wait to see what 2025 brings :) This episode is Part 1 of a four-part conversation between Tara and Megan about autistic toddlers. Megan and Tara discuss typical vs. atypical toddler development, traits of Autism in 2 year olds, and other early signs of Autism in toddlers. This is an important conversation for early intervention speech and language and speech therapy for to...
2024-12-2518 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCase Study 3: Rare Genetic Disorder - Coffin Siris Syndrome Sometimes seeing a rare genetic disorder come across your desk can be intimidating- How do I begin? What can I do for therapy? How do I evaluate? I’ve been there, and today, I’m going to walk you through this case step by step – so the next time, you’ll feel empowered, not intimidated. Coffin-Siris Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects multiple areas of the body including; developmental delay, cognitive delay, hypotonia, difficulties with feeding, communication, vision, and hearing. Coffin-Siris syndrome is not progressive but often prevents individuals from driving or living independently. A g-tu...
2024-12-1816 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCase Study 2: 27 Months and Minimally Verbal | Signs of Autism in ToddlersToday, we’re diving into new case study, where we turn early intervention speech and language evaluations and observations into goals and strategies you can use in speech therapy for toddlers. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at an evaluation report or sitting in a session thinking, Okay, now what?, this series is for you. This week, we are walking through the case of a minimally verbal 27-month-old child with some emerging communication skills, sensory-seeking behaviors, and a few indicators of autism spectrum disorder. Let’s get started! Okay, here’s what we know about thi...
2024-12-1113 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCase Study: Developmental Language Disorder & Speech Therapy GoalsIf you’ve ever struggled with taking your speech and language evaluation information and turning it into early intervention language goals, this series is for you. I get a lot of questions about navigating the chaos that early intervention speech and language evaluations can bring while trying to determine goals, strategies, and figure out what the heck to do to see progress. So, I’ve decided to spend the next few episodes diving into real-life case studies, and we will dive into the crazy together. Today’s case study is about a 23-month-old boy who presents with severa...
2024-12-0415 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastHow to Increase Attention to Task | Speech Therapy for ToddlersWhen it comes to building attention to tasks in speech therapy for toddlers, we want to manage our expectations and reduce the stress of the activity. This means modifying the activities we present and offering the support necessary while also being realistic about our expectations from the toddlers we’re treating. My main objective is simple. Introduce the new concept of completing an activity to increase attention. In this case, we were transitioning from participating in "free-play"- meaning she opened the bag and picked the activity- to reducing her choices but still giving her the independence of...
2024-11-2708 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastAsking for Context | Activities for Parent InvolvementThis week, one particular question from a parent stuck out in my brain, and I thought it might be helpful to you as well! I had a parent ask, “Can we not play so much?” That question can make us twinge. But my instincts told me there was more to this than mom was asking…and I was right. Not everyone has a background of child development, grew up taking care of siblings or babysitting, or understands how important play is for their development, and not everyone learns strategies to encourage their child’s communication developme...
2024-11-2007 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastHow to Increase Attention Span in Speech Therapy for ToddlersIn this episode, we talk about how to increase attention span. I used to get frustrated, thinking I had to hold the toddler's attention to make progress. But here’s the thing: toddlers aren’t made to sit still. Their attention spans develop gradually, and knowing what to expect can make a world of difference in how we approach (and plan) our therapy sessions. Between 8 and 15 months, babies can maintain attention to a task for up to 1 minute16-19 months: 2-3 minutes25-36 months: 5-8 minutes3-4 years: 8-10 minutes Basic...
2024-11-1310 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastEmpowering Parents: Tips for Holiday StressHere are 5 easy tips for holiday stress you can empower parents with this holiday season. Each tip is also perfect for early intervention speech and language development! Keep Routines Consistent (as much as possible) Here’s what I mean by staying consistent: encourage parents to keep bedtimes, mealtimes, and quiet times as consistent as possible to help kids feel more secure. Try to plan for meals with familiar foods, bring comfort items like blankies and stuffies, and carry familiar toys. During routines, parents narrate and use simple phrases like “let’s eat” or “time for bed.” The repetition rei...
2024-11-0610 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastWhat is Speech Therapy for Toddlers? | An Interview with Jessica T Moore: Empowered ParentingThis episode of the podcast is a bit longer than usual. Several months ago, Megan was interviewed by Jessica Moore with Empowered Parenting. She and her team were gracious enough to share the audio so that it could be shared with you! In this episode of 'Empowered Parenting with Jessica T. Moore,' host Jessica Moore speaks with Megan Peveto, a seasoned speech-language pathologist from Texas. They discuss the critical importance of parental involvement in a child's speech and language development, various aspects of speech therapy, and the impact of the pandemic on language deficits. M...
