A component of the expansive Child Find program run by MCPS, includes Speech and Language Services. As stated on their website:
The mission of MCPS Speech and Language Services is to provide comprehensive services for the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention of communication disabilities related to educational success, in accordance with federal and state regulations. Services focus on oral, gestural, and/or augmentative communication skills, reflecting consideration of best practices in the field of speech-language pathology.
The speech and language services are made available for children from birth to the age of 21, and are an excellent resource in providing children the oral communication skills to excel at school and in life. We applaud MCPS for offering this service. So why the article? Well, like most things in MoCo that operated as important services to the community, when COVID arrived, all sensibilities and logic were thrown out the window. Often times this meant that the quality and effectiveness of the service went with it. And now, long after the detrimental effects of COVID have disappeared, the lack of thoughtful, effective and sensible approaches to public service have not returned.
Let us take a walk-through memory lane of how ChildFind has operated and continues to operate today.
- 2020-2021 – ChildFind and MCPS Speech Therapy went virtual only (Even less effective than virtual school)
- 2021 – ChildFind and MCPS Speech Therapy implement a combo face shield and mask set up, requiring it of children, parents and therapists.
- 2022 – Once MCPS dropped the requirement of masks, therapy services at the schools became ‘mask optional’. Therapy that occurred at a child’s house required the masking of therapists.
- 2023 – Therapists providing speech therapy at both MCPS schools and at homes still allowed to wear masks. We reached out to ChildFind with the following questions, but have not yet received a response:
- What percentage of speech therapists wear a mask for any therapy sessions?
- What is the ChildFind policy around masking for speech therapists.
Now you might be wondering, what is the big deal? And one would agree with you for many professions and many different therapy services. But not speech therapy. Until 2000, the profession was steeped in decades of scientific research that pointed to the value and importance of language and speech development being supported by seeing facial and mouth movements. Therapy techniques relied on these non-verbal communication methods to buoy the development of speech, and speech impediments depended on free range of motion. But then in 2021, years of scientific research were pushed aside for unsubstantiated theories that masks did not cause speech delays or impediments and that improving speech development is not hindered by a mask. In 2021, ASHA (American Speech Language Hearing Association) fell victim to this and issued guidance supporting the use of masks in therapy sessions. This was entirely based on what they specifically clarified as “unsubstantiated data” or “unproven data”.
As of December 6, 2021, the CDC reported that “The limited available data indicate no clear evidence that masking impairs emotional or language development in children.” The CDC also acknowledges the need for further research.
At this time, we are not aware of any studies that have directly assessed the long-term impact on speech and language development when young children interact with adults who are wearing facemasks.
Years of scientific evidence thrown away on a hunch.
And unfortunately, the ChildFind and MCPS speech therapy program has not changed trajectory. Therapists are still allowed to wear masks when providing therapy. And yes, there are reports of this happening in sessions with children as young as 3 to as old as high school.
The job announcements for a ChildFind and MCPS speech therapist do not provide any indication of masking requirements either. However, one must wonder: can someone deliver this aspect of the job with a mask on?
The primary responsibilities include screening, evaluating and providing appropriate services to students with communication disorders (articulation, voice, language, fluency) that affect educational performance.
If you are unable to render the duties of your job in the most effective and appropriate manner, should you be allowed to retain the job?
If you are uncomfortable performing the duties of your job in a way that makes it effective, might it be time to find a different job?
If you have a personal antidote of how masked therapy has had a negative impact on your child’s progress, please drop us a line. We will add it to this article and will keep your name anonymous.
