The Preschool SLP: KellyVessSLP

If you work with children who have   developmental language delay (DLD), this is an episode you can’t miss. In this week’s episode, I share my   #1 most effective intervention strategy   for improving oral narratives in children with DLD — and why narrative growth is key to strengthening   verbal working memory, a hallmark weakness in these children. Here’s what you’ll learn: &...

If you work with preschoolers or school-aged children with   developmental language delay, you won’t want to miss this episode. Too often, clinicians focus on grammatical morphemes at age three — but research shows that’s unreliable. Instead, the   hallmark feature of developmental language delay is poor verbal working memory. In this episode, you’ll learn:  ✅ Why grammatical accur...

Are you assessing grammatical morphemes in your three-year-olds? You may want to rethink that approach. In this episode, I break down   three evidence-based reasons why grammatical morphemes are   not   reliable indicators of language development at age three. We’ll dig into:  ✅ Why normative data is lacking  ✅ Why variability is too great at age three  ✅ Why stand...

If you’ve ever been told to “withhold until they ask” when working with children with autism, this episode will challenge that approach. Twenty years ago, I did it too—and I saw how it backfired. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned, researched, and field-tested: 5 proven strategies that actually stimulate speech development in autism. You’ll learn why withholding speech opportunities triggers sur...

Headed to ASHA? Don’t miss my posters in the gallery under Kelly Vess ! In this episode, we’re tackling one of the most overlooked areas in speech therapy— speech perception —and why it’s directly tied to literacy outcomes. You’ll learn my 5-step process for evaluating speech perception using error productions from a single-word test. Then we dive deeper into 12 additional risk factors —from genet...

If you work with children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), you can’t afford to miss this conversation. In today’s episode, I break down   five critical areas of literacy   that children with CAS are more likely to struggle with—phonological awareness, phonological processing, speech perception, print, and narrative skills. You’ll hear why pairing   print with phonological awa...

As SLPs, our work is far too important to rely on emotionally based practice—doing something simply because it “sounds good” or because it’s trending on social media. Every detail of your practice matters. In this episode, I share six emotionally based practice myths I’ve been challenged on—and the evidence that proves otherwise. From speech sound disorder targets to narrative development, AAC set...

AAC is one of the most powerful—and most challenging—tools we have as speech-language pathologists. But let’s be honest: it’s not easy. Devices change, philosophies clash, and too often our students leave preschool without fluently expressing their thoughts through AAC. In this episode, I share the three biggest mistakes I’ve made in AAC—and the lessons they taught me. From symbol placement to mul...

If I could go back 20 years and give myself just one piece of advice as a brand-new speech-language pathologist, it would be this: research your practice. In this episode, I unpack what it truly means to research your own intervention, why simple A/B testing can make you a more powerful therapist, and how to identify the “active ingredients” that change children’s lives. From split-testing cluster...

If you work with preschoolers on the autism spectrum, this episode is a must-listen. Today, we dive into the latest research on emergent literacy skills in children with autism and uncover which print concepts are strengths and which are areas of challenge. You’ll learn five powerful, evidence-based strategies to build foundational phonological awareness, decoding, and print comprehension before k...

📍 Are you still hearing that SLPs should use principles of motor learning to treat speech disorders? It’s time to set the record straight. In this episode, I dive into the research (and the myths) behind non-speech motor learning — like applying a golfer’s swing to a preschooler’s speech therapy. We’ll break down why this approach fails our youngest learners and what actually works . You’ll learn...

Struggling with the elusive /r/? In this episode, I share practical, evidence-based strategies that make producing the R sound easier for your students. You’ll learn: Which vowels make R easier (and harder) to produce Clusters that facilitate correct R production Techniques for addressing postvocalic /r/ Whether you’re establishing or generalizing R, you’ll walk away with ready-to-use tricks you c...

