Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

In what area might an SLP provide interventions when addressing speech-language issues in children?

1. Social communication and peer interactions

2. Family counseling and conflict resolution

3. Music therapy and emotional expression

4. Physical coordination and athletic skills

The correct answer is: Social communication and peer interactions

The focus of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is primarily on communication processes, which encompasses speech, language, and social communication. When addressing speech-language issues in children, interventions related to social communication and peer interactions are crucial. This area encompasses teaching children how to effectively communicate their thoughts and feelings, understand verbal and non-verbal cues, and engage in reciprocal conversations, which are essential skills for building relationships and functioning in social settings. Social communication skills are pivotal in a child's development and can significantly impact their ability to interact with peers and navigate social situations effectively. Therefore, SLPs often create targeted intervention plans that address these specific communication challenges, enhancing children's overall communicative competence and helping them achieve better social integration. The other areas listed, while potentially valuable in supporting a child's overall well-being or addressing unrelated skills, do not align directly with the primary role and expertise of an SLP. Family counseling deals more with psychological support and conflict resolution, music therapy taps into artistic expression rather than structured language development, and physical coordination focuses on motor skills rather than communicative abilities. Thus, social communication and peer interactions represent the most relevant area for an SLP's interventions.