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PODCAST

The Preschool SLP

Kelly Vess, MA, CCC-SLP

Are you an agent of change? Looking to create real, life-long change in your work and in yourself? Ready to turn your visions into reality? Looking to work smarter, not harder—and have lots of fun along the way? Every Thursday, join international author, researcher, and speaker Kelly Vess to put only the best research to work. Kelly covers effective, practical strategies for children AND therapists to thrive. You are a miracle. Your time here is short. Let’s make the most of it. Follow Kelly

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All Episodes

31:42

196. 10 Reasons to Use the ‘Look at’ Sentence Strip...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/10/30

If you work with children with autism who are minimally speaking, this episode is a must-listen. We’re breaking down why the “Look at” sentence strip has been a total game-changer in my therapy room—and why it consistently helps children begin to speak, connect, and comment on the world around them. After 25 years of practice, I can tell you this tool does more than encourage speech—it builds neurological pathways for speech to flow. You’ll learn: ✅ The neuroscience behind why repetition and...

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20:58

195. Groundbreaking Autism Study Reveals How Autism...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/10/24

Discover how a 2025 Nature autism study transforms early intervention in speech language pathology. Learn how family history, genetics, and executive function shape assessment, therapy planning, and lifelong communication outcomes. If you work with children with autism, this episode will change how you think about early intervention forever. A major 2025 study published in Nature titled Polygenic and developmental profiles of autism differ by age of diagnosis has revealed that early onset aut...

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21:52

194. 5 Myths About High-Tech AAC—Debunked by Research

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/10/16

If you work with minimally speaking children or children with autism, this episode is a must-listen. Speech-language pathologist Kelly Vess takes on the five biggest myths about high-tech AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)—and backs every point with current peer-reviewed research. Learn why high-tech AAC devices: ✅ Do not require self-regulation or joint attention first ✅ Are not too complex for preschoolers ✅ Increase social interaction rather than limit it ✅ Should no...

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21:49

193. Teaching Little Kids Big Sentences: The Most...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/10/09

Today’s episode is a can’t-miss if you work with children with developmental language disorder (DLD) or developmental language delays. I’m sharing my #1 most powerful responsive language strategy—one that works with every child on your caseload, regardless of temperament. We’re going beyond basic expansions and simple recasts. Instead, I’ll show you how to transform simple sentences into complex ones by adding finite clauses—what I like to call “clausing.” You’ll hear about peer-reviewed rese...

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31:33

192. Are Final Clusters the Overlooked Key to Bigger...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/10/02

If you work with children with speech sound disorders, this episode is a must-listen. We’re diving into cutting-edge research on final consonant clusters—a treatment target that has been largely overlooked but may unlock powerful generalization gains. For decades, evidence has shown that choosing complex targets leads to greater overall progress. Now, new research suggests that working on final 3-element clusters may be just as effective—and possibly more efficient—than the traditional initia...

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24:28

4 Strategies to Build Decontextualized Language for...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/09/25

If you work with preschool or early elementary students, this episode is a must-listen. We’re diving into decontextualized language—a skill that’s rarely discussed but critical for literacy and academic success. Decontextualized language is when children talk about things outside the here and now—past events, future plans, ideas, feelings, and abstract thinking. Why does it matter? Research spanning over 20 years shows that children with strong decontextualized language skills in presch...

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16:44

190. How to Use Digital Tools to Actually Boost...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/09/17

Are you ready to go digital the right way in your therapy sessions? Today, we’re diving into the latest systematic review research on using digital tools to improve preschoolers’ language and literacy outcomes. The evidence is clear: digital media can be a powerful tool — when it’s used intentionally. In this episode, you’ll discover five key strategies that work, including: Why children should never be left alone with a deviceHow to make digital activities multimodal and engagingThe language...

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29:45

189. AAC for Social Communication: Research, Reality,...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/09/11

If you work with minimally speaking children using low-tech or high-tech AAC, this episode is for you. A brand-new systematic review just dropped — but the published research is sparse, messy, and often mislabeled. Today, we’ll dig through the “recycle bin” of studies to uncover what actually works, why commenting is more powerful than requesting, and how to take action on Monday morning. You’ll learn: Why many so-called “commenting interventions” are really prompted responses, not true initi...

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19:11

188. Does Telepractice for Speech Sound Disorders Work?

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/09/04

Is telepractice just as effective as in-person therapy for treating speech sound disorders? In this episode, we take a realistic, research-driven look at what the evidence really says about speech telepractice—and what factors determine whether it works. You’ll discover: The exact client profiles that are NOT a good fit for telepractice.The active ingredients that make telepractice sessions as effective as in-person therapy.Why dose isn’t just about reps—and how complex targets create massive...

