Supporting Speech and Language Skills at Home

Lori Kallevig, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She is the owner of Sprout Therapy, which offers speech and occupational therapy to pediatric and adult populations. Sprout Therapy also partners with Strongsville Recreation Department and Beyond Words to provide camps that address speech and language skills.

If nothing else, in (almost) the past 6 months you have had more time to spend with family than you ever did before. During this time, there’s been an influx of feelings, both positive and negative. You may have previously had concerns about your child’s speech or language skills, or it’s an area that you are just starting to explore now. One of the most common questions we receive is “What can I do?” or “Where do I start?”

Be Intentional

Something about the word “intentional” continues to be a reoccurring theme for me. Be Intentional. Be intentional with your life, how to spend your time, and the conversations you have with your child. Your conversations hold such purpose and are the gateway to the way that your child interacts with the world around them. Children learn through models…peer models and adult models. The language that a child hears in their environment is the language (and way of using language) that your child will aim to replicate.

Speech Therapy 101

Whether you notice something about the way your child speaks seems different but you aren’t sure what; or, your doctor (trusted professional) has recommended speech therapy, it may bring up many questions. For example, you may wonder, they can make all of their sounds-- What is speech therapy anyways? Individuals (children and adults) attend speech therapy for a variety of reasons. Speech Language Pathologists may have many names (speech therapist, speech teacher, SLP) and may have many specialties. Generally, they are licensed to provide speech (articulation) or language instruction. Speech (articulation/phonology) has to do with the way an individual produces a sound (I.E.: if someone uses a “d” for a “g” sound- they say “dough” vs. “go”). Language skills can include social skills, making longer sentences, vocabulary, grammar, fluency (stuttering), augmentative communication (AAC/speech devices), etc. Speech therapists may also specialize in feeding, myofascial differences, executive functioning (ADHD/organization), special populations, and so much more! First and foremost, if you have concerns about your child’s speech and language skills, start with a screening or evaluation with a speech language pathologist that you are comfortable with. This will give you a piece of mind, but also will provide some guidance and a general course of any necessary treatment. Still, you can enhance your child’s speech and language skills in a multitude of ways at home along with any therapy that may be recommended.

Take a Step Back

You have so much on your plate. Make sure before anything else, you foster the relationship with your child, and do not put pressure to have your child repeat your speech patterns all day long. We often encourage our families to start small and get talking. Pick just one activity in your day and make it a language focus. Focus more on using the correct language that you what your child to produce, and less of a point of having your child repeat you. I know this seems counterproductive, but it will provide models while encouraging conversation skills that will last a lifetime!

Practice Makes Perfect

When you hear your child make a mistake, the best thing you can do is to rephrase what they say in the correct way. If your child is saying a speech sound wrong (i.e.: your child says “let’s DOUGH” vs. “Let’s GO”) you can respond by using (and over producing) the “g” sound correct in “go” (i.e.: you respond with “oh, your shoes are on, it looks like you are ready to GO! I’m ready too, let’s GO!”). If there is a language error such as trouble with past tense verbs (i.e.: your child says “I eated it already”) you can respond by repeating what they say with the error corrected (i.e.: “You ate it already!? How did you do that! I cannot believe you ate it already!”). Anything you can do to engage your child, keep it light, and make it fun!

Smarter Not Harder

In our parent/child early language courses, we say this from day one. You have enough on your plate. You do not need to curate a perfectly planned day filled with Pinterest/Instagram filtered speech and language beauty from the second your child wakes up, to the moment their eyes (finally) close. With my own kids, the Grocery Store was my favorite place to take my son (pre-quarantine!) We would spend our time following our list, looking for items, describing tastes, smells, and colors of the items in our cart. Since things have changed due to COVID-19, we have found ourselves loving the park, and taking trips to the carwash. At the carwash we talk about textures of the brushes (which ones look smooth or scratchy), sounds (the vacuums are loud, but the sound of the water is quiet), attributes (the colors of the soap, cars, brushes, etc). It often helps to make an outline of your day and identify just one area that you will dedicate to speech/language enhancing activities.

How Can We Help?

If you have questions about your child’s speech/language skills, are interested in an evaluation, or treatment please feel free to reach out to us through our website, or by phone/email.

SPROUT THERAPY, LLC
sprouttherapyllc@gmail.com
www.sprouttherapyllc.com
440-316-2416

For additional information about typical speech/language milestones visit the following article from the American Speech Language Association at: https://www.asha.org/public/Early-Identification-of-Speech-Language-and-Hearing-Disorders/

Back to School for Adult Students

Dean Malec received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Cleveland State University. He trained in various university counseling settings during his doctoral education and completed his internship at Case Western Reserve University’s Health & Counseling Services. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Center for Evidence Based Treatment – Ohio, where he is supporting the development of an adherent DBT skills group exclusively for the young adult/college population.