2024-10-3041 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastThe Benefits of AAC in Early Intervention Speech and LanguageIn this episode of The SLP Next Door, I am continuing my conversation with Venita from Speechie Side Up about the incredible benefits of AAC in early intervention. Venita helps break down the stigma surrounding AAC—it's not just about high-tech devices, but an essential tool for all children, including toddlers with expressive language delays. You can catch up on our conversation: Part 1 and Part 2 Venita shares valuable tips on introducing AAC: building relationships with parents, modeling sign language, using functional words, and offering choices through visuals and objects. She also shares strategies for accessing loa...
2024-10-2314 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastWhat are Augmentative Alternative Communication Devices? Part 2 with Speechie Side UpIn this episode, we continue the conversation with Venita from Speechie Side Up (you can find episode 1 here). Venita answers the question, "What are Augmentative Alternative Communication Devices?" She also discusses the importance of incorporating a child's individual needs when deciding on a device and form of communication, including gestalt language processors.
2024-10-1610 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastWhat is AAC? with Speechie Side Up Part 1In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Venita from Speechie Side Up! Join us for part 1 of 3 in our conversation about AAC in early intervention. In this episode, Venita answers the question: "what is AAC?" She discusses the variations of AAC including aided vs unaided AAC, High Tech vs Low Tech AAC, and RTI Tiers of AAC. Be sure to share this episode with a fellow SLP! Come back next week for part 2 of our conversation. Venita is an Assistive Technology (AT) Consultant in south Florida. She is passionate about using AAC, AT...
2024-10-0908 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastWhat are Social Stories? Hey friend! I am so excited that the SLP next door podcast is GROWING! Let’s keep this momentum going. Be sure to share this episode with a friend or colleague. You can also help others find it by leaving a rating and review. Social stories were initially created by Carol Gray. In 1989, Carol began writing stories for her students to share information they seemed to be missing. Many of the stories resulted in immediate and marked improvement in her students’ responses to daily events and new situations. Nowadays, social stories have become quite common amongst those work...
2024-10-0211 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCreating a Behavior Intervention Plan [kind of] | Speech Therapy for ToddlersIn this episode of The SLP Next Door podcast, we are putting our words into action. We've talked about the importance of determining the "why" or function of a behavior. In this episode, you'll learn about creating a behavior intervention plan [of sorts] through parent involvement and implementing strategies that can help a child reduce the behavior and increase their functional communication skills. When we empower parents to use their daily interactions and activities intentionally, we help them show their toddlers they can replace their behaviors with communication skills. Afterall, those day to day interactions ar...
2024-09-2516 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastEncouraging Parent Involvement | Behavior ManagementWorking in speech therapy for toddlers, one of the biggest questions I get from parents (and even other therapists) is what to do about toddler behaviors. Whether a parent is feeling overwhelmed with their little ones' outbursts and has no idea how to help them or a therapist doesn’t understand why the toddlers seem to keep throwing things (including tantrums) in their sessions… at some point, we all need a little guidance. And today, that’s exactly what we are going to talk about- helping parents (and therapists) understand that behaviors are often a form of communication. There are mu...
2024-09-1816 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastManaging Tasks for Parent Involvement in Speech Therapy for ToddlersIn today's podcast episode, we continue the conversation of encouraging parent involvement in speech therapy for toddlers. Today's topic? Managing tasks for parent involvement. When we expect parents to implement strategies beyond speech therapy sessions, we must keep the tasks manageable. This leads us to the question: "What is manageable?" The word manageable is pretty abstract. It means different things to different people. Some thrive with a list of items to do, while others try to get through the day. It’s important to keep this in mind when deciding what actions you will put int...
2024-09-1110 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastEducating and Empowering Parents | Strategies for Parent InvolvementWhen it comes to speech therapy for toddlers and early intervention speech and language, parents and caregivers are very important to a child's success. This episode is a follow-up to the previous two episodes: Strategies for Parent Involvement and Compassion vs. Empathy. In this episode, we are talking about educating and empowering parents when it comes to their participation in speech therapy sessions. It's important for us, the clinicians, to remember that parents must know the why behind what we are doing so they can begin to brainstorm ideas and implement strategies outside of speech therapy sessions w...
2024-09-0411 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCompassion vs Empathy: Meeting Parents Where They Are Today, we’re diving deep into one of the most challenging aspects of our role as SLPs in early intervention and speech therapy—bridging the gap between the therapy and carry-over using compassion and empathy. Y’all, this isn’t just about therapy techniques. This is about building trust, understanding, and empowering parents to be their child’s biggest advocate. Whether you’re a seasoned SLP or just starting out, this episode is going to change the way you approach parent involvement. Let's discuss the difference between empathy and compassion. These two concepts actually play distinct rol...
