School-Based SLPs: Word-Finding Disorder - What It Is and How to Treat It (Grades PK-12) Presented by Courtney Seidel, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL Speech-Language Pathologist, Author, and National Presenter

Specifically Designed for Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Grades PreK-12

Practical Ideas and Strategies

What is Word-Finding Disorder and how can school-based SLPs best support this population of students? Learn about a cognitive linguistic disorder that is present in approximately 50% of students with learning disabilities and 25% of students with speech-language impairments. These students often have difficulty answering questions in class, use vague references like "thing" for words you'd expect them to know, produce long pauses when speaking, and demonstrate mazing such as repetitions, revisions, and fillers like "um" and "ah." It is critical as school-based SLPs that we understand and can assess and treat this disorder.

In this seminar, outstanding Speech-Language Pathologist, author and national presenter Courtney Seidel draws from her extensive experience working with grades PreK-12 students with Word-Finding Disorder to share the very best strategies for building your toolbox of ways to identify and treat Word-Finding Disorder in students with whom you work. You'll view many video segments that illustrate the process of assessing and treating Word-Finding Disorder.

At the end of the day, you will feel equipped and empowered to work with students with Word-Finding Disorder and will be armed with an overflowing toolbox you can use immediately. This is a seminar you won't want to miss!

Ten Key Benefits of Attending

1. What Every School-Based SLP Needs to Know About Students With Word-Finding Disorder (WFD)
   Learn about a cognitive linguistic disorder that is present in up to 50% of students with learning disabilities and 25% of students with speech-language impairments … Identify the symptoms of Word-Finding Disorder that may be overlooked
2. Broaden Your Scope of Practice to Include Word-Finding Intervention
   Expand your expertise by learning about this common cognitive-linguistic impairment … Supplement your current language intervention by incorporating word retrieval strategies
3. Distinguish Between Poor Vocabulary and Word-Finding Disorder
   Understand why some students with vocabulary goals struggle to generalize words across settings … Contrast treatment for vocabulary impairment versus Word-Finding Disorder
4. Examine Assessment Instruments for Identifying Word-Finding Deficits
   Explore specific tools that allow you to pinpoint Word-Finding Disorder … Discover how to use tools you already own, or can easily create, to accurately identify a suspected WFD
5. Match Students' Word Finding With One of Three Profiles to Select the Most Effective Treatment Approach
   Interpret assessment findings in a way that results in individualized intervention … Learn how to increase the effectiveness of treatment plans by differentiating instruction
6. Acquire a Bank of SMART Goals That Align With Word-Finding Disorder
   Receive pre-made templates you can efficiently individualize to your students' specific needs … Write goals you can easily implement and measure
7. Implement Specific, Powerful WFD Treatment Approaches
   Employ practical, evidence-based treatment techniques for Word-Finding Disorder … Leave with both the know-how and the materials needed
8. Uncover How Word-Finding Disorder Can Impact Literacy
   Find out how Word-Finding Disorder can present itself in students' reading and writing … Review accommodations that students with Word-Finding Disorder will benefit from in the classroom
9. Streamline Your Word-Finding Intervention Process
   Learn how to utilize a systematic, structured treatment framework to guide the word-finding intervention process … Grow in your confidence about when to move forward with the next step in the intervention plan
10. Detailed Word-Finding Disorder Digital Resource Handbook and Special Online Access
    You'll leave with an extensive Word-Finding Disorder digital resource handbook packed with step-by-step activities, materials, and resources designed to make your word-finding intervention systematic, evidence based, and effective … Receive special online access to Courtney's Google Drive full of additional digital resources

Outstanding Strategies You Can Use Immediately

Here's what you'll learn:

• How school-based SLPs can improve evaluation, treatment, and progress monitoring of word-finding challenges
• Highly effective, evidence-based treatment approaches for Word-Finding Disorder
• Numerous assessment tools, both norm-referenced and authentic for identifying Word-Finding Disorder
• Differential diagnosis of poor vocabulary versus Word-Finding Disorder
• Types of word-finding profiles and individualized treatment options for each
• Systematic approaches that frame the purpose of treatment and promote dismissal
• Ready-to-use frameworks that result in structured word-finding intervention plans
• Basic skills remediation versus learning strategies approaches to intervention
• Step-by-step flowcharts to guide your clinical decision making
• Easy-to-adapt templates for evaluation reports, goal writing, and lesson planning
• Generalization and self-advocacy techniques to help your students achieve their highest level of independence
• Accommodations to support students with word retrieval in the classroom
• Progress monitoring tools for Word-Finding Disorder, including rubrics, language sample analysis, and data collection tips

A Message From Your Seminar Leader

Dear Colleague:

Over the years I've been repeatedly surprised at how many children on my caseload demonstrated word-finding difficulty. Word-Finding Disorder is often overlooked, even though the prevalence is high among learners with language impairment and learning disabilities. In fact, it's present in up to 25% of students with language impairment and 50% of students with learning disabilities. And we know firsthand our caseload is comprised mostly of students with language impairments and/or learning disabilities.

