 By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP On both rainy days and sunny days, one of our favorite places to visit is the library! We are fortunate to have two libraries here in Plymouth that both offer a variety of programs for children to take advantage of. We frequent story time at the main library, which often also includes songs, games and crafts. In addition to story time, our library boasts a play area and computers with educational programming. All of these activities add up to an awesome, fun-filled few hours at the library! Here are some ways you can foster speech/language skills through a trip to the library with your child. · Pick a theme (maybe something you already did this summer or something your child is looking forward to doing) and find books about it – for example, if you are going on a whale watch with your child, look for books about whales and other ocean-life · Build some background knowledge by finding out what your child already knows about the topic and then expand on this through reading together to gather more information. · Read some books together at the library and take some others home with you to enjoy later · Help your child learn about how the books are organized and have him/her help you find certain books you are looking for (“This book is going to be in the ‘J’ section, can you look for the letter J?”) · Build your child’s literacy skills by talking about what an author and illustrator are and showing your child how to find the name of the author and illustrator in the books your read · If your library has a play area, let your child explore and encourage him/her to build social skills by making new friends and interacting with other children in the play area · If you have a question about where to find a book, have your child ask the librarian him/herself I hope you and your child find some new books and have fun exploring all of the great things to offer at your local library! Does your child receive speech therapy at school during the school year but not during the summer?
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 By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP We have had some beautiful weather so far this summer and my daughter and I have been enjoying every minute of it! One of our favorite things to do at the end of a long beach day is to collect some rocks on the beach. We look for rocks of all different sizes, shapes and colors. Once we have collected our rocks we take them home and sort through them. This is such a great opportunity to use a lot of different describing words! · Talk about the size, shape and color of the rocks · Talk about how the rocks feel (smooth, bumpy, sharp, etc…) · Pick two rocks and compare them (which rock is bigger? Which rock is smoother?) · Sort the rocks into piles based on their different characteristics · Count the rocks (how many big rocks? How many red rocks?, etc…) If your child is working on producing specific speech sounds correctly, consider taking a marker and writing the sound/words on the back of the rocks. As he picks a rock to describe he can also practice the sound/word written on the back! I love this activity because it’s a great way to end the day at the beach and get in some speech/language work too!
By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Welcome to the first post in a series about ideas for fun summer activities and how to tie in speech/language skills to your summer fun! Hopefully this summer will be full of sunny beach days! But, for those times that Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, it is a good idea to have some ideas for some indoor fun up your sleeve. In my house, a go-to inside summer fun activity is Sand Dough.  Recipe: 4 cups of sand (we used beach sand) 3 cups of flour 1 ¼ cups of warm water ¼ cup of oil  Mix all of the ingredients together and knead until dough forms. *After we mixed the initial recipe together we added a little more sand/flour to make the consistency a little bit less sticky. Once the dough is formed it’s time to play! We found some beach rocks and small beach toys to use with the dough. My daughter enjoyed playing with her sand dough all week!
How to tie in speech/language skills:
 I hope you enjoy this fun summer activity and can use it to tie in speech/language skills to your summer adventures!Does your child receive speech therapy at school during the school year but not during the summer? By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP School is almost out and that means it is time to get ready for some summer fun! While it is important for kids to have a break from academics and recharge before the next school year, it’s also important to keep fostering their language development. Summer is a great time to expose your children to new experiences, which will naturally introduce new language and add to his/her background knowledge about the world. We are very fortunate to have some great destinations that are close by, inexpensive and great for language! Woods Hole Science Aquarium 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA Buzzards Bay Discovery Center 21 Luscombe Avenue, Woods Hole, MA Plymouth County Farm and Petting Zoo 74 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA Nelson Memorial Park Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA Butterflies of Cape Cod 26 Herring Pond Road, Bourne, MA Ellisville Harbor State Park State Highway 3A, Plymouth, MA 02360  Over the next few months I hope to document trips to these awesome locations with my daughter and give suggestions for including language development in your visits. In the meantime, I hope you find some time to check these out and have some summer fun while also introducing new language! If you can think of any other locations that are great for local, low-to-no cost summer fun please comment below. I would love to hear your suggestions! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com
Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy 8%–9% of Children Suffer From Speech Disorders, 
By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
