Teach and learn, think "anew"

We can learn from our past leaders like Abraham Lincoln.
He said, "We must think anew.  We must develop not only a new mind-set but also a new skill-set and a new tool-set that flow from it."
The new "mind-set" was to reach out to use a "new tool-set" the SmartPalate system.  I've been so  happy I made that investment.  I've continually learned my " new skill-set" from using the "new tool-set" to teach better speech production.  It's allowed me to teach others to make their target sounds more accurately and consistently.  Students have become teachers in their own right by being able to "teach" explain what they learned and discovered about their own speech production.  It's been such a good experience.
This year's intensive summer speech program has flown by as usual.  I've learned that we must be patient the first two weeks of therapy when re-structuring our tongue placement from old muscle memory habits.  It will come with time, practice and patience.

Intensive Summer Speech Therapy

Two weeks into summer speech and it's been great.  The kids have worked hard to get their speech target placement.
Some kids got their target placement figured out the first day!!! While a few other kids found it a bit frustrating to get their old habits under control and get the new "pattern placement".  But everyone got their tongue placement with in the first two weeks,Whoo Hoo!  that is the best feeling ever!!! 
Now they are all trying to maintain their accurate placement, manner and voicing of their target sounds in higher levels of speech production.

Here is a great example of how one student explained what he needed to pay attention to.
This was all spontaneous information, as the student was sharing this information with his mother.
                                                                    Part one

 

Part two

 

He uses the straw for placment and to help get his airflow in the right spot

then his second attempt was without the straw and perfect!

He got this about his sixth session, but perfected it on this eight session. 

Summer Speech Ideas

What words come to mind when you think of "Summer?"
Fun? Sun?  Pools?  Cool drinks? Games? Family reunions?  Camping? Hiking? Swimming?
What ever it is, enjoy the time you have together with your family and friends.
Talk more, laugh more, play more and talks some more.

Summer experiences can really help your child continue to improve their speech and language skills.  The best part is the summer journey.  Capitalize on the nature of summer days as gentle teaching moments.  Don't be afraid to model and talk about things.  "Verbalize your thinking process a loud,  this can really help kids know how they should process information, and what questions to ask".  Here is an example;  "I wonder what we need to take on our week long trip to the ocean?" " What do you guys think we need to remember to bring?"

Make learning fun fun fun and more fun.  Make it meaningful and functional.  Notice what your child needs during these free days.    Don't do everything yourself, involve the kids the best way you can.
They will gain more from this process than sitting on the sideline or worse yet not paying attention.

Here is a short list of speech and language ideas for some fun summer times ahead.
1. Make daily lists, all kinds of lists- share them with your kids, help them to make lists; food lists, shopping lists, fix-it list, suitcase list, sight seeing list, book lists,  so on- teaches core vocabulary, categories, priorities,
2. Maps lessons- highlight the routes you will be taking.  Helps with distance, planning, directionality and temporal sequencing vocabulary and real planning situations  "First we need to go this far, then we need to get to this place, 
3. Sports camps- helps with physical outlet,  specific vocabulary, following directions, individual effort and team effort,  retelling instructions and events that happened that day.
4. Books- read lots of books together and alone.  Develops lots of vocabulary, sentence structure, reading comprehension, retelling skills of story elements of characters, settings, problems, possible solutions, sequencing of events, feelings, conflicts, resolutions, etc. Let them even earn money for their best book report.  It can be written, oral or poster presentations.  Make it fun! (You set the bar: Each letter grade equals different amounts of money, this will encourage them to do their best work.) (visit your local library a lot, let your kids earn series of books they like.)
5. Cook together- helps with using key vocabulary for a recipe, following instructions step by step, sequencing- first we need this, then that, so on.  Start simple with 3-4 ingredient recipes.Bon Appetite
6. Games- play lots of different games, indoor and outdoor types;  helps with turn taking skills,  following and telling instructions, goals of the game, so on.

