If you or your physician have concerns about your child’s communication, seeking out further assessment from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is the next step in addressing these concerns. But where do you start? And how do you know if the SLP is a good fit? This post will help to guide you through this process.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) may seem like an odd choice for concussion assessment and treatment- after all, you’re talking just fine! However, SLPs are trained in cognition (including attention, memory, organization, and executive functioning) and how deficits in these areas impact daily functioning in thinking, learning, and communication. Some SLPs may further specialize in these areas and receive additional training and ongoing education. For patients experiencing cognitive symptoms following a concussion, SLPs play a crucial role in the recovery process by assessing deficits and creating a tailored treatment plan to address patient needs.

Returning to school following a concussion can feel daunting. Though significant research has been done on the “Return to Play” protocols assisting student-athletes with safely rejoining practices and game play, the research on safely and effectively returning to school is less well established.