Pediatric Speech Therapy

Presenter: Bree Shiley, Hearing and Speech Sciences, Global Public Health Scholars

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During my practicum at Basal Therapies, a pediatric therapy service in Frederick, Maryland, I partnered with a licensed Speech‑Language Pathologist to understand the daily life and responsibilities of a pediatric SLP. I contributed to patient session planning by helping set individualized goals based on each child’s strengths and needs, and I led and participated in portions of therapy sessions under close supervision, using interactive games and visual supports to practice speech sounds and language concepts. I also created instructional materials such as cards, visual schedules, and home‑practice handouts, and counseled parents on techniques to reinforce skills during everyday routines. Through these experiences, I developed important clinical skills in assessment, goal development, and treatment adaptation. I also developed strong communication skills while collaborating with families, educators, and other health professionals like occupational therapists to support client's progress. This practicum connects to public health through showing the effects of socioeconomic status and the importance of early intervention on the long-term health and success of clients. . Serving families from a broad socioeconomic spectrum revealed significant barriers to health equity and access, including transportation challenges, insurance limitations, and language differences that could delay or completely stop therapy services. Assisting with early screenings and facilitating language‑stimulation groups further emphasized how early intervention can prevent more severe communication delays and reduce the need for intensive services later on. Overall, this practicum showed me how deeply speech therapy connects to public health, through promoting developmental wellness, minimizing disparities in service delivery, and supporting population‑level outcomes through early detection and inclusive access to care.