Mirror, mirror on the wall… which S-Blend creates the greatest change of them all? In this episode, we break down four evidence-based principles for selecting the right S-Blends in speech therapy. Discover why some blends are “duds” while others create cascading progress across multiple sounds. We’ll explore: ✔️ Why later-developing blends like SKR accelerate growth ✔️ How maximally distinct clust...

Restrictive, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in autism impact far more than play—they affect communication, social interaction, motor skills, executive function, and even brain development. Left unaddressed, these patterns can lock children into cycles of stress and poor outcomes. In today’s episode, Kelly Vess breaks down the research on RRBs, exposing both the visible impacts (social, language, inde...

Are you using Google Slides in your speech therapy sessions yet? If not, it’s time to start. In this episode, I share three powerful ways Google Slides enhance attention, engagement, and participation —whether you’re working in the classroom, in teletherapy, or supporting families at home. You’ll learn: How to structure lessons like “interval training” to maximize focus Why Google Slides give chil...

This school year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this episode, I’m breaking down 5 proven strategies that will save you time, reduce stress, and maximize learning outcomes for every child on your caseload. From using a sound of the week, to re-purposing activities across settings, to adding brain-boosting movement breaks—these strategies will let you get your evenings and weekends back without...

Technology isn’t going anywhere—it’s here to stay. The question is: how can SLPs use it wisely to improve speech, language, and literacy outcomes? In today’s episode, I dive into what the latest research says about technology paired with adult-child interaction and how this powerful combination can: Improve language comprehension and story grammar Strengthen higher-level reasoning skills through “...

The cerebellum is more than balance—it’s at the center of speech, attention, and learning. The latest research shows neurological differences in the cerebellum for children with ADHD, childhood apraxia of speech, and autism spectrum disorder. So the question is: how do we target it early, when brain plasticity is at its peak? In this episode, I explain how task-oriented movement activities directl...

What if the most powerful way to boost attention, working memory, and flexible thinking isn’t at a table—but in motion? In today’s episode, I share why task-oriented movement activities are game-changers for speech-language therapy. We’ll break down how these purposeful, multi-step activities directly strengthen the three core executive function skills : Inhibitory control – helping children atten...

Movement isn’t optional in speech therapy—it’s essential. Research shows that children with speech and language impairments are far more likely to also have motor delays. When a child can’t join in multi-step play, it’s not always about words—it’s often about the body. In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Evans, a passionate pediatric occupational therapist , who reveals his best-kept secrets for bu...

Children with communication disorders are more likely to develop an external locus of control —believing they have no say in whether they succeed or fail. Research shows this mindset increases their risk of dropping out of school or even entering the juvenile justice system. In this must-listen episode, I’m joined by Denise Stratton, SLP and host of The Speech Umbrella Podcast , to explore how met...

How can you start positive parent relationships with the real-world constraints of a 30-day school timeline and a high prevalence of dual-income households? How can you build cross-cultural relationships? Guest Melanie Evans, CCC-SLP, shares her expertise in multicultural competence for SLPs. Join us as we walk through every step of the evaluation process in this episode. For more information on e...

What supplements, drinks, and foods optimize blood sugar? In this episode, I share my personal blood sugar hacks that improve my focus despite having both ADHD and a high level of sugar sensitivity. If you'd like any information regarding any specific product names or dosage discussed, email me at kelly@kellyvess.com or DM me on IG at @KellyVessSLP Please  Note: I accidentally refer...

Join me in speaking to a parent of a twice-exceptional child: with both ADD and giftedness. She shares her family's vegan diet which she attributes to improving her child's focus. She also shares her personal dos and don'ts in following a vegan diet. Note: This is not medical advice from a trained medical professional, only a parent's perspective. Please seek your individualized professional advic...

The comprehension and expression challenges that come with having a communication disorder can negatively impact the development of secure attachments. What can we do to create secure attachments? Guest Rachel Cushieri Murray shares four strategies to put into practice today. To connect with Rachel, Website: www.mentalhealth4MIyouth.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentalhealth4MIyouth; Email: advo...