An open letter to parents, from an SLP

This article originally appeared as a Facebook post (http://bit.ly/2dmL3qF).

Different for different people. One of the difficult questions usually posed by parents when commencing therapy is when will their child talk, walk or be regulated enough in varied situations. After practicing the SLP profession for more than 2 decades, I cannot answer this question because each child has his or her own pace. Some are more receptive to therapy than others. Varied factors come into play and one pressing factor is the severity of the problem or degree of delay.

Specialists are backed with years of study and training.

To our dear parents, your OT, PT, SPED and SLP professionals have studied and have been trained for 4 to 5 years to be able to assess and manage clients with different types of disorders or delays. Some of us even specialized in specific therapeutic approaches, just to make sure that we are able to match our program with our client's current needs.

My analogy is simple, do you go to a plumber when your car breaks down? Professionals handling your child have their own specialization, be cautious when somebody says he or she is a plumber/mechanic/electrician/carpenter/barber rolled into one. Dear parents, ask for credentials. It is your right to do so.

I believe that when clients/parents are more informed, they will also make informed decisions. In this day and age of fake products and professionals, we have to be more vigilant.

Photo credit: Murphy Project

Passion for the profession is an understatement for Weng, who has been practicing for 21 years. After obtaining her BS SP degree from UP-CAMP in 1993, she pursued her post-graduate studies in UP Diliman as a University Scholar, leading to her completion and making her the first speech pathologist in the Philippines to obtain a Masters Degree in Reading Education. Weng is currently the Program Director of Trails Center for Children, where she mentors young therapists and sees clients. She is also the founder of VolunTrails, an outreach program providing free therapy services to indigent special children in Legazpi City, San Pedro, Laguna, and Dasmariñas, Cavite.

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Making friends with Speech-Language Pathologists

SLP in front of foods

Future Speech- Language Pathologists from the College of Rehabilitation, Sciences of the University of Santo Tomas held its annual ‘SLP Day’ at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center Parking Lot last 19 March 2016. There were a variety of booths that were made by the different batches of the SLP community inside the college. Along with the play day, a seminar for the parents was held at the Speech-Language Pathology Laboratory. The topic for the seminar was about making the everyday activities of the children meaningful to them. Moreover, the partner community was able to have a grand time with the people who were assigned with different aspects throughout the event. Members of the ASP UP CAMP were on hand to enjoy the day with the budding SLP’s.

The freshmen made a hospital-themed and market-themed booth wherein the former stall made an environment for the children to imagine themselves as doctors with the stuffed toys that were provided. The designed market stall that was also made by batch 2020 was included with the idea that the people can either be one of the customers or be an owner of the market filled with the food shaped toys.

The sophomores were able to make life-sized furniture and machines that were both used for play. In the laundry designed area, the children had fun in making bubbles and following the step-by-step process like washing the clothes, ironing them, and even folding some of the shirts and shorts provided. The bath of 2019 also gave a restaurant that was also a hit to some of the kids. From cutting the food to cooking them inside the oven; the children were able to enjoy and experience a unique moment.

The third-years, meanwhile, provided a space for the children with different ages and personalities to enjoy the quiet and meaningful makeshift library with the small books that were used for reading. Furthermore, the third-years created a mini golf course that was also flocked by the majority of the young boys and girls. The course was constructed with a design that was child-friendly and entertaining with animals as the models.

The SLP students who are now in their fourth year and internship period were the people who took care of the children hands-on. They were the ones who showed proper ways of handling a child who wanted to play and even those were also in the midst of a small tantrum. It was indeed unforgettable. It was a small sneak peek on the days to come as a future SLP in the country and in the future generation.

In every SLP Day that has happened, it has continuously been proven that with an SLP, every child will always have a friend.

About the contributor: Madelyn Escario is a second-year Speech-Language Pathology student from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) in UST. She is a writer for Amplified, the Speech-Language Pathology Society’s online newsletter, and the current editor-in-chief of the Therapeutic Currents, the official publication the CRS.

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