MAY BETTER SPEECH MONTH

Better Speech Month is a reminder to get help for your children who are struggling with their speech and language.  GET HELP NOW.  Check out my Summer Intensive Speech Program from  June 10th- July 11, 2013.  Held at BYU campus, Provo Utah. Prices vary depending on technology that is used or not.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED SIGN UP TODAY. IT MAY BE THE BEST THING FOR YOU OR YOUR CHILD.  Speak with confidence to live better.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGhRTmhNa185RUNncnVvRzM5TkhSRkE6MA..

Palatometry and Speakers with ASD

Check out the article from CompleteSpeech Blog site called "Working with Adults on the Autism Spectrum."  This is a nice article of how moving beyond traditional speech therapy has made a difference in helping people "see and find their voice".    I was able to be a part of this as I trained the Therapists at Scenic View.  I love their willingness to give so much.   Their patience, time, talent and giving their best resouces to their students has paid off.  Using the SmartPalate System has been a great choice for so many students.

http://completespeech.com/speech/blog/?utm_source=Master+List&utm_campaign=02c17ca6dd-March+1%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

Speech Services

A+ Speech Therapy helps with the following speech needs.
1. Stuttering/Cluttering
     Saying words without hesitations, repetitions, prolongations, blocks, or secondary behaviors; twitches, eye blinks, tension.   For cluttering, add false starts, mazes, revisions, interjections, unaware of rushing, so on.

2. Articulation issues
    Usually this can mean lingering articulation errors on one or more sounds. Most common errors being distortions like "S, Z"  being dentalized or lateral (uni or bi lateral) and "R" sounds being substituted or diminished.  For some people it can be difficulty reaching full articulation gesture or maintaining clear articulation throughout the word and sentences.

3.  Literacy
     Difficulty with reading and writing difficulties.  Maybe from core auditory processing deficits of phonological awareness and phonological rules. not being able to retain or recall sequence of letters/sounds and or numbers.  Difficulty comprehending what was read.  Maybe a slow reader.

4. Voice
     Vocal nodules, vocal fatigue, quiet voice, or too loud of a voice, monotone, pitch issues, oral resonance issues, strained voice or too breathy of a voice, etc.

6. Language
     Difficulty understanding instructions, events, stories, general conversation. 
Difficulty expressing one's ideas and thoughts.  Difficulty with social-emotional language, like those with autism, ADHD, hard of hearing, so on.

Correct Sound Placement; Connect the Dots

Remember dot to dot drawings?  The SmartPalate speech therapy might be as simple as that!

See the dot to dot connection for correct /r/ placement (yes two right triangles).  How did my client's tongue know how to make two right triangles?  Your tongue is amazing, it will adapt to where it's suppose to because we are visual learners with mirror neurons. We want to match with what we see.

It's not new science, it's proven science that we do best with "multi-modality learning"
We learn, retain and recall  better with "hearing, seeing and doing." 
With traditional therapy, the student can't see inside the therapist's mouth to match what their tongue is doing.   But now with the "SmartPalate" system, the client can see what the instructor does and match their "dot" placement better.   Kids and adults love it!

 Female, age 10,  Consistent correct /r/ placement after 2 sessions
 Consistent correct sound and placement after 5 sessions in sentences.
 Below is a sample video of Millie teaching me how she does her homework to generalize her good /r/.

Many children struggle to get in their R sound completely correct.  Here is one way to help them to generalize. I learned this lesson from my client.  How great is that. First we will show you with the Smart Palate then without the mouthpiece.

April; Teaching Syllables for kids with apraxia

I use Visual Phonics (hand gestures) for those needing extra visual cues.
See how I teach basic syllables with "m" as the consonant rotating through vowels.
First video with visual phonics, the second video just showing letters/sounds.
You can purchase Visual Phonics DVD and visual guide booklet at Brigham Young University, author ComD.  Total cost is approx $15.00

WELCOME TO 2013!

I HOPE YOUR BLOG BROWSING WILL BE ENJOYABLE!

FREE CONSULTATION (form)

Phone; 801-372-4383, 
Email: adorais159@gmail.com