2024-08-2815 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastStrategies for Parent Involvement Working in early intervention speech and language, we meet a lot of parents. As therapists, we know that parents play a massive role in their child's development, but how do we effectively engage them in speech therapy sessions? When parents are involved, they feel empowered! Research shows that when parents are engaged, therapy outcomes improve significantly. Here are 6 strategies I've found to be very effective: 1. Start with Empathy and UnderstandingParent involvement begins with meeting parents where they’re at. 2. Educate and Empower Parents Parents need to understand the "why"...
2024-08-2111 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastAnswering Parent Questions | What is a student IEP? How can I get early childhood special education services?Do you know how to help a parent get special education services for their child? Are you confident in explaining the steps in IEP process to a parent? You might not think this conversation is relative to you and your caseload, but if you’re working in early intervention speech and language… it actually is. We are often on the front lines of intervention when it comes to speech therapy for toddlers. In SLP early intervention, we identify communication delays and language disorders. We may help parents navigate the world of “this is something more than speech or lan...
2024-08-1410 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastCommunicate & Connect | A Guide Early Intervention and Speech TherapySeveral months ago I put out a brand new resource into the world for SLP Early Intervention and speech therapy for toddlers. Today I wanted to take you on a personal tour of this handbook and tell you all about what’s inside! Here’s the story behind Communicate & Connect, a guide for early intervention and speech therapy. This SLP Early Intervention handbook is perfect for your early intervention speech and language caseload! Backed by research, each topic includes handouts that can be used as a quick reference for SLPs or printed handouts to be share...
2024-08-0711 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastBusy Books & Language Development Today I’m changing things up a little bit. I want to talk to you about one of the ways I use one resource to work with a lot of toddlers on my caseload. This is something that I use across multiple patients, pair it with a variety of toys and books, and target a ton of goals. Grab your free busy book and follow along in this episode! Learning to condense and make the most of the toys you have is definitely a learning curve. I learned very quickly that just because a toy was...
2024-07-3111 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastPart 2 Phonological Processes and Speech Sound Disorders in Toddlers with Suzanne from Playing SpeechIn this episode, I’m talking with Suzanne from Playing Speech! We discuss various topics related to speech development including phonological processes and speech sound disorders in toddlers and early childhood. Part 1 of this conversation Playing Speech Instagram Playing Speech TPT Store Playing Speech Course Suzanne has been an SLP for over 13 years. She currently owns her own private practice, where she specializes in SSDs and early intervention. Suzanne also owns and operates a TPT store, PlayingSpeech. When she’s not working, Suzanne likes to hang out with her 3 small...
2024-07-2414 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastPart 1 Phonological Processes and Speech Sound Disorders in Toddlers with Suzanne from Playing Speech In this episode, I’m talking with Suzanne from Playing Speech! We discuss various topics related to speech development including phonological processes and speech sound disorders in toddlers and early childhood. Playing Speech Instagram Playing Speech TPT Store Suzanne has been an SLP for over 13 years. She currently owns her own private practice, where she specializes in SSDs and early intervention. Suzanne also owns and operates a TPT store, PlayingSpeech. When she’s not working, Suzanne likes to hang out with her 3 small children, read fantasy and historical fiction novels, and do CrossFit.
2024-07-1715 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastPhonological Processes in ToddlersAs verbal speech begins, so do phonological processes. What are the phonological processes? Phonological processes are patterns of sound errors that typically developing children use to simplify speech as they learn to use verbal speech. These simplifications of words are called phonological processes, and several of them are developmental. In the first four years, toddlers and preschoolers will use reduplication denasalization, assimilation, final consonant devoicing, final consonant deletion, stopping, fronting, cluster reduction, and weak syllable deletion. Keep in mind that there are more phonological processes that can occur in speech development; however, for thi...
2024-07-1014 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastSpeech Sound Disorders: Articulation vs Phonological DisordersSpeech sound disorders are any difficulties or combination of difficulties with perception, motor production, or phonological representation of speech sounds and speech segments. Speech-speech sound Disorders can be divided into Organic and functional categories. Organic Speech-Speech Sound Disorders are based on motor/neurological deficits or differences, structural differences, or sensory/perceptual differences. Motor/Neurological speech sound disorders are those as a result of difficulties with execution and motor planning. Dysarthria and apraxia of speech are examples of motor/neurological speech sound disorders. Structural speech sound disorders are speech difficulties due to structural abnormalities. Examples of s...
