Services

Speech-Language Valencia

Clinical specialties

Speech-language assessment of children with complex linguistic backgrounds
Acquisition of first and additional languages
Developmental language disorders
Articulation and phonological disorders
Supporting literacy development, for students in international schools
Neurodiverse profiles, developmental delays and other complex conditions
Integrated intervention approaches, through collaboration and education
Stuttering and selective mutism

Assessments

A comprehensive evaluation of the client’s communication skills sets us on a solid path for intervention. An evaluation of language development, articulation and the oral mechanism, combined with information about the client’s developmental and academic history gives us the information we need to accurately set goals that will lead to real improvements in the areas of concern.

Aside from goal-setting and intervention-planning, some families or school may desire a formal diagnosis of their child’s condition, to aid in establishing appropriate educational supports, securing reimbursement from insurance companies or other reasons.

Speech-language pathologists are qualified to diagnose the following conditions in the DSM-5-TR:

Language Disorder, F80.2
Speech Sound Disorder, F80.0
Child-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering), F80.1
Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder, F80.82
Unspecified Communication Disorder, F80.9

The complex linguistic backgrounds of my clients is typically a far reach from the populations that most standardised assessment tools were developed for— usually monolingual children living in far off countries such as the US or the UK. Therefore, we must interpret scores on standardised tests with caution, and often the most appropriate route is not to report scores at all OR to use other, alternative methods of assessment.

I have extensive experience in the area of bilingual and multilingual assessment. Therefore, I employ a combination of methods, including standardised tests and non-standardised procedures to yield the most accurate understanding of the client’s profile. I learned long ago in my career that a solid assessment encompasses multiple sources of information, not only from my own observations but also from those who are closest to the client.

Intervention

Communication skills require time to develop, and regular intervention is crucial for progress. Frequency of intervention is determined by the needs of the client and family preference. Typically, clients have one, two, or three sessions per week. Some clients also take advantage of the long, summer holidays for a more intensive therapy schedule. However, often the most important aspect of therapy is “the intervention between intervention sessions”— so the integration of therapeutic strategies by families, educators or others in the client’s daily life.

For many clients, sessions take place at my location in San Antonio de Benagéber, a town just north of Valencia off the CV-35. Scheduling is worked out on an individual client basis. Other clients prefer to meet online. This option works well for clients who live in farther areas of Valencia, other regions of Spain or parts of the world! I use a virtual therapy platform that gives us access to a variety of speech therapy materials, interactive games, a virtual whiteboard, and many other capabilities. These sessions go far beyond a video call, and I have carried out successful virtual sessions with clients 3 years to adults!

I have also partnered with specific schools in the Valencia area to deliver sessions on site during the school day. This option facilitates close communication between myself, teachers and other professionals (e.g. school psychologist, SEN team), and is often preferred when families’ evenings are already full. Length of these sessions is also variable. School staff or families who are interested in exploring this option are encouraged to contact me to discuss possibilities.

Finally, home visits are an option which may be arranged on a case-by-case basis, particularly for homebound clients who are not able to access online services. Charges are worked out based on various factors, including travel time and possibility of traffic or other complications which would affect the scheduling of other clients before and after the home visit. Note that due to higher demand for services during the school term and in the evenings, home visits are more feasible at specific times of day and certain times of the year. Please contact me for further information.

Training and workshops

Since my early days in the field as a graduate student, I have thoroughly enjoyed opportunities to provide training sessions and workshops for teachers, parents and other therapists (various disciplines). In-person or online workshops are a wonderful way to increase the understanding of communication disorders and their impact on development, participation and learning. And of course the main objective is that attendees go away new, practical skills that they can start to use right away!

I have given workshops on a wide variety of topics, and would love to build content tailor-fit to attendee needs. If interested, please reach out so we discuss details and start planning!

Testimonials

During my son’s 2 years with Vanessa, she was an amazing therapist and mentor to him. At once disciplined and flexible, Vanessa brought an analytical mind to identifying his needs and structuring a program that met those needs while holding his interest. Her ability to sense which areas to focus on and when to pivot to a new technique or direction helped to keep my son moving along toward improvement of his varied and complex speech needs. Patient, kind, and creative while firm and directed, Vanessa is a great therapist as well as a lovely person. We were grateful for the opportunity to work with her.

Vanessa always kept the work interesting. She figured out what I liked and had me practice with her by talking about those things. We had fun.

Vanessa has high level of intellectual aptitude, personal warmth, and sincere interest to work with children who has communication problem.

… an excellent source of information in the field of bilingual speech/language assessment and therapy and an overall “Top Notch” Speech/Language Pathologist