As we begin our fourth year of independent operations, we are overwhelmed by the need for speech therapy and speech generating devices. Research shows that children with any speech delay or disorder have a higher chance of success with early intervention. Yet, every day we see children denied health insurance benefits that would help them achieve their therapy goals. At our first quarter …
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Can You Understand Your Child’s Speech?
It’s common for most children to make some mistakes as they learn to say new words. Different sounds are mastered at different ages. Consistent, correct sound production will vary from child to child. When mistakes continue past a certain age, that’s when it's considered a speech sound disorder. Speech sound disorders include problems with articulation (pronouncing sounds correctly) …
Orange Effect Golf for Autism
I’m beyond excited to announce the 13th Annual Orange Effect Foundation (OEF) Golf for Autism on August 5, 2019 at Elyria Country Club in Elyria, Ohio. The Golf for Autism is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Over the past dozen years, people like you have helped us raise over a quarter of a million dollars to help children with speech delays and developmental issues get the speech therapy and …
Exciting Developments in Accessibility Technology for People with Speech Impairments
In the United States, 20-30% of children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are unable to communicate their wants, needs and thoughts verbally according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC). Smart tech can help these children become more independent at home and even at school. What is very exciting about smart tech is that it has potential to help people even if they are …
Help! My Child Isn’t Motivated for Speech Therapy!
We started speech therapy for our son when he was two years old. Because he was autistic, and loved his routines and familiarity, we found someone who was willing to complete the sessions in our home. Still, it took months before he would participate in the activities or cooperate at all as he always had his own agenda! I’ve run into other parents who have had similar experiences, but many go …
Shaping Their Voices
When Jacksonville, Florida’s Oak Hill Academy opened in 2016, some of its students ventured into a beautiful new world of communication. Though primarily non-verbal, these students are shaping their unique voices with their families, teachers and therapists leading the way. And Tobii Dynavox Indi speech tablets with Snap + Core First symbol-based AAC software are the main tools moving them along. …
How Reading Dogs Can Open Books For Children With Speech Disorders
How Reading Dogs Can Open Books For Children With Speech Disorders A recent study has shown that man’s best friend may also be a child’s best friend when it comes to reading. The presence of dogs during reading has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve reading performance. With only a third of American students reaching a proficient level in national reading tests, the use of reading …
Valentine’s Day Activities for Speech and Language
It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day means telling the people you love how much you care about them and eating lots of chocolate! Here are some fun Valentine’s Day activities you can do with your child to celebrate Valentine’s Day and work on his speech and language skills at the same time. Valentine’s Day Activities #1: Make Valentines: Naming Familiar People, Making Requests, …
Our Journey With Apraxia: This Is What I Have Learned
Many of our grant recipients are challenged by Childhood Apraxia of Speech. We're sharing a great article written by a mom who knows firsthand what parenting a child with apraxia is all about. People often ask me to describe what I’ve learned as the parent of a child with apraxia. It isn’t always easy to put into words. In fact, lately I have been struggling on this journey — and it is a …
How Do I Know if My Child Has Autism?
The short answer from a behavioral psychologist Q: How do I know if my child has autism? A: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. We diagnose it by identifying deficits in two primary areas: Socio-communication, which includes deficits in communication as well as using communication to engage socially. That may involve not using eye contact in a typical manner …
The Future of Digital Voices
The Future Of Digital Voices 46% of Americans use digital voice assistants, allowing them to keep their hands free to talk naturally while typing. It’s a technology that can benefit people with speech impairments, aiding their communication. Speech synthesizer technology has enabled many people to communicate more effectively, but it’s still in its early stages. Several major companies are …
Anticipation: Changing the Way We Think about Stuttering
Many people who stutter are able to identify a moment when they know they are about to trip up on a word or phrase. According to Eric S. Jackson, assistant professor at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, that moment can be characterized as “anticipation” and is largely invisible to other people in conversation with someone who stutters. Jackson has conducted …
