LIVE 5pm ET Wednesday 7/24/24
Adolescence, spanning from puberty to full maturity (roughly ages 10-19), is marked by significant physical, mental, social and linguistic changes. This stage necessitates specialized services, distinguishing adolescents from children and adults. As language development continues adolescents also face complex academic language and literacy challenges. Literacy skills become crucial as students transition from learning to read to reading to learn, especially impacting those with language disorders. Language disorders can affect speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, leading to poor academic performance and limited future opportunities. Despite these consequences, adolescents with language disorders are underserved. Most SLPs work with younger children, highlighting the need for a focus on adolescent services. SLPs can support adolescents by targeting cross-curricular and discipline-specific language and literacy skills, using tools like high-utility novels, and advocating through collaboration, education, and community engagement. Addressing these needs can promote adolescents' academic and developmental success.