2024-07-0314 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastTips for a Road Trip with Preschoolers & ToddlersLast week, my family and I took a road trip to the beach. We traveled from Texas to Florida. It’s about a 6 hour drive, but we split it into 2 days. We’ve taken at least one road trip every year since my little guy was born and every year I learn something new. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 of my favorite tips for making vacations. Going on vacation means a change in routine, which can be tough for little ones. To help ease the transition, involve your child in the planning process. Talk about t...
2024-06-2611 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastLanguage Speech Disorder vs Delay Language Speech Disorders Before we talk about language disorders, I want to address speech disorders quickly. As development progresses, children will naturally say some sounds in words incorrectly. Some sounds develop early in infancy, while other sounds take longer to acquire. Most children should use almost all speech sounds correctly by 4 years old. Children who don’t say sounds correctly or use appropriate word structures by the expected ages may have a speech or phonological sound disorder. Language Delays, Disorders, and Differences What is a language delay? A language de...
2024-06-1910 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastMore Expressive Language Delays? Is there an uprise in “late talkers” following the pandemic? Why suddenly see so many of these little ones on our caseloads? The short answer to this question is yes. Following the shutdown of America (and the world), there is an increase in toddlers and preschoolers demonstrating delays in their language development. The real question is why? From an article in ASHA Livewire, I found a research brief from Komodo Health about the “skyrocket” of pediatric language disorders following the pandemic. Komodo Health conducted its research using its own medical database. The analysis primarily compared rates of...
2024-06-1210 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastExpressive Language Delays, Late Talkers, Late Bloomers, & Language Explosion Let's talk about expressive language delays, late talkers, late bloomers, and language explosion. Which statement is true about language development? Which statement is true about language development? A. toddlers should have 50 words by 24 months B. Toddlers can go from saying a few words to a bunch of words and phrases seemingly overnight C. Toddlers who are late talkers are demonstrating expressive language delays D. All of the above If you said D, you, my friend, are correct! Speech and language development isn’t always linear. Today, we ar...
2024-06-0512 minThe SLP Next Door Podcast4 Tips for the Home Health SLP Early Intervention I want to share some things I wish I had known when starting out as a home health SLP. I'm sharing practical tips for organizing and managing your caseload, storing materials, making the most of toys, and managing your time. Priority 1: Staying Organized when Scheduling Your Caseload The world of home health SLP can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges, especially when it comes to staying organized. Create a Schedule: I’m going to be 100% real with you- your schedule is going to ch...
2024-05-2915 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastWhat to Ask in a Job Interview: SLP Early Intervention and Speech Therapy for Toddlers In this episode, I'm answering the question of what to ask in a job interview. When interviewing for a new job, it is your opportunity to gather information about the position, the work environment, and what you can expect from the position. What to Ask in a Job Interview Firstly, you want to ensure you understand the specifics of the job. For example, home health SLP positions are different compared to a clinic or school position. What are the primary responsibilities of this role? What is...
2024-05-2212 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastSLP CF Job: Advocating for Yourself and Setting Boundaries at Work Advocating for yourself and setting professional boundaries requires a lot of self-awareness and practice. As you start your SLP CF job, it’s super important that you recognize the challenges you will face when navigating these boundaries. It just comes with the territory. Anytime you start doing something new, there are learning curves and finding the balance may take a while. You can get ahead of this learning curve by educating yourself before starting the position. As you prepare for the SLP CF job (whether you’re interviewing or have a start date), here...
2024-05-1510 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastThe Best Advice for SLP CF Jobs It’s better speech and hearing month! What better way to celebrate than offering up advice for SLP CF jobs? The beautiful thing about this field is the flexibility of work settings. As an SLP, you can work independently, own your own company, work for a company, contract or work for a school district, do teletherapy, work in a hospital, SNF, clinic, home health, research, college/university, supervise, or mentor—or do more than one of these. The possibilities in this field- are incredible. Don’t ever feel like you ar...
2024-05-0812 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastPlay in Autism & School Readiness This is the final part of a conversation between Tara from Autism Little Learners and me about Autism in toddlers. In this episode, Tara discusses play in autism and gives tips for helping Autistic children start school! If you haven’t done so, listen to the first 3 episodes. There’s a ton of information and insight in each episode building to this one, so you don’t want to miss out! Episode 1- Early Signs of Autism Episode 2- Parents Autism and Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy
2024-05-0113 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastGestalt Language Processing and Play in Autism with Autism Little Leaners Part 3In this episode, Tara talks about gestalt language processing in early childhood. Gestalt language processing in Autism is often seen in early childhood and typically occurs with Echolalia. This is part 3 of a 4 part conversation between Megan and Tara from Autism Little Learners. Be sure to go back and listen to the first 2 episodes! Ep 1. Early Signs of Autism in Toddlers Ep 2. Parents Autism & Neurodiversity Affirming Speech Therapy Tara talks about the importance of educating ourselves as professionals working with gestalt language processing and shares several resources for...
