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Cleft & Craniofacial 101
For Parents
Did you know that as many as half of children with a cleft palate will need speech therapy at some point in their childhood?
Parenthood in general is full of uncertainty. We bring these little babes into the world and there is so much we have to learn, so quickly. It can be overwhelming. Additionally, if you are expecting a baby or already have a baby or toddler that has a cleft lip or palate (or another craniofacial difference)… you’ve likely experienced even more of that overwhelm. The information coming at you from every angle can be difficult to navigate and it’s hard to know what to do.
Children who are born with a cleft lip, palate or craniofacial difference are at a higher risk for speech difficulties due to their unique structural differences. Even if these differences have been supported by surgical intervention, specific speech sound errors called “compensatory errors” often occur. These errors may have a significant impact on your child’s communication skills.
Over the years, I have taught parents, graduate students and fellow SLPs how to support the unique needs of children born with a cleft or craniofacial difference. I can’t wait to teach you as well!
I created this course for you, as an expert and as a fellow parent!
This course will provide you with the guidance, reassurance and evidence-based information you need to set your child up for communication success!
Confidently distinguish between typical and compensatory speech patterns
Comfortably navigate the process of speech evaluations and therapy
Advocate for your child’s needs with confidence
Confidently implement practical strategies at home
Actively support and encourage your child to set them up for success
Let me guide you through this process, as an expert and fellow parent! Don’t spend your time having to ask “google” everything or wonder if the SLPs you’re interacting with are giving you the appropriate suggestions!
Be informed and empowered when navigating the speech therapy process with your child! When you’re empowered with information you can comfortably and confidently advocate for your little one and actively support their development over time!
Ready to feel less overwhelmed and more empowered?
Yes, Please! I’m Ready!
For less than a third of the price of a single speech therapy session, I am going to teach you what I have learned over my 12+ years of experience as a speech-language pathologist!
Not only will you gain the knowledge to support your beautiful babe, you can implement practical strategies every day and see those improvements first hand!
You’ll also be able to maximize the value of your in-person speech therapy sessions with your child’s treating SLP thanks to your new found knowledge and confidence!
Course Contents
Module 1: Introduction & Disclaimers
Module 2: The Basics
Module 3: Typical Speech Development
Module 4: Compensatory Speech Errors
Module 5: Choosing an SLP
Module 6: The Assessment
Module 7: The Goals
Module 8: At Home Strategies
Module 9: Important Reminder
Module 10: Will My Child Make Progress?
Module 11: Meet Kelly
Module 12: Conclusion
Chelsea Swopes, M.S. CCC-SLP
I’m a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mama of two. I have been helping children develop their speech and language skills for over 12 years.
In the private practice setting, I had the pleasure of working with primarily cleft-affected children and their families. I spent countless hours providing therapy and working with parents to set their child up for success. In the school-based setting, I have served as an expert consultant in the area of cleft palate and craniofacial disorders, guiding my fellow through the special considerations of assessment and therapy. Additionally, I have presented to speech pathology graduate programs, to provide specific training in this area.
When I started Play Talk Love, my goal was to provide parents of babies and toddlers with information and practical strategies to support them in their speech and language development. I quickly noticed that there was very limited information available to parents of cleft-affected children when it came to speech therapy. My hope is that this 101 Course for parents will change that!
I can’t wait to share my cleft & craniofacial expertise, trade secrets and success stories with you!
DISCLAIMER: This parent education resource is not intended to serve as medical advice and cannot be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment that can only be provided by a physician or approved health care professional. The author IS NOT providing medical services or speech therapy services. By purchasing this course, you agree to the aforementioned disclaimer and our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We may use your information to send you emails and promotions for this website and future services that we provide.
Please note that due to the nature of this product and the instant download feature, refunds are unable to be given.