When you enhance your ability to communicate, you improve your quality of life. Laura S. Smith is one of the specially trained individuals in Washington state that is both a certified orofacial myologist and a licensed speech-language pathologist. With this knowledge she brings a full spectrum of insight to the process of correcting communication difficulties and differences. Laura has spent over two years abroad studying people, observing how they relate to each other and their culture. Her experiences led her to pursue a profession in which she could help others communicate; a profession in which she could impact and improve peoples lives. After working in schools, nursing homes and hospitals, she established TALK SLP Services to help people of all ages improve their communication skills with two locations; one in Seattle and one in Mercer Island for your convenience. Speech, language, communication, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes—including developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, stroke, brain injury, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, hearing loss, behavioral and emotional issues, mental retardation, tongue thrust and foreign dialects. TALK SLP Services Provides The Following: • Screenings: Detect communication difficulties that suggest the necessity for more in-depth evaluation. • Evaluation: Provide an extensive assessment of an individual’s speech, language, communication and swallowing performance. A profile reveals strengths and weaknesses from which an intervention plan is generated. • Treatment: Provide therapy tailored to the individual’s unique needs that will complement educational and/or professional goals while providing a stimulating environment that is both interactive and fun. • Consultation Services: Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of teachers, psychologists, counselors, vocational coaches, and healthcare/rehabilitative professionals to develop and integrate programs and monitor their progress across settings such as daycare, schools, vocational settings and medical facilities. • Guidance and Instruction: • Provide counsel to individuals and families concerning communication development and disorders. • Address the stress and misunderstanding that may occur with communication disorders. • Teach individuals and families to identify and modify patterns that may slow communication and treatment progress. • Develop communication techniques Lauras belief is that every individual communicates differently and has unique challenges with communication. Based on that belief, she strives to show consideration for and appreciation of the cultural, ethnic, linguistic and social background of the individual in therapy. In treating the whole person, it is often beneficial to provide tools to family members, caregivers, and peers (when appropriate), for communication is an interactive process. Collaborative teaming with other educational and healthcare professionals creates consistency across settings and can be instrumental in reaching ones health and/or educational goals. Lauras focus on intervention draws from a variety of methods and techniques that are tailored to meet each individuals needs.