2024-04-2414 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastParents Autism and Neurodiversity Affirming: Part 2 with Autism Little LearnersIn this episode, Megan and Tara discuss different ways to approach parents Autism and the neurodiversity affirming approaches in speech therapy for toddlers. This episode is part 2 of Megan’s conversation with Tara from Autism Little Learners. In Part 1 of the conversation, they discussed traits of Autism in 2 year olds and other early signs of Autism in toddlers. If you haven't, be sure to check out that episode! 3 Tips for Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy: Use Compassion over Compliance Acknowledge the child is wired differently [neurodivergent] Use a Strengths Based Approach We want to embrace them for who...
2024-04-1712 min
The SLP Next Door PodcastEarly Signs of Autism in Toddlers with Autism Little LearnersThis episode is Part 1 of a four-part conversation between Tara and Megan about autistic toddlers. Megan and Tara discuss typical vs. atypical toddler development, traits of Autism in 2 year olds, and other early signs of Autism. This is an important conversation for SLP Early Intervention and speech therapy for toddlers. Tara Phillips, the founder of Autism Little Learners, is an expert on Autism in Early Childhood. Tara has been in Early Childhood Special Education for over 20 years. She founded Autism Little Learners in 2019 because it was difficult to find engaging resources for young autistic children. Ear...
2024-04-1017 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastA Handbook for SLP Early Intervention & Speech Therapy for ToddlersIf there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that working with toddlers can be a real challenge. And it can be so hard to find resources tailored specifically for toddler speech therapy. The truth is, when I first started working with toddlers, I experienced those same frustrations. I even questioned myself as a SLP! I felt so discouraged. The toddlers on my caseload didn’t want to do the activities, they would run away during sessions, throw my toys, try to eat books instead of read them, and, to top it all off, parents starte...
2024-04-0311 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastNo Parent Shaming Allowed Welcome back, friend! I’ve got to be honest with you… when I started to write this week’s episode- I had a plan of hyping up my brand-new SLP early intervention guide, which is set to release soon… but something came up that changed all of that. I kept seeing a post shared by other therapists and, honestly, I have a few thoughts. We clinicians take for granted our prior knowledge of these questionnaires. We know why it’s important to fill out the forms and what pediatricians look for when they read them. Your...
2024-03-2712 minThe SLP Next Door Podcast5 Tips for SLP Early Intervention As much as I love working with toddlers, I also understand that it can be a challenge. I have soo many tips for SLP early intervention. The early intervention age group is an important population, but it's also one that is often overlooked. Today, I’m going to share five tips I give anyone who is jumping into the world of speech therapy for toddlers. These tips for SLP early intervention, that, if I could go back and tell my younger self (you know, the version of me trying to figure out what the...
2024-03-2008 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastHandling Rejection: the year I applied to 10 schools with Speech Pathology Programs What happened when I applied to 10 grad schools with speech pathology programs? Every year, the months of February, March, and April remind bring me back to applying to grad school. It’s the time of year that letters of acceptance are making their way into inboxes (or mailboxes) across the nation...and so are the rejections. I will never forget those days of searching for schools with speech pathology programs, filling out applications and GPAs, and waiting. The semester of rejections was terrible. What kept me out of grad scho...
2024-03-1310 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastWhat You Didn't Learn in Grad SchoolWhat is one thing, or more than one thing that you didn’t learn in grad school for speech language pathology? I can think of a lot of “things” I didn’t learn in SLP grad school (or undergrad for that matter!). The most important was understanding speech therapy for toddlers. One language development class discussed language development from infancy to adolescence. That’s a lot of information to cover in one semester. It’s safe to say- I didn’t learn a lot about the importance of language and communication in toddlerhood, much less how to evaluate and writ...
2024-03-0609 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastSimple Ways to add Reading to Daily RoutinesIn recent episodes, we’ve talked about the importance of reading to babies and toddlers, covering pre-reading skills, early literacy development, and tips for engaging little ones. In this episode, we’re focusing on practical ways to encourage reading in daily routines for parents. For starters, we should always approach caregivers with empathy and understanding. We must respect their existing routines and preferences while gently encouraging new practices. Remember the R E A C H method: Respect, Encourage, Ask, Consider, and be Honest. Involve parents in the planning process, valuing their input and cultural considerations. When s...
