That’s a Good Question!
When my cell phone is finally located… on the trampoline… in the backyard…I ask lots of questions.
When my patients try eating mechanical soft foods for the first time and I’m not there… I ask lots of questions.
Naturally, people ask questions for a variety of reasons:
o To begin a conversation
o To start a relationship
o To increase participation
o To guide a conversation in a particular direction
o To stimulate creativity
o To strengthen a relationship
o To understand or clarify
Speech Language Pathologists ask questions for even more specific reasons:
o To evaluate abilities
o To review previously covered information
o To promote independent thinking
o To influence thought processes
o To judge comprehension
o To probe cognition
o To prompt expression
o To assess achievement of goals
o To keep tWe thhe conversation going
Understanding the potential importance of every single question, Spontaneous Speech Tools’ Pictures for Progress flashcards were designed to include five thought provoking questions. We think you're going to love them! Here’s why…
10 Reasons SLPs Love Asking
Our Great Questions
1. Adds variety and provides options for questions you might not have thought of- branch out and stop asking the same type of question over and over; that makes your sessions more fun for all involved
2. Reduces session prep time- we’ve done the work for you so a grab-and-go therapy session is within your reach
3. Enhances your professional image when you’re calm, cool and collected- no more on-the-spot brainstorming and no more awkward pauses while you think
4. Increases your confidence when tackling tough subjects- well worded questions make it easy to begin sensitive discussions
5. Eases the burden of asking tough questions- you can elicit complex conversation on a variety of subjects
6. Eliminates fumbling and flipping- a common practice when using workbooks or worksheets
7. Provides pertinent topics for discussion- enables you to start a fun, functional conversation about meaningful, relevant topics and events
8. Decreases abstraction- the questions just make more sense when they’re accompanied by a photograph
9. Expands your client’s ability to participate- these large print questions can be read by you or the client- in fact, they can be read without glasses at arm’s length (I made sure of that!)
10. Ensures you are using evidence based questioning techniques drawing from Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning- this strategy for questioning has been proven to encourage higher level cognitive thinking
Whether you’re lacking creative juices or just running short on time, the questions on the back of the Pictures for Progress cards can help you have a fun and productive session, no matter what. Add these flashcards to your therapy toolbox and get to work!
You can get your very own box of Pictures for Progress by visiting our website at SpontaneousSpeech.com or, give us a call at 361-271-1700. We’ll be happy to drop a box in the mail for you.
Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers.
Robert Half