With 8%–9% of young children suffering from speech disorders, May’s Better Hearing and Speech Month is the perfect time for parents to learn how to recognize the early signs of these disorders. I am encouraging parents to educate themselves through the Identify the Signs campaign, a national effort of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The campaign is designed to combat an overall lack of awareness about communication disorders—a major barrier to treatment for the more than 40 million total Americans who suffer. Speech, language, and hearing disorders are among the most common disabilities in the United States. However, unlike many other disabilities, these disorders often are reversible and even preventable with early intervention. Unfortunately, many parents do not recognize the first signs of these disorders. In young children, early treatment can help prevent them from falling behind academically, socially, and in other key areas at a critical time in their development. As an ASHA member and certified speech-language pathologist, I see the benefits of early intervention every day. Unfortunately, I also see the consequences of parents’ and others’ waiting too long to seek treatment—which is why the Identify the Signs campaign is so important. While it is certainly never too late to seek help, treatment is most successful, less expensive, and takes the shortest amount of time when a parent or loved one is able to pick up on the earliest signs of these disorders. As May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, I suggest all parents familiarize themselves with these signs at IdentifytheSigns.org and seek an assessment from a certified speech-language pathologist if they have any questions. One should not assume a child will ‘outgrow’ speech or language difficulties. There is never harm in seeking an assessment, whether it results in putting a parent’s mind at ease or identifying a potential issue in a child that can be treated. In children, parents should watch for the following signs of speech and language disorders: · Does not interact socially (infancy and older) · Does not follow or understand what you say (starting at 1 year) · Says only a few sounds or words or makes only a few gestures (18 months to 2 years) · Says words that are not easily understood (18 months to 2 years) · Does not combine words (starting at 2 years) · Struggles to say sounds or words (3 to 4 years) In adults, signs of speech and language disorders include: · Struggles to say sounds or words (stuttering) · Repeats words or parts of words (stuttering) · Says words in the wrong order (expressive aphasia) · Struggles with using words and understanding others (global aphasia) · Has difficulty imitating speech sounds (apraxia) · Speaks at a slow rate (apraxia) · Produces slurred speech (dysarthria) For more signs, treatment information, and other resources, visit http://identifythesigns.org. To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP We are getting ready for Easter and this upcoming weekend we are going to dye eggs. As always, I look for ways to tie in speech/language tasks to our activities! Here are some suggestions for how to incorporate speech/language skills into egg dying. Egg-Dying/Easter Vocabulary Words: · Dye · Mix · Dip · Dry · Egg Hunt · Crack · Fragile · Shell · Egg White · Yolk · Vinegar While you prepare the dye: · Talk about the different colors of egg dye that you will be using · Allow your child to help you measure and mix the ingredients · Consider blending some of the colors to create new colors and talk about how this happens Before you dye the eggs: · Use a white or clear crayon to write/draw on the eggs – once the eggs are dyed you will be able to see what you drew · Write letters to work on letter identification · Draw shapes to work on shape recognition · Have your child write his/her name  While you dye the eggs:
· Think and talk about some of the vocabulary words listed above as you mix, dip, dye and dry your eggs! After you dye the eggs: · Check out the letters and shapes you drew on the eggs · If your child is a beginning reader, use the letter-eggs to spell out some CVC words · Use describing words to talk about an egg and have your child guess which egg you are describing · Hide the eggs and use direction words to find the eggs · Crack one of the eggs open and talk about the different parts of the egg As always, every task can be a learning experience that is full of language if you make it that way for your child! Enjoy and I hope you and your child create some awesome eggs! Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ear Infections and Speech/Language Development While we are stuck in what seems like “The Winter That Will Not End” I find myself still dealing with coughs, colds and illness in my daughter and the children I work with. One thing that I have seen a lot of this year is ear infections. As a speech-language pathologist I am always concerned about children with recurrent ear infections or a history of ear infections/middle ear fluid. Below I’ll explain a little more about what ear infections are and how they impact speech/language development. What are ear infections? Ear infections happen when the middle ear becomes infected/inflamed due to fluid. Fluid may also be present in the ear without an infection. How can ear infections/fluid impact my child’s hearing? When an ear is infected/fluid is present in the ear it can make the child feel like he/she is hearing under water. Typically, when the infection goes away, the child’s hearing will return to normal. When fluid is present in the ear without an infection, the child’s hearing may be impacted the entire time fluid is present. Also, if ear infections occur repeatedly in children, their hearing may become permanently damaged. How can ear infections/fluid impact my child’s speech/language development? While a child has an ear infection/fluid that results in temporary hearing loss they may miss out on information that is important for speech and language development. What should I do if I am concerned?