2024-02-2813 minThe SLP Next Door Podcast3 Ways to Read to Babies and Toddlers; even when they don't seem interested!"Being intentional about embedding literacy experiences in babies' everyday routines creates joyful, loving moments in the short-term and builds critical skills in the long-term." [Gillespie, 2019] Just because a child doesn’t want to sit still and read through a book doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to try. When it comes to encouraging language development, shared storybook reading is often presented as an important intervention method, and for good reason. It is a research-based method and allows plenty of opportunities to encourage development. But what about when children don’t want to participate in shared s...
2024-02-2109 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastEarly Literacy Skills and Language Development in Babies and Toddlers Did you know that literacy development begins in infancy? Let’s talk about why early literacy matters so much. It's not just about ABCs and 123s; early literacy skills lay the groundwork for a lifetime of reading and writing success. As speech-language pathologists, we have a unique role in nurturing these skills right from the start. In this podcast episode, we dive into early literacy development in infants and toddlers. You might wonder how we support early literacy skills in infants... They can't speak or wr...
2024-02-1412 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastPre-Reading Skills for ToddlersFriends, literacy and language development should be supported as early as infancy! In today’s episode, we are going to dive deeper into the importance of literacy and language development in infancy to toddlerhood and chat about how these skills can impact later reading success. So often, I think we think of reading as something that we don’t have to concern ourselves about until a child starts school. While that is technically true, we don’t expect toddlers to be able to sit down and read the words on pages… it’s not that simple. Multiple skills that...
2024-02-0711 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastThe Importance of Working Together: Daycare Teachers We’ve been talking about the importance of working together in speech therapy for toddlers. Collaboration is important. We want to collaborate with parents, caregivers, and the other therapists on a child's team. In this episode, we are talking about another important member of the team, daycare teachers. In addition to parents and other caregivers in the child’s life- we have to remember their daycare teachers. Teachers can be such a valuable asset to the success of toddler development. Befriending a toddler's teacher is, to me, a top priority. Like public school educators, daycare teache...
2024-01-3107 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastTeamwork Makes the Dreamwork: The Importance of Working Together Did you know the phrase "Teamwork makes the dream work" has only existed since 2002? I want you to think about a big goal you’d like to accomplish. It can be anything- exercising more, eating healthier, renovating a room in your home, graduating with your master’s… Can you accomplish the goal by yourself? I mean, truly. Can you do it alone? No. You can’t. There must be people along the way to make that achievement possible. In this episode, we're ch...
2024-01-2411 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastA Servant's Heart: 4 Ways to Increase Parent Communication in Speech Therapy for ToddlersWelcome back, friends! Today, we are putting our words into action. You’ll leave this episode with four ways to have conversations and (hopefully) a new perspective on parent involvement. This includes the importance of having a servant's heart when providing speech therapy for toddlers. The 2nd most important relationship you should build when it comes to speech therapy for toddlers is building a working relationship with parents and caregivers. Carry-over and generalization of skills are important for this age group, and the parents and caregivers are responsible for that. Make connections, ask for their in...
2024-01-1712 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastHonesty is the Best Policy: What to Do When You Don't Know What to DoI spent several years as a school-based Speech Language Pathologist before working in home health. If you’ve worked in schools, then you know there’s not a lot of interaction with parents. So, when I started in the home health world, I was terrified. I felt less than confident with my skills for treating toddlers and equally terrified of having to talk to parents and explain what I was doing and why I was doing it. I’d been seeing this one little friend for about 3 months when it happened. We weren’t seeing progress and I was be...
2024-01-1011 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastMoving on Up to R.E.A.C.H. Parent InvolvementLet’s chat about one of the most intimidating topics when it comes to the world of speech therapy for toddlers: communicating with and encouraging parent involvement. For the sake of this series “parent” refers to the primary caretaker of a patient. Talking to and relating with parents can feel awkward and is something some people try to avoid- [whether you want to admit that aloud or not]. However, by the end of this episode, you will feel much more confident in your ability to converse with and encourage parent involvement in speech therapy for toddlers. I’l...
2024-01-0312 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastMoving on Up to New BeginningsWelcome back, friends! In today's episode, Megan introduces the topic of a new series for the SLP Next Door Podcast: How to talk to parents/caregivers about speech therapy for toddlers. Today's topic? Encouraging parents (and clinicians) to keep moving forward. One of my favorite things about life is that we don’t get to go back. Even in the good moments. We are always moving forward. It’s something I adapted long ago when I found myself amid life feeling impossible. Something I could count on was the sun going down and coming back up the next...
