Charlotte Speech therapist

Looking back on my days in elementary school, I remember the banging of erasers and washing the board as a special job. The cringing of someone scratching a chalkboard is long over.  These days, students may ask "What's a chalkboard?". Classrooms now are filled with an amazing amount of technology, from computers, laptops and smart boards. Schools are constantly trying to keep up with the endless amount of technology available to them.

As a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, I have had to put away some of my dittos and articulation cards and move forward with the technology. When working on expressive and receptive language skills, Powerpoints and SmartBoard Activities have become the norm. Flip Videos are now used for teaching social skill lessons to children with Autism. 

I purchased an Ipad a few months ago and have found that children with disabilities can do things on an Ipad that most adults cannot. I have seen a child who is non-verbal increase expressive language skills by using the Ipad to communicate. A 2 year old with a developmental delay was able to navigate through an activity, gaining a sense of independence while increasing receptive language skills.

We have to face it. Our world is more technologically based than it has ever been. Children with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Learning Disabilities or Developmental Delays will benefit from early use and exposure to computers and other forms of technology.

If you are interested in learning more about how technology can help your child, please contact me at jwalton@childandfamilydevelopment.com.