Hopefully this post gives you some ideas for how to proceed if you have been dealing with recurrent ear infections/fluid in your child during this long, seemingly-endless winter! Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
I have a sign hanging by the door in my office for my clients to read (if they are able to) on their way out. It says: “STOP! Think about it…. WHY do I come to speech? WHAT did I learn today? HOW can I use it outside of speech?” The meaning behind this sign is so important. I try to address these questions with all of my clients. In order to make progress it is so important for clients to know what they are working on and why it is important. While it is easier for my older clients to take ownership of their therapy than it is for my younger clients, a key piece to the puzzle is also the caregivers. As a parent of a child in speech therapy it is so important to be involved. Being “involved” may mean a variety of different things depending on you, your child and your child’s therapist. For some families it may be beneficial for the parent to sit in the therapy room for every session. This will allow the parent to watch the techniques the therapist uses, understand the goals that are being worked on and easily take away strategies to use at home. For other families, having the parent in the room can be too distracting for the child. In this case, the parent may instead choose to sit in for one session every month or every other month. Or, if possible, the parent may watch the therapy through a one-way mirror in an adjoining room. Whether the parent is in the room or not, it is important for the parent and therapist to have open communication. In my clinic, I try to take the last 5-10 minutes of my session to talk with the parent. I inform them about what goals we addressed that day, what activities we completed and what carryover activities can be done at home. This is also a time for parents to ask any questions they may have. Parents and therapists should work as a team to have open communication and share ideas/strategies to increase the progress of the child. If you are a parent of a child in speech therapy (or any other kind of therapy!) I urge you to truly be involved in your child’s therapy. Think about the words on the sign: Know WHY your child goes to therapy. Know WHAT your child is working on in therapy. Know HOW you can promote the carryover of skills to outside of therapy. You are your child’s best teacher and advocate! Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Storytelling is an essential language skill. Storytelling not only allows children to convey information about themselves, but it also encourages creativity and imagination. Below are some great apps that are engaging, fun and promote building storytelling skills. Rory’s Story Cubes  Developer: The Creativity Hub Ltd. Price: $1.99 Available on: iPad, iPhone and Android devices Description: Rory’s Story Cubes is the app version of the story-telling dice game, Rory’s Story Cubes. This app consists of 9 dice with 6 pictures on each dice. Shake your device to shuffle the dice and see where they land! Once the dice have settled, you can rearrange the dice to tell a story from the pictures. Speech and Language Use: This app is great because it promotes creative storytelling while providing visual cues through the use of the story dice. Your child can tell the story by him/herself or you can take turns picking a dice to put in order to tell the story. With 54 different pictures, the options for story telling are virtually endless. As an extension activity you can save a picture of the story dice and have your child draw his/her own picture to go with the story! 
Draw and Tell Developer: Duck Duck Moose Price: $1.99 Available on: iPad, iPhone Description: Draw and Tell is a creative and interactive story and picture/video creating app! Choose between a blank canvas or premade pictures. Once you have created the scene, it’s time to record! Move around the pictures on your canvas and record your voice to tell the story. This app allows for endless scene/story combinations and creativity! Speech and Language Use: The multitude of backgrounds, stickers and drawing tools allows for many opportunities to use language. Begin by talking about the setting of the story and choose the appropriate background. Scroll through the stickers to choose the characters and then brainstorm the story line. Once your child has set the scene, it’s time to record the script. This app promotes sequencing, vocabulary development and creativity! 
Golden Speech Therapy
Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP
Winter time is still here…. and still hitting us hard! Not only are we getting hit with snow, but germs are wreaking havoc this year too leaving many of us with coughs, colds and stomach bugs! If your family is anything like ours, we are definitely keeping the physicians in business around here lately. This also means we are spending plenty of time waiting. We are waiting in the physician’s waiting room. We are waiting to pick up prescriptions. We are waiting to feel better! Here are some of the language-based games we play while trying to avoid coming in contact with more germs in the doctor’s waiting room! I Spy -Pick an object in the room and describe it to the other person using various characteristics of shape, size, color, etc… Rhyme Time -Choose a word and take turns saying words that rhyme with it until you run out of words! Categories -Choose a category and take turns naming items that fit in to the category until you run out of ideas I’m thinking of an animal… -Pick and animal and give clues until the other person guesses the animal Tell a story -One person starts a story with one sentence. The other person then continues with one sentence. Continue alternating by adding one sentence to the story at a time! If you have played all of these games and you are still waiting… maybe you could try doing a “spring dance” to bring in some nice weather and hopefully get rid of these germs! If you are concerned about your child’s language development call Golden Speech Therapy and schedule a free screening! Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy |
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