2023-12-2708 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastMoving Forward: Dealing with Grief and GuiltWelcome back to The SLP Next Door Podcast! Today's episode is a bit different from our usual talk about speech therapy for toddlers. Megan dives into something personal, so if you're not up for it today, that's totally fine. You can always catch up on our past episodes, and we'll be back with the regular content next week. We are going to be talking about dealing with grief when you have depression. When I started the SLP Next Door, it was with the intent to share all of the things I’ve learned regarding Speech Th...
2023-12-2007 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastLanguage Development 4 Years Old to 5 Years OldChildren between 4 and 5 years old use longer and more complex sentences that are grammatically correct. Children also enjoy connecting with stories, characters, and their own lives at this age. For example, while watching their favorite TV show, a child may notice the main character in the story is eating chocolate chip cookies and say, “Hey! I like to eat chocolate chip cookies too!”. Between 4 years old and 5 years old, children begin to tell stories using a main character and setting, use at least one irregular plural form of a word, and location words. They also begin to understand simple time...
2023-12-1305 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastLanguage Milestones for 3 Year Olds to 4 Year OldsWhen it comes to toddlerhood, a lot is going on. Communication development, motor skills, coordination, cognitive, and social-emotional skills come simultaneously. Toddlers are learning their preferences, developing personalities, and just loving life. In this post, we will talk about ASHA’s speech and language milestones for 3-year-olds to 4-year-olds, including speech development stages in toddlerhood. These milestones were created so that we (clinicians and parents) have guidelines to measure toddler development. As clinicians, we use this information along with the standardized assessments to determine if a toddler qualifies- or would benefit from speech therapy intervention services; this inf...
2023-12-0609 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastThe Not So Terrible TwosBeing 2 years old tends to come with a pretty bad rep- I mean, it’s labeled the “terrible twos”. But, if you’ve been here long enough, you know- I’m all about shifting the mindset regarding how we look at, evaluate, and engage with- toddlers, including 2-year-olds. In this episode, we discuss the communication milestones for 2-year-olds to 3-year-olds and how development can affect behavior! This age is called the terrible twos because it can be quite challenging. There is so much development that is taking place during this age. Cognitive, motor, communication, social, and emotional skills are...
2023-11-2914 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastHow Many Words at Age 2?What counts as a word? By the time they turn 2 years old, toddlers should be able to use and understand at least 50 words. Honestly, they probably understand way more than 50 words by the time they’re 2. However, it can be difficult to determine what they know vs. don’t know because their expressive skills continue developing. What counts as a word? A word is an expression that a toddler uses consistently and intentionally. Animal sounds, environmental sounds, exclamatory words, partial words, sign language, and whole words all count as words. Often, the biggest conc...
2023-11-2211 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastLanguage Development: Infant to ToddlerIn 2023, the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) released updated communication milestones for the first 5 years of life. Communication milestones are goals or markers a child is expected to achieve at a certain time or age. These milestones were created so that parents (and clinicians) could have guidelines to measure their children (or caseload) and provide areas that may require encouragement for language development. A child’s vocabulary is one of the most important factors in early communication. However, before a child can label vocabulary, they must be exposed to the objects. Language exposure is typically done th...
2023-11-1514 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastBabbling in InfantsDid you know that infant stages of development also include babbling in infants? There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the sweet baby coos and baby sounds. They are very important for the development of future speech skills. Why is babbling important for language development? Babbling in infants is the prerequisite for later speech and language. What could impact this area of development? Concerns with hearing, history of ear infections, fluid in the ears, cognitive or motor delays. It’s important to consider all of this when eval...
2023-11-0812 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastManaging Expectations in Speech Therapy for Toddlers We are going to discuss managing expectations during speech therapy for toddlers! In this episode, we chat about different ways to view progress, how to take a step back and reassess your sessions, and why prelinguistic skills are so important! Hold on to your pants, friends. I’m about to drop a truth bomb. But I want you to know that everything I’m saying, I’ve experienced myself with my caseload. It’s normal for toddlers to have big feelings, express their communication in a variety of ways, and even...
2023-11-0112 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastPrelinguistic Skills Prelinguistic skills provide the foundation for language acquisition by developing the cognitive, motor, and social-emotional skills necessary for communication. Clinicians and caregivers play a critical role in supporting prelinguistic development. Responsive and engaging interactions provide infants and toddlers with the social and emotional foundation necessary for language development. Prelinguistic skills occur in a series of predictable stages, each building upon the previous one. Responds to their environment and others Takes Turns (including conversational turn-taking) Increases Attention Span Joint Attention Plays with Toys Understands Words Follows Directions Imitation Skills Uses Vocalizations Purposefully Uses G...