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29:52

187. The 3 Biggest Goal-Writing Mistakes (and How to...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/28

Are your speech therapy goals actually creating change or just filling space on an IEP? In this episode, I share the three biggest mistakes I made in writing goals (and what to do instead). You’ll learn how to: Write measurable annual goals that track real growth.Use complex clusters and the complexity approach to accelerate progress.Show parents exactly how to cue, fade prompts, and buy-in to accomplish the quarterly objective so they become co-interventionists right from the start.Avoid clu...

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19:05

186. Speech Sound Disorder Goals Made Easy: Try This...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/21

If you work with children with speech sound disorders, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down my simple 3-step method for writing speech goals that not only improve clarity but also empower parents and the entire intervention team to stay on the same page. You’ll learn how to: Use your single word standardized speech tests to track progress with confidenceWrite easy to measure annual goals that are reliable to connected speechCreate clear, evidence-based objectives that scaffold from maxi...

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16:28

147. Why Isn't 'Mama' the 1st Word for Many with Autism?

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/16

Why isn't 'Mama' a first word for many children with Autism, yet it is for their neurotypical peers? There are four underlying physiological causes for this difference. Let's dive in to explore these four reasons why 'Mama' is not just naturally developing and what we need to do differently to encourage the development of this pivotally important word. Ready to work more effectively with children with autism by treating the whole child with done-for-you, ready-to-use activities delivered week...

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28:01

185. Evidence-Based Assessment & Language...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/14

How can speech-language pathologists determine whether a child’s communication challenges are due to a language difference or a language disorder—and then choose the most impactful language intervention strategies? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, one of the leading experts in culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse (CLED) populations. With over 70 scholarly publications and 16 books, she has dedicated her career to ensuring SLPs can assess children ...

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20:29

60. Three Reasons Why Verbal Cues Must Be Quickly...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/11

Unfortunately, verbal cues are often the last to be faded in speech therapy. What are the drawbacks of providing a verbal model in speech therapy? This episode covers the three major areas negatively impacted by the persistence of verbal cues. Check out this episode to learn what to do instead to improve self-efficacy, executive function, and mastery through the automatization of accurate speech patterns. To learn how to effectively cue, check out "Speech Sound Disorders: Comprehensive...

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31:06

Gestalt Language Processing Intervention: What’s...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/07

Are you using the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) framework in your autism intervention? This episode of The Preschool SLP pulls back the curtain on Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and challenges you to think critically about what’s truly supported by research—and what isn't. SLPs are increasingly encouraged to adopt GLP-informed interventions, but a recent article by Venker and Lorang (2025) in response to Hadock et al. (2024) raises five concerns you can’t afford to ignore. In this ep...

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24:25

135. Gestalt Language Processing? Do THIS to Improve...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/08/05

This week, Kelly shares a powerful, research-driven strategy that she developed—almost by accident—that has become a game-changer in her therapy room and for countless SIS members. 🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why traditional “plus one” language modeling often isn’t enough—and how to break free from the chisel-and-hammer approach.The story behind how a speech sound disorder bootcamp accidentally became the birthplace of an effective language intervention for children with autism.How

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15:51

183. Assessing Language from a Gestalt Language...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/07/31

Are you using the Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) approach in your language assessments—or wondering if you should? In this episode of The Preschool SLP Podcast, we cut through the noise to break down what’s evidence-based, what’s not, and how to make informed, practical decisions starting Monday morning. Whether you're a speech-language pathologist or a parent of a child with autism, this episode will equip you to approach Gestalt language development with discernment and clarity. In This ...

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25:26

182. AAC + Gestalt Language Processing: What SLPs...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/07/24

We're combining two of the most highly requested topics—Gestalt Language Processing and AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)—into one conversation with Farwa Husain of First Phrases. We're answering some key questions about AAC + Gestalt: What do we actually know about integrating gestalts with high-tech AAC systems? What’s missing in the research? How can SLPs move forward confidently on Monday morning without waiting for perfect data? What Gestalt Language Processing really mean...

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38:37

181. Thinking About SLP Contracting? Here’s What You...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/07/17

Is the way you’re working… actually working? In this candid and empowering episode of The Preschool SLP, I sit down with the SLP Happy Hour host, Sarah Lockhart, to talk about what no one tells you in grad school: the path to sustainability as an SLP is rarely linear. Together, we unpack what it really takes to thrive in this field—from navigating burnout to rebuilding self-trust, shifting careers, and defining success on your own terms. Whether you’re in public schools, private practice, tel...

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27:49

Let's Talk Behavior: Two Game-Changing Tools to Set...

The Preschool SLP ·

2025/07/10

If you work with or have a child with communication impairments, today's episode, dedicated to improving behavior, is a 'must-listen'. I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you access to two powerful tools straight from my SIS Membership that are helping SLPs across the country transform their therapy sessions—without burning out. Heat up your laminator and get ready for success. 🔧 Tool #1 will help your kiddos develop prosocial communication behaviors. 🔧Tool #2 will support cel...

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197 results

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