Lisa Sloan-Limmer, speech therapist, conducted groups around the theme of halloween, carving pumpkins and making pictures of trick-or-treat candy, as many of our therapists have this week! One student exhibited major progress through these activities:
"We had a major Halloween break-through in class today. One student has had a difficult time with the theme of halloween - everything is scary! Mom reports even shopping in stores right now is hard. We have been working on aleviating those fears in class with stories, touching, making halloween sounds, etc. Today we carved a pumpkin. This student was able to touch the bumpy outside, put her hands in the pumpkin and pull out "slimely seeds," and even poke her fingers through the eye holes. She did start to tear-up at one point, but it wasn't because she was afraid of the jack-o-lantern anymore. She was sad because Mrs. Lisa might hurt the pumpkin when I cut it!"
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Another tale of promise from Tricia
Tricia Henderson, Director of Speech Services, as well as other speech therapists, often conduct speech evaluations to diagnose a child's specific speech needs, and to determine placement in our programs. She shares another recent story of encouragement:
"The young child came in with his grandmother and case manager since he was a ward of the state, having been removed from his home. Both adults discussed the deprivation and chaos in the home. He was now residing with the grandmother and would stay with her for at least the next 11 months. Both the social worker for the state and the grandmother reported that he did not use any words, could not imitate words and had not really been exposed to books.
As the evaluation began, he played very quietly on the floor with several truck making no sounds at all. As the interview continued, the evaluator asked him to sit in a chair by her and he eagerly climbed up. When a book was opened, he was THRILLED to point to objects named. When a flashlight was used as a bribe (every child's delight), he eagerly imitated most consonant sounds and even repeated words. He smiled and laughed, eager to do his work, in exchange for a turn with the blocks, truck or FLASHLIGHT! As they left, the grandmother said, 'He never did that before. I didn't know he knew so much or that he would imitate you!' We discussed that he showed great promise and we would try to place him immediately in a language group. The young boy smiled and repeated "Bye bye" when the evaluator told him goodbye. He then turned and ran back to hug her around the legs with a big laugh.
How thrilling to know this one child's future will be very bright because of what we can and will do for him in the next 11 months!"
"The young child came in with his grandmother and case manager since he was a ward of the state, having been removed from his home. Both adults discussed the deprivation and chaos in the home. He was now residing with the grandmother and would stay with her for at least the next 11 months. Both the social worker for the state and the grandmother reported that he did not use any words, could not imitate words and had not really been exposed to books.
As the evaluation began, he played very quietly on the floor with several truck making no sounds at all. As the interview continued, the evaluator asked him to sit in a chair by her and he eagerly climbed up. When a book was opened, he was THRILLED to point to objects named. When a flashlight was used as a bribe (every child's delight), he eagerly imitated most consonant sounds and even repeated words. He smiled and laughed, eager to do his work, in exchange for a turn with the blocks, truck or FLASHLIGHT! As they left, the grandmother said, 'He never did that before. I didn't know he knew so much or that he would imitate you!' We discussed that he showed great promise and we would try to place him immediately in a language group. The young boy smiled and repeated "Bye bye" when the evaluator told him goodbye. He then turned and ran back to hug her around the legs with a big laugh.
How thrilling to know this one child's future will be very bright because of what we can and will do for him in the next 11 months!"
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Tricia tells how our history lends credibility
Tricia Henderson is Director of Speech Services, and has been employed at BRSHF for 27 years. As part of her job, she (along with the other speech therapists) conducts speech evaluations to diagnose a child's specific speech needs, and to determine placement in our programs. She has this recent story to share:
"The child came in with three people, the father, the mother, and the stepmother. They were quite serious about the evaluation of their small son and as we walked down the hall, the father, a policeman, asked quite seriously: "So how long has this clinic been here?" I happily replied: "Oh, we just had a birthday party celebrating our 50th year!" He looked totally surprised and said, "Well, then, I guess you know what you are doing!" I laughed and said, "Yes, we've been at it longer than anyone else in Baton Rouge. We were the very first speech and hearing clinic in town. We know very well what we are doing. You came to the right place!"
As I said this, I felt very proud of our history.....50 years.....loud and clear!"
"The child came in with three people, the father, the mother, and the stepmother. They were quite serious about the evaluation of their small son and as we walked down the hall, the father, a policeman, asked quite seriously: "So how long has this clinic been here?" I happily replied: "Oh, we just had a birthday party celebrating our 50th year!" He looked totally surprised and said, "Well, then, I guess you know what you are doing!" I laughed and said, "Yes, we've been at it longer than anyone else in Baton Rouge. We were the very first speech and hearing clinic in town. We know very well what we are doing. You came to the right place!"
As I said this, I felt very proud of our history.....50 years.....loud and clear!"
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