Welcome to Dr. Eckdahl's

Speech Therapy Classroom

Contact Information


hallieeckdahl@lowndes.k12.ga.us
Phone: (229) 316-8601

I am so excited to have your child as my student this year! Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you might have about your child's speech and language skills.

I have enjoyed working in the Lowndes County School System since 2005, and currently serves as the SLP for HMS and LHS. I am also a member of the LCS augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) team.


Speech and Language Pathology

Speech-Language Pathologists have the responsibility of evaluating and treating students that exhibit difficulty in one or more of the following areas: articulation, language, pragmatic language (i.e. social skills), fluency, and voice disorders

1. Articulation - difficulties with the production of speech sounds (i.e. saying "thun" for ‘sun’, "wabbit" for "rabbit").

2. Language - involves the inability to communicate effectively with peers or adults; weaknesses in vocabulary, grammar, social skills, listening comprehension (understanding what they hear), following directions, and verbal expression (putting thoughts into words clearly).

3. Pragmatic Language (i.e. social skills) - involves skills required for everyday communication (i.e. initiating, turn-taking, topic maintenance, active listening). Children who struggle with social skills often have difficulty with interpreting facial expressions and body language, as well as expressing/comprehending feelings.

4. Fluency - the ability to speak smoothly or fluently; disruption in the rhythm of speech is also referred to as stuttering.

5. Voice - students referred by their doctors because of vocal hoarseness or harshness in voice quality.


Speech/Language Impairment

Speech or language impairment refers to a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, language or voice impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. A speech or language impairment may be congenital or acquired. It refers to impairments in the areas of articulation, fluency, voice or language. Individuals may demonstrate one or any combination of speech or language impairments. A speech or language impairment may be a primary disability or it may be secondary to other disabilities. [34 C.F.R. § 300.8(c)(11)]

GaDOE Definition