A new nationwide effort to educate the public about communication disorders was recently launched by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).  This campaign, called Identify the Signs, aims to help people recognize the early warning signs of communication disorders in children and adults.  

An estimated 40 million Americans have trouble speaking or hearing due to a communication disorder.  Here in Hingham, Massachusetts, there are parents reading this whose children are struggling to speak or understand language, spouses living with partners whose hearing is deteriorating; and co-workers, neighbors and others who see someone who needs help but don't know what to do.  Identify the Signs offers tools to change that.

With eight years of experience working in the field of communication disorders, I have seen the debilitating effects that these issues can have when left unaddressed.  Early detection of speech, language, and hearing issues is absolutely critical to improving academic, social, and career outcomes--and improving one's quality of life at any age.  

For people with communication disorders, those closest to them are often their biggest asset.  Unfortunately, many parents and caregivers are unable to identify the warning signs or dismiss them too readily.  A recent poll of speech-language pathologists and audiologists by ASHA reported significant parental delays in getting help for children with communication difficulties.  All too often, parents/pediatricians/caregivers rely on the hope that these children will "grow out of it."

Through a series of TV, radio, print, digital public service announcements, and the campaign website, the public can learn about the warning signs and be connected to professional help.  I encourage you to visit the website, and share the information and resources you find there.  Above all, though, I hope you will seek help if you suspect that you or a loved one shows signs of having a communication disorder.  Early diagnosis is the most powerful way to reduce or even reverse their impact and can give your loved ones the opportunity to lead the fullest lives possible. 

If you have concerns about your child's communication, please contact Hingham Speech & Language Therapy to see if we can help.   In the spirit of the  Identify the Signs campaign, Hingham Speech & Language Therapy is offering complimentary articulation screens by appointment.  Call 617-840-5445 to schedule your child's screening today!

As a former school-based speech-language pathologist, I truly value the speech-language services provided by school systems.  As a now private therapist, it is my role to support and supplement these services as best I can within a private clinical setting. 

With the final days of summer just around the corner, reflect on all the fun you had by creating a photo journal with pictures of all your big adventures! In addition to being fun, this will provide an excellent narrative language activity and prep your child for the inevitable, “How was your summer? What did you do?” from his or her teacher. 

Learning how to tell a personal narrative in an organized way -- including all the important elements, such as where your were, who you were with, what you did, and when it happened -- can be quite a complex language task for some young children. It’s great for kids to practice narratives through speaking before diving into writing. I like to call it “writing out loud," as it draws on the role of oral language as the foundation of written language. 

Here’s how to create your photo journal:

1. Gather pictures from your favorite day trips, beach days, cookouts, and vacations. For each picture, have your child summarize his or her experience. 
   
2. Help your child plan a personal narrative.  Try using a graphic organizer to visually plan out the story. You don’t need to use written words to do this.  You can draw out the elements (e.g., who, what, where). Your decision to draw or write on your graphic organizer should depend on your child’s age and reading/writing level. Lots of children benefit from the visual support graphic organizers provide.  
3. Help your child start with a big idea statement (e.g.,  “This is me at a family cookout.”).
4. Encourage your child to include 2-3 details about the day. (e.g., “It was at my aunt’s house.  All my cousins were there, and we swam in the pool.”).  
5. Practice concluding a personal narrative with a feeling statement (e.g., “I had so much fun. I feel happy when I'm with my family”).   
   

There are lots of apps that allow you to record your child’s voice with an accompanying photo. Some even have email capability so you can send your stories to family and friends. Check ‘em out!

Speech Journal by Mobile Education Store LLC
Story Maker by Super Duper

You can easily transform this activity from an oral language task to a written language task.  After your child plans and shares the narrative orally, help him or her write it out.  You can mail the picture with a letter describing the event to a relative.  Postcards are great for this too, but they can pose a problem for early writers due to the limited space provided. 

These tasks can be tailored to meet your child at their language level. If this is a piece of cake, try to encourage your child to be more descriptive through the use of adjectives, and help brainstorm words that could give the story a boost! 

For specific examples and models, feel free to contact me at [email protected].  Have fun!