Ep. 20: How Speech and Language Difficulties Affect a Child’s Life with Carol Karp

Today’s guest is a podcast first for us here at Diverse Thinking · Different Learning. Carol Karp is a pediatric clinical speech-language pathologist with a vast knowledge in how speech and language difficulties can affect a child’s life. Carol and I have known each other and have worked together for many years and she does absolutely incredible and important work. Carol’s work is strength-based and throughout this episode she shares stories, experiences, and most importantly, her emphasis on building a relationship to have a lasting impact on the children she works with. Show Notes: [1:59] - Carol and Karen have worked together for many years and they look back on the growth the children they have helped together have made. [2:56] - The model Carol uses is strength-based and she shares how she trained in the field of Speech and Language Pathology. [3:51] - A lot of times through testing for Speech and Language, Carol doesn’t immediately see a lot of strengths, but she works together with a team to find the other strengths the child has. [4:25] - Building a relationship with the child is crucial and helping the child rid themselves of shame. [5:37] - Carol emphasizes to students that it isn’t their fault if they aren’t learning something, but rather hers as a teacher. She explains to them that their job is to tell her when they don’t understand and she will work with them in as many ways as is needed. [6:36] - Carol shares an impactful story about working with a student whose parent experienced shame.  [8:10] - Through online learning, Carol initially thought she would struggle reaching students, but instead shares a story about a student who was a dancer. She used his strengths to build a relationship. [9:41] - Speech and Language Pathologists are language experts and that makes them stand out from other types of therapists. Carol describes the difference between speech and language. [11:09] - Oftentimes students are referred for speech issues, but Carol finds that they also have issues understanding and communicating language. [12:40] - Carol describes the things that are looked at through initial speech and language assessments. [13:04] - Carol points out the Speech and Language Pathologists are not the ones who diagnose auditory processing disorders. An audiologist is the one that makes that referral. [14:19] - Receptive language is one’s understanding of language. Carol describes how she looks at this step by step with a student and where to start. [16:14] - Expressive language is how children communicate using language. Are they having difficulty finding the words they need? Carol describes the different types of difficulties this can cause. [17:50] - Language issues, especially figurative language and multiple-meaning words can impact friendships and relationships with peers and teachers. [19:12] - This can also impact self-advocacy.  [20:17] - Carol shares the story about a parent who expressed that he never thought he would have a conversation with his child until he worked with her and was taught how to communicate. [22:21] - Carol explains how creativity in reaching students at their strength and modality has been the key in student success. [24:22] - Collaborating with educational therapists is something that Carol likes to do because creating a team working together for the child is significant. [26:09] - Carol lists some of the strategies she uses with students and how each child has different needs. [27:58] - There are a lot of programs that Speech and Language Pathologists use and while Carol will use bits and pieces of some programs together, she doesn’t use a specific program. She tailors her therapy for each child and their strengths and interests. [29:40] - When children are engaged and interested in the intervention, they are more willing to participate in the intervention. [30:18] - Carol explains that children who are consistently asked “why” and “how” rather than just “what,” “when,” and “where” are stronger in expressive language. [32:12] - Parents can help by asking questions that prompt students to be more detailed in their expression to further develop their language and higher level thinking skills. [34:14] - The most important thing parents can do is to be great listeners. Some parents tend to talk too much. [35:24] - Carol also shares that keeping a diary, even when the child doesn’t write yet (but can draw pictures), is a great idea to help children express themselves. [36:24] - By taking cues from the child rather than trying to change them and their strengths, you will learn so much about your child and how to help them. About Our Guest: Carol W. Karp, M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is a pediatric clinical speech-language pathologist. Carol holds two Master’s Degrees, one in Education and one in Communicative Disorders. She has two teaching credentials and was an elementary school teacher and training teacher for LAUSD. Upon completion of training in communicative disorders Carol was awarded a clinical fellowship at the Neuropsychiatric Institute Hospital (Semel Institute) at UCLA, where she received advanced training in diagnosis and intervention for children with speech and language difficulties. She is one of only a small number Speech and Language Pathologists with this unique dual background. Carol has a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA Number 01099141); as well as licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispenser Board for over twenty years (License Number Sp8297). She is the founder of Westside Speech and Language Pathology Associates, Inc. and has conducted a thriving private practice since 1991.   Connect with Carol Karp: CK Curriculum Coaches Website Phone: (310) 804-7805 ChildNEXUS Profile: Carol W. Karp M.S., M.Ed.   Links and Related Resources: ChildNEXUS Home Page ChildNEXUS Instagram Top 5 Signs You Need a Speech and Language Pathologist Supporting Parents of Children with Language-Based Learning Difficulties Writing Disorders in Children: The Language Link SLP Search Join our email list so that you can receive information about upcoming webinars - ChildNEXUS.com