METHODOLOGY FOR PREPARING FUTURE SPEECH THERAPISTS FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY BASED ON SPEECH ONTOGENESIS

This article examines the methodology for preparing future speech therapists for professional activity based on the study of speech ontogenesis. The relevance of the topic is determined by the growing need to train specialists who are able to understand the natural stages of children’s speech development, identify deviations at early stages, and organize corrective and developmental work in accordance with individual educational needs. The article emphasizes that knowledge of speech ontogenesis is not only a theoretical component of speech therapy education, but also a practical foundation for diagnostic, corrective, preventive, and consultative activities. Special attention is paid to the integration of theoretical knowledge, observation skills, case analysis, pedagogical practice, and inclusive educational approaches in the training process. The study highlights the importance of developing professional competence through interactive methods, problem-based tasks, analysis of speech development cases, and cooperation with families, teachers, psychologists, and medical specialists. The proposed methodological approach contributes to the formation of future speech therapists’ readiness to work with children who have different speech and communication difficulties. The article also underlines the need to connect academic modules with real professional situations, since effective speech therapy support requires not only knowledge of developmental norms, but also the ability to apply this knowledge in inclusive educational environments.