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Welcome to Season 6 of Therapod Podcast: More Than Words.

This season dives deep into speech and language - not just therapy, but how communication shapes our entire lives. From education to employment, from childhood through adulthood.

I'm joined by co-host Carolyn Gelenter, an advisory teacher for speech, language and communication needs, and we're bringing you world-class researchers and practitioners who are transforming how we understand language disorders.

Our next guest? Dr. Courtenay Norbury Speech and Language Therapist and - the researcher behind the groundbreaking Surrey study that showed us 7.5% of children have significant language difficulties. That's 2-3 children in every classroom.

But here's what struck me most from our conversation: adults with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) are largely invisible in our healthcare system. No services specifically for them. They're referred for autism assessments or intellectual disability evaluations because there's nowhere else to go.

Courtenay's team at UCL has started the first adult DLD assessment service. Early findings? Many adults are finally getting answers after years of struggling in silence.

Language isn't just about talking. It's about belonging, working, thriving in society.

Tune in to hear how we can build a world where saying "I have DLD" gets the response: "I know what that is, and I know how to help."

#DLD #SpeechLanguageTherapy #therapodPodcast

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🎙️ Just dropped Season 6 of Therapod Podcast - "More Than Words" - and I'm excited to share what we're exploring.

This season dives deep into speech and language development across the lifespan. Not just therapy techniques, but how communication shapes education, work, and daily life.

I'm joined by co-host Carolyn Galler, an advisory teacher for speech, language and communication needs, bringing a fresh perspective to our conversations.

Our latest episode features Amanda Finder, who's developed something remarkable - the "DLD Me" program. It helps children and teens understand their Developmental Language Disorder and build self-advocacy skills.

What struck me most? Amanda's insight that we often take children out of class for therapy without explaining why they need it. We're addressing the elephant in the room - helping young people understand their strengths AND their challenges.

The research is clear: early self-advocacy skills lead to better long-term outcomes. Yet too often, we make decisions about children without asking what they actually need.

For therapists and educators following my work - this episode offers practical approaches to student voice and self-determination. Essential listening if you're supporting children with communication needs.

Available now on all podcast platforms. What resonates with you about giving children agency in their own therapeutic journey?

#SpeechTherapy #ChildDevelopment #TherapodPodcast

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With the start of the new season we have our host Georgie Cooney introduce and interview new host for this season Carolyn Gelenter, an Advisory Teacher for speech, language and communication! Together they explore why speech, language, and communication are fundamental issues of social justice. Carolyn challenges the "one-size-fits-all" approach to teaching, arguing that children are often pushed into complex reading tasks before they have the vocabulary or life experiences to understand them. From the impact of COVID-19 to the link between poverty and communication, Carolyn explains why we must prioritize "listening and speaking" to ensure no child is left behind in school or life. Listen to this podcast to get a glimpse of what is coming further this season!