Several months ago, college students experienced a number of sudden changes to their education and social lives, as classes moved to remote delivery and many students sheltered in place away from friends. While many students may have had some exposure to remote courses prior to the pandemic, the coming academic year will bring its own set of challenges and considerations, particularly for those students who will be incoming freshmen this Fall. Some colleges are supporting students returning to campus in-person while others are mandating remote learning; others are providing some combination of each. Given these unique circumstances, it is understandable if students occasionally struggle with adjusting to these new expectations. This blog post will review some considerations for supporting both academic productivity and personal wellness during the upcoming year.

Who among us hasn’t started our day with the best of intentions to work on a paper – only to go on social media for “just a minute”, and then wonder why we’re still staring at a blank Word document several hours later? Because students will be accessing remote courses through computers or phones, will not be in a traditional classroom setting, and may feel isolated from friends, these urges for distraction may only increase this upcoming year! Here are some tips to consider if you are needing some help with staying focused:

Maintain A Consistent Routine

While many students may not have to get dressed or walk to class this Fall, maintaining a daily routine similar to that you may have had with in-person classes will still be important for priming yourself to be alert and engaged. Routines have also been associated with various health benefits (click here to learn more), including stress reduction. Be sure that part of your routine involves regular, balanced eating and sufficient sleep (7-9 hours/night). If you’re struggling to fall or stay asleep, consider adopting some of the following sleep hygiene recommendations (click here to learn more).

Dedicate A Specific Environment for Academics

When possible, try to carve out a specific space in your house, or your bedroom, that will be dedicated for schoolwork. By associating a specific space with schoolwork, you may be better able to focus and stay on task when in this space. Consider the following recommendations for ideal study space qualities (click here to learn more).

Minimize Distractions from Devices

The very same devices that allow us to engage in remote learning and research information for assignments are the very ones that can pull our focus away. While brief breaks are healthy, it can be difficult to stay within those parameters. If you are needing additional help, consider putting your phone on airplane mode during class or when working on an assignment that requires more intense focus. Similarly, consider using the following Google Chrome extension (click here to learn more) which allows you to block your access to distracting websites, while allowing you access to pages relevant to your studies.

Set Up Virtual Study Sessions with Friends

You don’t have to carry all of the weight of your academics on your own! Particularly as students are encouraged to maintain physical distancing, staying socially engaged becomes even more important. Consider working with a friend virtually – set up a consistent time for a Zoom session to work on projects separately, but together. Some data suggests that having an ‘accountability partner’ when working on goals is associated with greater success at achieving these goals (click to learn more).

Take Regular Breaks

While you may have a long list of tasks to complete each day, and are tempted to power through without stopping, taking regular breaks throughout the day is associated with greater levels of productivity and well-being. If you notice yourself feeling rundown and needing more breaks despite not attending class in-person, try not to judge yourself! Recent research has shed light on possible reasons for this increased fatigue when using Zoom frequently (click to learn more).

Use Your College’s Academic Resources

Many colleges have Academic Success offices staffed with people to help students who might be struggling with their coursework. Additionally, if you have been diagnosed with a physical or mental health condition, or suspect that you might have one, you can reach out to your college’s Disability Resources office for additional assistance. They may be able to help you apply for specific accommodations, which will help your academic performance reflect your capabilities.

Practice Self-Compassion

Using all of the above techniques, however, will still not shield you from occasionally falling short of your goals. We are all human! Yet we often criticize ourselves when we do not meet our own expectations. While this might seem counter-intuitive, research has actually shown self-compassion (NOT self-criticism) to be associated with increased motivation and productivity (click to learn more). If you’re needing some help with how to practice self-compassion, Dr. Kristin Neff, one of the leading psychologists in this area, has some helpful practices at her website (click to learn more).

Given the stressful and unpredictable nature of this time, it is normal to be struggling with managing strong emotions. If you are needing additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You may contact your college’s counseling center, or a therapy practice in the community, such as CEBTOhio, to speak with a mental health professional. At CEBTOhio, we will be offering a weekly Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills group specifically for young adults and college students. This group teaches a variety of evidence-based skills designed to help people with developing mindfulness, resilience, emotion regulation and interpersonal skills. It meets virtually on Thursdays from 10-11:30am, beginning on September 3. For more information, please call 216.544.1321. Wishing everyone a healthy, successful semester!

