By Pam Marshalla
Q: Recently I came across an SLP who was using oral-motor tools but not following sanitary procedures. Ahhhhhh! What resources can I share with her? SLPs must follow sanitary procedures at all times when touching a client in, on, or around the mouth with the hands or other objects. The following notes are from my upcoming book, The Marshalla Guide. Sanitizing the Hands Wash the hands with a sanitizing soap. Dry the hands with a paper towel and dispose of…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: Can you help me deal with a situation? I work in the schools. A private SLP accused me in a meeting with parents recently of not using the correct “motor planning methods” with a mutual apraxic child. Do you know what she is talking about? She really embarrassed me. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I regret the competitiveness that some therapists have, and absolutely detest the way some private therapists treat SLPs in the schools. You should not have had to experience that….
By Pam Marshalla
Q: What do you think of the consult model? I got into this profession to work directly with children, and now I am being told I have to engage in a pure consult model. I am mad and frustrated. I find several problems with the consult model. Young therapists coming out of school are being asked to consult with parents when they actually have not figured out how to do therapy themselves yet. Without working directly with clients, young therapists…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: I am helping with policy development in my district and we’re facing significant budget cuts. We have to cut mild artic kids from the caseload. Do you have any advice about this? I am wondering if they are considering cutting services for very low functioning kids too. Kids with very low communication skills tend to be seen quite often these days, often 2-3 times per week. On the other hand, high-functioning artic kids are being seen less and less…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: I am faced with cutting my caseload down considerably due to budget cuts. We will see the more severe kids a max of one time per week, and that’s fine. However, we are being asked to cut the mild kids more, and even eliminate them from our caseloads. Do you have any ideas? Many therapists are facing this today. Here is a brainstorm I had that may get you thinking outside the box. The idea is to use four…
By Pam Marshalla
Q: Sometimes parents fight and argue with me when I mention dismissing their child who no longer needs speech services. Where in the ASHA guidelines does it say that it is unethical to provide services for an individual who does not need it? This is in ASHA’s Code of Ethics although it’s phrased funny and therefore somewhat buried… It is letter I under Principle of Ethics 1 – Rules of Ethics. The important part of the guideline here is where it…
