Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month in May

Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month in May

by Courtenay M. News Speech and Hearing Disorders
Better Hearing & Speech Month

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month. Image courtesy of American Speech-Hearing-Language Association

Let’s celebrate Better Hearing and Speech month! We at Speech Buddies celebrate this month as an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about speech, hearing and communication disorders, and to explore treatment and speech therapy options. Ever since 1927, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has celebrated Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) by providing opportunities that raise awareness about communication disorders and promote treatments that can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems with speaking, understanding, or hearing.
Continue reading →

Learning Materials That Support Children with Autism

Learning Materials That Support Children with Autism

by Courtenay M. Autism
Autism Activities

Learning Materials and Activities for Children with Autism Image source: addingtonesol.blogspot.com

As we finish up April and Autism Awareness Month, we share with you some strategies for autism therapy at home. Since the early 1970’s the United States has recognized April as Autism Awareness Month and autism advocacy groups take this special opportunity to educate the public about autism and related issues within the autism community. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. They are characterized by varying degrees of difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non -verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. ASD affects over 2 million people in the United States and tens of millions worldwide. Rates have increased 10-17% annually in recent years, with no established explanation.

Continue reading →

What is Your Speech Buddy Personality?

What is Your Speech Buddy Personality?

by Courtenay M. Parents' Corner Speech Therapist

 

Speech Buddies Tools

Which Speech Buddy Personality Are You?

Which Avenger are you? What Frozen character most resembles your personality?  Are you Anna or Elsa?  Do these games sound familiar? Seems like everywhere we turn on social media lately, there are games that compare our personality to a famous character.  So, in that vein, we thought of doing the same at Speech Buddies. What Speech Buddy personality are you?  Rabbit Buddy, Seal Buddy? Speech Buddies has five Buddies specifically designed for your child’s articulation disorder.  Who are these five Buddies and which one is the fit for you?

Continue reading →

The Best Apps for Apraxia of Speech In Children

The Best Apps for Apraxia of Speech In Children

by Courtenay M. Apps Parents' Corner Speech Therapy Techniques
Apps for Apraxia of Speech in Children

Apps for Apraxia of Speech in Children. Source: onlinegrad.marygrove.edu

As we discussed in an earlier blog, Apraxia of speech in children, or Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder where the child has a problem saying sounds, syllables and words. She knows what she wants to say, but her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words. Many children are able to hear the words, and are able to understand what they mean, but they can’t turn what they hear into the fine-motor skill of combining consonants and vowels to form words. Fortunately, apraxia of speech in children is usually treatable with appropriate techniques.

Continue reading →

Understanding Common Core Standards

Understanding Common Core Standards

by Courtenay M. Language Development School

Common Core Standards

What is the Common Core Standards Initiative?
Image: www.corestandards.org

Common Core Standards are a hot topic around here!  But, what exactly are these standards and why do we need to become familiar with them?  Common Core Standards are a clear set of benchmarks for what children will be learning in English language, arts/literacy and math from kindergarten through high school. Adopted by 44 states and District of Columbia, the Common Core State Standards outline what exactly a student should know and should be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards emphasize skills that ensure students graduating from high school are prepared to take college-level classes or enter the workforce. Unlike previous state standards, which varied greatly from state to state, the Common Core Standards seek to establish collaboration among the participating states on a range of tools, textbooks, digital media and teaching focus and materials. Continue reading →