Speech Therapy Secrets: What Every Caregiver Needs to Know

When Should You Worry About Your Child's Speech Development? Expert Insights from 22-Year School Speech Pathologist

Join me as I interview veteran speech pathologist Susie Betancourt, who shares crucial insights every parent and educator needs to know about speech development. With 22 years in North Carolina public schools and experience serving over 220,000 students, Susie reveals the key developmental milestones, when to seek help, and inspiring success stories.

What You'll Learn:
• Critical speech milestones by age (1, 2, 3, and 4 years)
• When stuttering is normal vs. concerning
• Why middle schoolers often succeed better in speech therapy
• Professional resources for parents and teachers
• Accommodations for students with speech challenges
• Success stories including a stuttering valedictorian

Perfect for: teachers, caregivers, homeschoolers, school counselors, instructional leaders, education coaches, and anyone supporting student success through a pro-kid mindset and whole child approach.

Key Topics: Speech therapy, child development, student support, inclusive teaching, parent communication, family partnerships, teacher support, professional development, student engagement, culturally responsive teaching, equity in education, inclusive classrooms, empowered educators, thriving students, education transformation

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction & Guest Background
1:21 Inspiring Educator Story
2:12 COVID Impact on Speech Services
3:01 Normal vs. Concerning Stuttering
5:16 Speech Development Milestones by Age
7:05 Articulation Development Timeline
8:49 Why Older Students Succeed in Speech Therapy
10:54 Resources for Parents (ASHA)
12:19 Phonics & Reading Connection
13:25 Success Stories: Autism & Communication
14:27 Stuttering Success: The Confident Valedictorian
16:07 Large School System Challenges
18:58 What She'll Miss Most About Teaching
19:59 Final Thoughts & Resources

Episode Mentions:

• ASHA.org (American Speech & Hearing Association)
• Characteristics of Typical Disfluency & Stuttering 
• Typical Speech and Language Development
• Stuttering Resources
• Stimulability and Treatment Outcomes
• Response to Intervention
• Fast ForWord (Auditory Processing & Phonics)
• Autism & Autism Speaks
• Wake County Public School System

#SpeechTherapy #ChildDevelopment #ParentingTips #SpecialEducation #Stuttering #SpeechPathology #InclusiveTeaching #StudentSuccess #EarlyIntervention #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationPodcast #TeacherSupport #ParentCommunication #FamilyPartnerships #ProKidMindset #WholeChild #EmpoweredEducators #ThrivingStudents #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #EquityInEducation #InclusiveClassrooms #SchoolCounselors #InstructionalLeaders #EducationTransformation #teacherimpact 

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.