Teachers: You May Be the First to Notice a Communication or Feeding Concern

Teachers play an incredibly important role in identifying potential speech, language, voice, and feeding or swallowing concerns in students. You spend hours with students each week, giving you a unique perspective on how they communicate, participate, learn, and interact with others.

Sometimes, you may notice a pattern that a parent or caregiver hasn’t seen yet. Other times, a student may have difficulty that isn’t immediately obvious outside of the classroom.

So, what should you look for?

Here are some observations that may be worth sharing with a student’s parents, school speech-language pathologist, or other appropriate professional for further evaluation.

Speech

• Speech that is frequently difficult for others to understand

• Noticeable speech sound errors that may also be affecting reading or spelling

• Repeating or prolonging sounds or getting “stuck” on sounds or words

Language

• Difficulty using pronouns, prepositions, or other concepts appropriately

• Not consistently responding when their name is called

• Needing gestures, visual cues, or repeated directions to understand or complete a task

• Using limited vocabulary or having difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas

Voice

• A consistently hoarse, gravelly, or breathy voice

• A voice that becomes weaker or changes noticeably throughout the day

• Difficulty controlling voice volume appropriately for the setting

Feeding & Swallowing

• Consistently eating or drinking very little during meals or snacks

• Coughing, choking, or frequent throat clearing while eating or drinking

• Frequent gagging or strong reactions to the smell, sight, texture, or presentation of food

When in doubt, ask.

You don’t need to diagnose a communication or feeding disorder. Your observations are valuable. Sharing concerns early can help families and professionals determine whether a student would benefit from further evaluation or support.

We know how much teachers already have on their plates, and our goal isn’t to add another task to your day. Instead, we hope this list gives you a simple starting point when you notice something that doesn’t seem quite right.

If you have questions about a student’s speech, language, voice, or feeding and swallowing skills, SaSSKC is here as a resource. Reach out to us at info@sasskc.com to learn more about our evaluation and therapy services.