2023-10-2512 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastBest Toys for Speech Therapy What are the best toys for speech therapy? Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Anytime you ask that question of someone (including me), it's important to remember that the answer will be based on another person's opinion. Don't get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with asking others their opinion- but I want to look at this topic from another angle... What if, instead, we asked: “how do you choose the best toys for speech therapy?” and followed up with, “Why do you choose those toys?” When you reph...
2023-10-1815 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastHow Does Play Impact Cognitive Development? Piaget, Vygotsky, and Smilansky. These are the top researchers (along with Parten) cited when understanding how play impacts cognitive development in early childhood. Vygotsky’s research says children are born with basic cognitive functions and build/grow their cognitive abilities through social interactions and adult experiences. He believes talking to children and exposing them to new things, concepts, environments, etc., is very important for their development. Vygotsky doesn’t divide the progression of development into stages. Piaget believed that all children progress through the same stages in terms of cogn...
2023-10-1118 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastSocial Stage of Play Development One of the first things I searched for in my quest to become a play connoisseur was “how does play develop”. This question brought up a ton of suggestions. The internet is good at doing that. The Oxford Dictionary defines play as [a verb] “engagement in an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than serious or practical purposes and [a noun] an activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.” In 1932, Mildred Parten studied a small group of toddlers/preschoolers in a nursery school at the University of Minne...
2023-10-0415 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastThe Best Books for Speech Therapy for Toddlers In today’s episode, we discuss my favorite books when it comes to speech therapy for toddlers. Reading is not about sitting down and reading every word on every page, making sure we sit still the entire time, and reading a book cover to cover. You must get outside of what YOU think is the right (or only) way to do things. Think outside the box. Take any available book and make it work by finding different ways to encourage multiple areas of development. Something else I want to ad...
2023-09-2716 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastWhy is Reading Important to Babies and Toddlers? Story reading aloud is a research-based strategy that encourages children’s language and literacy development (beginning from infancy). Reading aloud encourages early language skills and early cognitive development. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2017 found that the quality and quantity of reading aloud during infancy and toddlerhood can help predict a child’s vocabulary, future reading abilities, and even writing skills (aka- early literacy). What is story reading aloud? Story reading aloud is a research-based strategy that helps begin the development of early literacy skills increases vocabulary development and improves cogn...
2023-09-2013 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastPhonemic Awareness v Phonological Awareness: The Impact on Literacy Skills & Language Development In 2010, Carol Stoel Gammon, from the University of Washington, analyzed multiple studies of the relationship between lexical development (vocabulary comprehension) and phonological development in typically developing young children (0-4 years) acquiring American English as their first language. In this episode, we will talk about how, by talking to babies and toddlers, we can encourage language development and lay the foundation for their phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, reading, writing, and communication. Phonemic awareness is a crucial pre-reading skill. It involves the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds in spoken...
2023-09-1316 minThe SLP Next Door Podcast3 Ways to Encourage Language DevelopmentWhen I first started working with toddlers, I set myself (and the toddlers) up for failure every session. I was asking them to do tasks beyond their current developmental abilities. I questioned my abilities. It was hard not seeing the progress I expected; the toddlers weren’t paying attention to tasks, and, probably, the most daunting… answering parent questions. I’ve divided the ability to improve toddler language development (which also tends to improve their overall communication skills) into 3 categories. Elements of each category can be implemented into everyday routines, work with any/all speech therapy goals, and are...
2023-09-0615 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastSpeech Therapy for ToddlersSpeech therapy for toddlers is different. It’s different than preschool speech and definitely different than school-based speech therapy services. Because of these differences, it’s time for a mindset shift. In today’s episode, we will talk about shifting our viewpoint when it comes to speech therapy for toddlers. We will talk about toddler development and moving from thinking toddlers are “being bad” to identifying their communication skills and the why behind their behaviors. We have to keep in mind that communication happens in a variety of ways: verbal speech, body language, devices (including personal d...
2023-08-3011 minThe SLP Next Door PodcastWelcome to the SLP Next Door Podcast! Let's talk Speech Therapy for ToddlersHey there friend! Welcome to the neighborhood! Thank you for checking out this intro episode of The SLP Next Door Podcast. I am so excited about all the information and actionable strategies that this podcast is going to give in the full episodes! I want you to walk away with the knowledge, strategies, and most importantly, confidence YOU need to create engaging and progress making sessions in speech therapy for toddlers. Whether you're a SLP-CF, SLP-Assistant, Seasoned SLP or somewhere in between - this podcast is for YOU! Here are some upcoming topics: ...
2023-08-0401 min