Speech-Language Pathology Assistants: A Resource Manual
Fourth Edition
Jennifer A. Ostergren, Margaret Vento-Wilson
Details: 591 pages, B&W, Softcover, 7" x 10"
ISBN13: 978-1-63550-881-9
© 2028 | Coming Soon
Release Date: 10/05/2026
For Instructors
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The #1 Bestselling SLPA Book!
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants: A Resource Manual, Fourth Edition is a practical and accessible guide for preparing and supporting speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs). Written for SLPA training programs and for speech-language pathologists who supervise SLPAs, this text clearly defines the roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice of SLPAs while emphasizing effective collaboration with supervising clinicians. Grounded in current professional guidance, including recommendations from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, it focuses on the applied knowledge and clinical skills SLPAs need to contribute effectively to therapy services across educational, clinical, and community settings.
Moving from foundational professional topics to hands-on clinical application, the book addresses supervision, ethics, professional conduct, and client-centered care before guiding readers through essential clinical skills such as implementing therapy, collecting and summarizing data, writing notes, and facilitating group sessions. Chapters addressing common populations and treatment contexts help bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world clinical practice, making this text an ideal core resource for SLPA programs and a valuable reference for supervising SLPs.
New to the Fourth Edition
- A new chapter highlighting the importance of child-directed play in speech-language therapy
- Broadened coverage of culturally and linguistically responsive service delivery, with specific guidance on working with interpreters in spoken languages other than English and transliterators in signed languages
- Updated clinical guidance across intervention areas including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and language intervention
- New discussion on theories of learning as they apply to the work of SLPAs in framing intervention
- Updated chapter on phonology and literacy with expanded discussion of the clinical application of phonology, and an introduction to literacy and how targeting these two domains can support the development of both
- Additional online ancillaries including student learning outcomes for each chapter, practice quizzes, and other helpful resources for instructors and students
Key Features
- Clear explanation of SLPA roles, scope of practice, and professional expectations
- Step-by-step guidance for essential clinical tasks such as data collection, note writing, and therapy implementation
- Practical strategies for supporting individual and group therapy across settings
- Coverage of common populations and treatment contexts encountered by SLPAs
- Emphasis on ethical conduct, professional behavior, and effective collaboration with supervising SLPs
- Ready-to-use clinical forms and tools
PluralPlus Online Ancillaries
For instructors: PowerPoint Slides, Test Bank
For students: Quizzes, Activities/Exercises, Forms/Documents, Clinical Tools
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Editors
About the Contributors
Part I: Defining Roles: Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs)
Chapter 1. Defining Roles: SLPAs
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 2. Defining Roles: Supervision and Mentoring
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 3. Ethical Conduct
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 4. Professional Conduct
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 5. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Carolyn Conway Madding, Alaine Ocampo, and Yvana Uranga-Hernandez
Part II: Skills Development
Chapter 6. Deciphering Lesson Plans and Goals
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 7. Data Collection
Jennifer A. Ostergren and Stephanie L. Peterson
Chapter 8. Note Writing
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 9. Implementing Treatment
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Chapter 10. Using Behavioral Principles
Jennifer A. Ostergren and Stephanie P. Davis
Chapter 11. Group Therapy
Jennifer A. Ostergren and Sarah Guzzino-Herrick
Part III: Treatment for Specific Populations and Disorders
Chapter 12. Phonology and Literacy
Margaret Vento-Wilson
Chapter 13. Early Intervention
Margaret Vento-Wilson
Chapter 14. Language Intervention for School-Age Children
Margaret Vento-Wilson
Chapter 15. Importance of Play in Speech-Language Therapy
Deanne Wayt
Chapter 16. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Jodi Robledo
Chapter 17. Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Margaret Vento-Wilson
Chapter 18. Adults With Acquired Neurologic Disorders
Jennifer A. Ostergren and Carley B. Crandall
Index
Jennifer A. Ostergren
Jennifer A. Ostergren, PhD, CCC-SLP is the Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services at California State University, San Marcos. She is a nationally certified speech-language pathologist with more than 25 years of experience working with adults with neurologic cognitive and communication disorders across the spectrum of rehabilitation settings. Dr. Ostergren is a published author and a national and international speaker in the areas of rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and support personnel in the field of speech-language pathology. She has specialized training in futures thinking and the futures of work, health, and education.
Margaret Vento-Wilson
Margaret Vento-Wilson, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech Language Pathology in the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach. In addition to her work in academia, Dr. Vento-Wilson has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for many years and has worked in the school system as well as private practice. In the school setting, Dr. Vento-Wilson frequently supervised undergraduate students in their SLPA practicums. Dr. Vento-Wilson has published in the areas of motor speech disorders, congenital aglossia, and AAC. She has presented at the national and state levels on AAC, narratives, and generative artificial intelligence in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Clinical Workbook for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
Second Edition
Robert Kraemer, Tyler Christopulos
Details: 275 pages, B&W, Spiralbound, 8.5" x 11"
ISBN13: 978-1-63550-734-8
© 2028 | Coming Soon
Release Date: 12/31/2026