
Liscenced Speech Language Pathologists can help in a number of ways. Each child with Down syndrome is unique. Thorough evaluations a child's cognitive, articulation, and language abilities can help create a unique profile for your child. This can be beneficial in incorporating learning strategies into classroom settings and helping professionals determine specific areas to focus on when providing services to your child.
Speech therapy can support the development of all areas of expressive and receptive language and includes specific strategies to target swallowing, semantic development, syntax, pragmatics, oral-motor planning, and articulation.

How can Speech Therapy help people with Down syndrome? //
Language Assessment
The language abilities of people with Down syndrome are commonly delayed or disordered. To evaluate language abilities, the Speech Language Pathologist should administer one or more of the following standardized tests:
-the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - Fifth Edition (CELF-5)
-the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL)
-the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - Fourth Edition (PPVT-4).
Informal assessments should also be taken alongside the recommended formal assessments. A common way to informally assess a child's language is to take a language sample. These are obtained through play-based activities or simply speaking with the child about a topic that interests them so that the clinician can note any specific errors in articulation (i.e. substitutions, omissions) and also take an MLU (mean length of utterance) to see if the child reaches the expected amount of words per utterance for their age.
Speech-Language Assessments //
The speech-language pathologist will conduct a thorough evaluation for the child with Down syndrome, assessing the child’s language, speech/articulation, fluency and pragmatic skills through a variety of formal and informal tests. Once these areas are assessed, the clinician will be able to provide information on what areas the child needs therapy in, targeting these specific areas to enhance the child’s overall quality of communication.
Speech Assessment
To assess a child with Down Syndrome’s speech and articulation, a speech therapist might use:
-the Clinical Assessment of Articulation and Phonology - Second Edition (CAAP-2)
-Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation 2 (GTFA-2)
-Structured Photographic Articulation Test featuring Dudsberry (SPAT-D II)
Fluency Assessment
In the case of an individual with Down Syndrome experiencing fluency disorders, a speech therapist might use the following standardized tests during assessment:
-the Stuttering Severity Instrument- Fourth Edition (SSI-4)
-Test of Childhood Stuttering (TOCS)
Pragmatics Assessment
A standardized assessment of social communication skills that might be helpful in assessing clients with Down syndrome is the pragmatics subtest of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - 5th edition.
It is also recommended that a child’s pragmatics be informally assessed. This assessment can be done by a clinician in any type of group setting where the child has access to speak among other peers. Spontaneous pragmatic skills such as eye contact, careful listening, turn taking, topic maintenance and not interrupting when others are speaking will be observed.
Swallowing
If an individual feels that there is trouble with their swallowing, it is recommended that a videofluoroscopy be conducted along with oral-motor and feeding assessments.
Hearing
Because children with Down Syndrome are at higher risk for hearing impairment and specifically for middle ear disease, a full audiologic assessment should occur at infancy and then in 4-6 month intervals following infancy.
Referrals //
Due to the wide range of impairments that Down Syndrome causes, an interdisciplinary approach is key. Professionals that a child may be referred to include:
-Pediatricians
-Neurodevelopmental Therapists
-Speech Language Pathologists
-Audiologists
-Ophthalmologists
-Physical Therapists
-Occupational Therapists

Are you a parent with questions?
If you are unsure about which type of professional(s) that your child should see, the child’s primary care physician should be able to refer him or her to the appropriate place. Once referred to the appropriate professionals, specialized assessments may be given to further analyze which type of treatment is necessary.