American Speech-Language Hearing Association Conference 2017

This past week our office was closed on Thursday and Friday.

The therapists took a trip to Los Angeles, California to attend the yearly ASHA conference.

The ASHA Convention is the strongest educational program for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, speech and hearing scientists, and related professionals.

Make sure to ask your therapist how the conference was!

"This was my first time at ASHA and I had an awesome experience! I am excited to apply everything I learned from the conference into therapy.  It was amazing to be surrounded by thousands of people who share the same passion as me."  

- Adina (SLPA)

World Origami Days

October 24th through November 11th is "World Origami Days." 

World Origami days began on October 24th and will last until November 11th.

October 24th is the birthday of Lillian Oppenheimer (1898 - 1992), who founded the first origami group in America. November 11th is Origami Day in Japan where the paper crane has become a symbol of peace. 

Celebrate by creating your own origami creation! 

Click here for a link to an online template for creating the paper crane!

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia is defined as difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities. Typically, Dyslexia results from a deficit in the phonological component of language. 

Dyslexia Awareness month was first celebrated in 2002. 

You can help raise awareness by using the hashtag #DyslexiaAwarenessMonth on social media! 

Resources:

• http://nild.org/october-is-national-dyslexia-month-do-you-know-the-signs/

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

1 out of every 5 students report being bullied according to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. 

October is the National Bullying Prevention Month. October 25th is unity day. Where we raise awareness by wearing and sharing orange. This day was initiated by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in October of 2006. It has since grown to an entire month of raising awareness to prevent bullying. 

This year, for every #CleantheMean post on Facebook or Instagram, clarisonic will donate $1 to PACER's National Prevention Center (up to $100,000.) Get involved and help raise awareness by posting using the hashtag #CleantheMean! 

Resources:

• http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/

International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day is Oct. 22nd. To help raise awareness and celebrate here are some fun facts and myths about stuttering:

• Over three million Americans stutter
• Children who stutter are at a higher risk for bullying
• Stuttering affects three to four times as many males as females
• Approximately 5% of all children go through a period of stuttering that last six months or more. 3 quarters will recover by late childhood, leaving 1% with a long term stutter.
• Studies show that people who stutter are as intelligent and well-adjusted as those who don't. 
• Nervousness does NOT cause stuttering
• Famous people who stutter include Emily Blunt, Joe Biden, and Marilyn Monroe

Your response when conversing with a person who stutters is important. It is not an appropriate response to tell them to "think about what you say first" or to "take a deep breath before talking." It is also not favorable to finish their sentences. A more appropriate response would be to listen patiently and treat them as you normally would treat someone in a conversation.  

Our very own speech language pathologist, Tiffani, has written a wonderful article regarding her journey with stuttering and her own fluency disorder. Check it out here! 

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Down Syndrome is a condition where a person is born with an extra chromosome. The physical features and medical problems associated with down syndrome can vary widely from child-to-child. Kids with Down Syndrome tend to share certain physical features such as a flat facial profile, an upward slant to the eyes, small ears, and protruding tongue. Some also may have low muscle tone (called hypotonia), which is also a characteristic.

Today, many kids with down syndrome go to school, hold jobs, and enjoy many of the same activities as other kids their age. They go to college, and transition to semi-independent living as well. 

This month is not about celebrating disabilities, it's about celebrating abilities! Join us in celebrating and raising awareness. 

Resources:

• http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/
• http://downsyndromecommunity.org

Identify the Signs of Communication Disorders

Do you know the common sings of communication disorders? 

Early intervention is always best! Which is why ASHA partnered with Read Aloud 15 MINUTES to create age specific flyers on common signs of communication disorders. 

Here are few common signs of a communication disorder:

• Struggles to say sounds or words
• Repetition of words or parts of words
• Says words in wrong order
• Struggles with using words and understanding others

Early detection signs are commonly categorized for age specific development. Please use these resources to target your child's specific age range to determine any delays in reaching milestones. 

Signs of Speech & Language Disorders

Resource for Parents with Young Children