Speech Therapy Is Doing More Than You Think | Social Communication Explained by a Waterloo SLP

Hi, I’m Rhonda MacKinnon, a private speech-language pathologist (SLP) and owner of Communicating Together Therapy & Wellness Associates in Waterloo, Ontario. I support children and teens using individualized, evidence-based, neurodiversity-affirming speech-language therapy approaches that recognize communication as complex, brain-based, and deeply human.

In this video, I talk about one important area of speech-language pathology that is often misunderstood or overlooked: social communication. I reflect on the “Doing More Than You Think” theme, from Speech-Language & Audiology Canada during Speech & Hearing Month 2025, and explain how speech-language pathologists support far more than speech sounds or stuttering alone.

Social communication includes how we connect with others, understand social cues, advocate for ourselves, and repair communication breakdowns. Many children and teens need support developing these skills—and in my practice, that support is individualized, strengths-based, and responsive to each child’s needs.

Here’s what I share in this video:

• What social communication really means in everyday, family-friendly language
• That social communication skills are complex and brain-based
• Examples of social communication skills, including:
 – Turn-taking in conversation
 – Understanding body language and tone of voice
 – Joining groups and navigating peer interactions
 – Self-advocacy
 – Repairing communication breakdowns
• Who may benefit from social communication support, including children and teens with autism, ADHD, developmental language differences, anxiety, stuttering, or selective mutism
• That support is based on communication needs, not just diagnoses
• That neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy supports understanding, safety, and confidence in communication
• Why family involvement and real-life practice are essential to meaningful communication growth

Why is this message important?

✔️ It broadens understanding of what speech-language pathologists actually do
✔️ It reframes social communication differences through a strengths-based lens
✔️ It supports families who may be unsure whether speech therapy could help
✔️ It reinforces that communication development happens beyond the therapy room

If you’re in the Waterloo area and wondering whether speech therapy might support your child or teen’s communication, you’re not alone—and you don’t need to have everything figured out yet.

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For More Information and Resources
👉 Visit: https://communicatingtogether.ca/
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⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is for general informational purposes only and reflects communication-focused practices within the scope of speech-language pathology. It is not intended as a substitute for individualized assessment or therapy. Please consult a licensed professional such as a doctor, psychologist, or speech-language pathologist/speech therapist for guidance specific to you or your child.