1. Wet kisses on my cheek (hopefully not my lips)
2. Hugs around my legs
3. Parents’ smiling at something I helped their child do (like say a new word)
4. Watching a child learn a new skill
5. Passing off goals after working with a child for 6 short months
6. Buying new toys (especially at Lakeshore)
7. Playing with new toys
8. Hanging out with my coworkers
9. Singing fun songs like “The Wheels on the Bus”
10. I learn something new all the time!

I thought it was hilarious. I’m not sure how many people see this dry erase board but I think it might start some interesting conversations.

Here’s an example of an advertisement you might hear this month on National Public Radio (NPR) regarding communication disorders:

Anything that impairs your ability to communicate limits your life. Yet 14 million Americans have a speech or language problem, and many do not know that they can be helped.

If you stutter, have problems pronouncing certain sounds, or don’t always understand what people say to you, you could have a speech or language problem.

People of all ages have these problems. With proper treatment you can eliminate or minimize their impact. If you need to know more about speech and language problems, call a speech-language pathologist this May, Better Hearing and Speech Month. To find a certified speech-language pathologist, phone 1-800-638-8255.

The author of the For Better or For Worse comic strip is also participating in the Better Speech and Hearing Month. One of her characters, Grandpa Jim, suffered a stroke in 2006 and has difficulty moving and communicating. Lately several of her comic strips have featured Grandpa Jim receiving speech therapy and physical therapy. It is kind of fun to read about speech therapy in the comics (well, for me anyway).

Happy Better Speech and Hearing Month everyone!

One of the last days of class the professor invited two moms of children who were deaf to share their stories with us. One mom talked about the family’s decision to use ASL and the other mom talked about the family’s decision to have her child receive bilateral cochlear implants. There is definitely controversy regarding whether parents of a deaf child should teach their child ASL only or have their child use hearing aids/cochlear implants (with or without ASL). It is a big decision families have to make and the sooner they make it the better it will be for their child. It is critical that children receive some type of language input before they are 6 months old or they will be behind their peers in language development.

After a child is diagnosed with a hearing loss, an audiologist and/or other professional should continue to follow them until they enter preschool or kindergarten to ensure they don’t fall behind their peers. A newspaper article in the Salt Lake Tribune yesterday stated many babies/children diagnosed with a hearing loss in Utah don’t get the follow-up care they need. The article also stated that some pediatricians use the “let’s wait and see” approach to delayed speech and language development. All I can say is – yikes! There needs to be more public education (pediatrician education) regarding the services available for children developing behind their peers and the importance of early intervention.

Overall, parents need to be aware of speech and language developmental milestones and be persistent with pediatricians who want to “wait and see” if their child catches up. In addition, parents need to be informed that there are many resources available to help their child if they are behind in speech and language development or have a hearing loss.

Okay, I’ll get off my soap box for now.

FYI: I met the boy featured in the article in my class last fall and read his mom’s blog frequently.