School Success for Children with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Speech Therapy Techniques
Successful Child in Classroom

Image source: trak.in

Children who suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically face a long road to recovery. They may not only have problems with speech and language, but also with attention, memory, and problem-solving. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help your child with many of the issues that he faces, but remember that a child’s brain is still developing. He could experience new or changing symptoms months or years after the trauma occurred.

Keep a journal of your child’s symptoms and how they evolve. As your child prepares to return to school, work closely with his teachers and the school administrators to ensure his academic success. It can be particularly helpful for your child’s SLP to meet with his teachers to discuss possible modifications to the curriculum or to the classroom itself.

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Making Summer Plans: Continuing Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy Techniques
Children Racing Out of School

Image source: masterfile.com

School may be out soon, but speech therapy doesn’t have to end. Instead of lamenting the (temporary) loss of your child’s school speech-language pathologist (SLP), use summer break as an opportunity to advance your child’s communication skills. If your child qualifies for extended school year (ESY) services, he will still be able to work with his school SLP. There are also plenty of opportunities to turn fun activities into learning experiences.

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Summer School Speech Therapy

Individualized Education Program (IEP)
School's Out for Summer

Image source: mustgoonastashdiet.blogspot.com

Unless your child regularly sees a private speech-language pathologist (SLP) in addition to his school SLP, you’re probably wondering how to keep him in speech therapy sessions throughout the summer. Of course, there are plenty of communication-related activities that you can do with your child yourself, whether you’re planning to stay at home for the summer or hit the road and take a volunteer vacation. (Check out later posts this week for fun ideas for summer speech therapy.) Another option is to request extended school year (ESY) services.

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An Interview with Jerry Turning

Interviews
The Turning Family

Courtesy: Jerry Turning

Today we’re featuring an interview with Jerry Turning, autism dad extraordinaire and writer of Bacon and Juice Boxes: Our Life With Autism. Jerry’s straight talking blog about his son, Eric, reflects the thoughts of countless other parents with children with autism: fear for their child’s future, anger at societal reactions to autism, but also inspiration, pride, and a whole lotta love. In our interview, Jerry discusses his acceptance of his son’s diagnosis, how he relearned the value of pure and simple play, and how his family works to encourage communication with Eric.

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Tips for Parenting an Asperger’s Child

Speech Therapy Techniques
Girl with Asperger's Being Bullied

Image source: autism.lovetoknow.com

In 1944, pediatrician Hans Asperger noted the classic behavior patterns of children with Asperger’s syndrome.  These children have different patterns of speech, impaired social skills, and difficulty displaying empathy. However, as one mom of an autistic child points out, this developmental disorder does not mean that the child has a diminished intelligence. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help your Asperger’s child develop his speech and language skills. Talk to the SLP about activities that you can do at home to help your child flourish and avoid social isolation.

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