Dr. Sandra Hopkins is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with specialization in the area of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, including autism and dyslexia. She also has expertise in the areas of dysphagia and pediatric feeding. Her advanced studies focused on the neurological underpinnings of speech – language and reading impairment.
After thirty years in the field, her experience has spanned across many different settings including early intervention, medical practice, education, and higher education. During her tenure as an SLP, Dr. Hopkins has also mentored and supervised many graduate students’ practicums and SLP’s in their clinical fellowship years. In- the-trenches training has always been a passion, which has spilled over into courses she has taught at the university level. It also manifests while training nursing staff in hospitals on bedside swallow screening and the use of high tech communication options (example: iPad w speech app) and low-tech (example: communication board with symbols) for nonverbal patients post-stroke. Other Hopkins Associates for Speech-Language & Literacy training opportunities took place in school settings as professional development for speech-language pathologists or teaching staff. Training and teaching experiences are listed on the CV.
According to Dr. Hopkins, many children present with complex needs. Challenges in speech, listening, oral language, reading, social skills, and written language can all interfere with learning success at school. A comprehensive evaluation will identify strengths and needs, while at the same time making recommendations for programming that will hope to remediate issues that interfere with learning and interacting with peers.
Adult speech-language impairment can be so life- changing, especially when associated with a stroke or progressive disease. Dr. Hopkins has had extensive experience treating adults for dysphagia, aphasia, and voice impairment in private practice, as well as in medical settings.