As a speech-language pathologist, I’m always on the lookout for new tools. I’m curious when they go beyond the basics and help me really understand how speech affects a child’s life. That’s why I was so excited to learn about the Speech Participation and Activity Assessment of Children (SPAA-C). This isn’t your typical assessment; it’s all about uncovering how speech challenges play out in the real world.
What’s is SPAA-C?
The SPAA-C, developed by the smart folks over at Charles Sturt University, is designed to do one thing: figure out how speech issues impact a child’s daily life. Think of it as a window into how kids participate in conversations, activities, and social situations.
The focus here isn’t only about how clearly a child speaks. Instead, it asks, “How are their speech challenges affecting their relationships? Their confidence? Their ability to jump into a group activity or chat with their friends?” It’s a whole-person approach.
How Does It Work?
The SPAA-C is a simple questionnaire—you can actually check it out here. It’s designed to get insights from parents, caregivers, or even the kids themselves. Some examples of what it looks into:
- Do they feel comfortable talking to their classmates?
- How do they handle conversations with grown-ups?
- Are there specific activities where speech makes things harder?
Why I Think the SPAA-C Is Awesome
- It’s Real-World Focused: This isn’t just about speech sounds or scores on a test. It’s about *how speech impacts their life*—from chatting with a friend to speaking up in class.
- It Brings Families In: I love that it asks parents and caregivers for their insights. Nobody knows a child better than the people who are with them every day.
- It’s Practical: With this info, you can create goals and strategies that *actually matter* to the child and their family. That’s the dream, right?
How It Fits Into Therapy
There are many ways to use the SPAA-C. For one, it is helpful in setting meaningful goals. It helps me see where a child struggles most—maybe it’s raising their hand in class or chatting with classmates. Once I know that, I can build terrific therapy plans.
It’s also a great tool for tracking progress over time. If a child starts to feel more confident participating in activities that once felt impossible? That’s the kind of growth we’re love to see.
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Check Out the SPAA-C
The SPAA-C is a peek into the real-world experiences of kids navigating speech challenges. If you’re a speech-language pathologist, I recommend giving the SPAA-C a try. And if you’re a parent, this is a great way to share your insights and help your child’s therapist see the bigger picture.
You can learn more about it here and take a moment to check out the questionnaire—it’s a simple but useful tool.
Does the SPAA-C have a Spanish version?
Thanks for asking! I don’t think it does unfortunately.