Clinical speech therapy in children is fascinating
They consider their field to be extremely diverse and rapidly developing. Speech therapists Michaela Sedláčková and Kateřina Daňková, who care for the communication skills of toddlers and adolescents at the Vesna Children's Hospital, appreciate being part of a quality rehabilitation team. They consider it their mission to find ways to enable children to communicate with their surroundings.
When will children staying at Vesna receive the care of a speech therapist?
Michaela Sedlackova (MS): Most children here have a primary diagnosis of cerebral palsy, of course with associated difficulties such as autism spectrum disorders, mental handicap, attention deficit disorder, eating disorders... We have a great medical team that evaluates the patient's difficulties very well. If during the initial examination they find a need for us to see the child and assess his development, they send him for speech therapy diagnostics.
Katerina Dankova (KD): Exactly. Speech therapy diagnostics are indicated by the attending physician when patients are admitted. Based on the patient's medical history, they will assess whether there is a risk of speech disorders. More detailed diagnostics of speech development are then up to us. The most common speech therapy diagnoses at Vesna include dysarthria and cognitive-communicative speech disorders in mental disabilities.
Why is it so important to develop speech in children, even when they have other health disabilities?
MS: Each of us needs to express our thoughts, needs and feelings. Therefore, it is essential to support development to the maximum extent possible. In our workplace, we often encounter children who are unable to speak due to their disability.
KD: Speech, or rather communication, is a basic human need. If a child fails in speech to the point of being unable to express basic needs, he or she becomes frustrated, which can negatively affect his or her psyche and the psyche of those around him or her. In our workplace, we often look for ways to communicate – gesturing, signing, using photos, images, in cases where the child has such a serious primary diagnosis that articulate speech is not possible for him or her.
What do you examine in a child, what do you notice?
MS: This is a question that would take up an entire magazine. We monitor correct posture and sitting. We assess food intake. Gross motor skills, fine motor skills, graphomotor skills and especially speech motor skills. The most famous is the articulation examination, where the pronunciation of individual sounds is assessed. We also deal in detail with the understanding of spoken language and read text. For example, we assess vocabulary, the creation of grammatically correct sentences, and the functional use of communication in interaction with others.
KD: I primarily assess the expression and understanding of speech. But there are many areas related to this, as Michaela says – fine motor skills, speech motor skills, visual and auditory discrimination, cognitive abilities, non-verbal skills, etc. It is also necessary to pay attention to how the child eats, how he cooperates and establishes social contact.
When does your field surprise you?
MS: I am fascinated by its diversity, the need to connect it with other fields, the need for education and the search for new knowledge that we cannot do without. I am surprised almost every day that I am at work. Children are constantly teaching us something new. They never let us rest on our laurels, as they say. Because when you think you already know how to deal with a given problem or difficulty, a patient appears for whom nothing that previously worked for others does not work. And again you are at the beginning and you have to come up with a new suitable method and procedure.
KD: The work of a speech therapist is a big surprise, which is why I enjoy it so much. I am fascinated by the stories of some families, how they manage to deal with serious diagnoses, stand by their child, and often spread positive energy around them.
Why did you choose speech therapy for children, not for adults?
MS: I used to work with children in my free time, and during my studies I was more inclined to work with this age group. As part of my postgraduate studies, I also go to an adult clinic, where I get a taste for working with adults. Speech therapy for adults and children is different, and I will probably always enjoy working with children more. I often hear that children cry as soon as they see a "white coat", but I have never encountered that. I think it is not about the color of the clothes, but the approach to the child. And maybe my colorful and cheerful socks are to blame, who knows?!
KD: When I applied to university, I applied for physiotherapy, teaching and special education with a focus on speech therapy. I knew that I wanted to work with people. The focus on children only emerged later during my university internships, when I felt more natural with child patients. Fortunately, it is very rare for a child to be afraid when entering the office. If this happens, we try to distract them with games and fun. Some children just need more time to "explore themselves". Often, the parent saves the situation, they know their child best.
When should parents pay attention and consider visiting a speech therapist?
MS: A parent is the greatest expert on their own child. If they notice that something is not right, I take notice, listen very carefully and ask for important information in detail. I think that this is one of the most important parts of speech therapy diagnostics. On the other hand, it may happen that the parent does not notice anything, then it is us, speech therapists in cooperation with pediatricians and other specialists, who must intervene. It has long been no longer true that speech therapy is only for preschool children and that there is no point in seeking it earlier. Speech therapists already work in neonatology departments. All children have our doors open.
KD: I would advise them to follow their own instincts if they feel something is wrong with their child's development and to seek out a speech therapist regardless of what their friend or grandma says. Better to start sooner than later.
David Konopac (42 years old)
He has been working in Janské Lázně for seventeen years. He graduated with a higherHe graduated from a vocational school of education, then joined the Special Pedagogical Center. After completing his concurrent studies in speech therapy, he moved to the spa as a speech therapist.
Michaela Sedlackova (28 years old)
She graduated from the Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague, with a master's degree in Special Education. She is currently continuing her education in pre-certification preparation for clinical speech therapy. She worked in Special Educational Center. He has been working in Janské Lázně for the third year.
Katerina Dankova (28 years old)
She came to the spa four years ago. She graduated with a master's degree
Special education - speech therapy at the Faculty of Education, University of Hradec Králové, recently completed pre-certification training in clinical speech therapy.