Have you ever wondered what that "missing piece" is for students who have worked on vocabulary and demonstrate knowledge of the word during a session, but are not able to use it later? Do your students demonstrate circumlocution and "talk all around" a word, describing it rather than naming it? Students with word-finding challenges often have difficulty answering questions in class, use vague references like "thing" for words you'd expect them to know, produce long pauses when speaking, and demonstrate mazing such as repetitions, revisions, and fillers like "um" and "ah."

As SLPs, we play a vital role in helping students remedy these issues, and yet our traditional expressive language intervention doesn't address their needs. Without intervention specific to word retrieval, a Word-Finding Disorder results in significant expressive language problems that profoundly affect a student's day-to-day life, including learning and social communication. Word-finding difficulty can impact reading, writing and even test taking. This is why it's important for school-based SLPs to be able to identify the signs of Word-Finding Disorder, assess it, and properly treat it.

I'm excited to share what I've learned that can help students on your caseload improve their expressive language. My goal is to ensure you have the tools and resources needed to address this "missing piece" for your students. Video examples from real sessions will be used to model a variety of assessment and intervention strategies to increase your confidence in identifying and treating Word-Finding Disorder. You'll leave with a toolbox of practical, evidence-based approaches you can use immediately to assess and treat Word-Finding Disorder.

Sincerely,
Courtney Seidel

P.S. The Word-Finding Disorder digital handbook you'll receive is filled with screening tools, assessment resources, treatment plan templates, goal banks, rubrics for progress monitoring, and much more, so you can start this work tomorrow.

Who Should Attend

Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Grades PreK-12

About BER Live Online Events

With the current health challenges, all BER in-person PD events are currently being presented in a Live Online format:

• Outstanding Instructors
  All programs are led by outstanding BER national trainers
• Extensive Resource Handbooks
  You'll have access to an extensive digital Resource Handbook before, during and after your seminar
• Highly Interactive
  You'll be able to ask questions in real time and interact with the instructor and other participants
• Program Guarantee
  As we have for 48 years, we guarantee the high quality of our programs. If you are not satisfied, we'll give you a 100% refund.

Special Benefits of Attending

Extensive Digital Resource Handbook
You will receive an extensive digital resource handbook specifically designed for this seminar. Included in the handbook are:

• All the screening and assessment resources used in the seminar
• Step-by-step templates and flowcharts to streamline your therapy planning
• Evidence-based strategies and practical tools you can use immediately to assess and treat Word-Finding Disorder
• Resources you can share with teachers and parents about Word-Finding Disorder and supports
• Goal banks to help you easily develop IEPs based on a student's word-finding profile
• Rubrics to support progress monitoring and dismissal
• Special online access to Courtney's Google Drive, filled with additional Word-Finding Disorder digital resources and downloads

For in-person seminars, registrants will also receive a printed copy of the resource handbook as long as their registration is received in the BER office at least 15 calendar days before the event.

Consultation Available
Courtney Seidel will be available for consultation regarding your questions and the unique needs of your own program.

ASHA - CEUs


You will be required to fully attend the program, actively participate, and complete a self-assessment and program evaluation.

ASHA-Required Disclosure Statement for Courtney Seidel:
Presenter for the Bureau of Education & Research and receives honorarium compensation
No relevant nonfinancial relationships exist.

Semester Credit Option
Up to four graduate level professional development credits are available with an additional fee and completion of follow-up practicum activities. Details for direct enrollment with University of Massachusetts Global, a nonprofit affiliate, will be available at this program.

Meet Inservice Requirements
Participants of both the Live Online Seminar and those completing the Recorded Version online can receive a certificate of participation that may be used to verify five continuing education hours. State CEUs are available for both versions of the course. For specific details, visit www.ber.org/ceus.

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