Living with Uncertainty

Selina Mathur is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) currently practicing at Santore & Associates Health and Wellness in Chesterland, Ohio. She has spent the past 18 years of her professional experience working as a special education teacher, school counselor as well as a mental health clinical counselor. Selina’s most recent experience includes working with children and adolescents in both the school and outpatient setting helping them to be more successful in their environments (family, school, and peer.) During this time, she developed her passion and niche for treating the family system as well as ADHD, anxiety, and depressive disorders. Selina believes in treating her clients holistically and considering all internal and external factors, including peer and family relationships, academic performance, and mental health disorders. Therefore, Selina will often serve as an advocate to families by attending both IEP and/or 504 meetings when necessary. She has specialized training in various parenting programs such as Love and Logic and Conscious Discipline.

Uncertainty is among us all on both a macro (global) and a micro (local) level. We are living through a pandemic which has triggered within us our most basic instincts as human beings, resulting in an increase in fear and its secondary component, anger. We have lost a great deal of the stability that once anchored us and supported us in maintaining our identity and our purpose. Our balance and stability are suffering as a result. There has never been a better time to self-reflect and determine the best course of action to improve our overall functioning and well-being.

Human beings find comfort in routine, structure, and security. Fear often develops or worsens when either of these components are challenged. This can result in worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety including sleep deprivation, irritability, anger, and withdrawal. When living in this state of heightened nervous system arousal our focus suffers which then impacts our performance at home, school or work.

In effort to free ourselves from the fear, brought upon by uncertainty, it is crucial that we first examine beliefs and habits that lead to suffering which often include “should’s” or “should haves.” When examining these beliefs and habits, we want to simultaneously address the feelings and emotions that come along with them. It is particularly important that we do not run away from these emotions/feelings, but rather accept them for what they are and nothing more. For example, many of us compulsively check our phone/emails, overeat, consume ourselves with work or engage in other destructive behavior. Upon examining these behaviors, one may discover that he or she is masking/ignoring the impact this pandemic has had on their finances while also contributing to the emotions of worry or despair they are experiencing. Once admitting the emotions that develop from beliefs and habits that contribute to suffering, we can commit to engaging in daily activities to bring about positive change. Remaining in the present moment and working to accept “what is”, especially during uncertain times, is often the best way to challenge our beliefs and values. Here, we accept the notion that uncertainty is a part of life and completely beyond our control which we then take pleasure in discovering the potential beauty of the present moment. One specific strategy to enhance your present awareness is to take a brief moment daily to simply pause and notice the sounds and sights within the environment you reside and succumb to the peace and quiet that often arise. The fear-based messages which lead/contribute to anxiety will dissipate for that very moment, bringing about utter tranquility. Additionally, coming to accept the sameness in all of us—i.e. that we are all in this pandemic together and will get through it together often mitigates the fear resulting from uncertainty. Reaching out to others at this challenging time and helping out in some way may help improve your mood and being which may also reduce suffering. As parents or caregivers, it is important to practice self-compassion and be kind to yourselves which may include carving out 5 minutes a day to do an enjoyable activity such as yoga, meditation, exercise, talking to a friend, or engaging in an art activity. In addition, daily gratitude journaling is a great tool to encourage positive thinking.

Overall, history supports that uncertain times will always exist AND they will not last forever. As a human being, it can be challenging to accept these current stressors and, in many ways, it may be easier to put up our blinders to cope. There has never been a better day than today to take the first steps towards challenging these thought patterns that proliferate the stress we experience. The joy and peace you can experience upon making these changes will be worth every effort made.

Keeping Your Cool with Back to School: 3 Solid Tips for Parenting in Pandemic Times

Georgie Gray, LISW-S, is a parent coach and therapist based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. She has been working with kids and families for over 20 years, and believes that the most effective tool in your parenting toolbox is your strong relationship with your child. Learn more about Georgie’s approach and services by visiting her website: www.GeorgieGrayCounseling.com

Feeling optimistic about the start of the new school year? Feel like you and your kids are thriving after a relaxing summer? Yeah, didn’t think so. The only thing thriving right now is anxiety. Uncertainty breeds anxiety, and the one sure thing about life in a pandemic is that every single thing is uncertain.

Here are three proven parenting tips for handling anxiety and uncertainty as you stare down the barrel of another semester of online school. Or hybrid school. Or whatever kind of school it is in five minutes, because surely it will be different from what it is right now.

Tip #1: Connect When You Can

You can’t control much, but you can control the way you show up for your child. Remind yourself often that your child’s long-term development is better served by your close relationship with him than by his completion of his schoolwork. This is not to say that school doesn’t matter, or that the assignments should be ignored. But it is to say that the cost should not be endless battles between you. Back away from fights when you can. Understand that your child’s frustrations are most likely going to be dumped out on you. Don’t take it personally. We are all under stress, which means our capacity to handle challenges is waaay diminished. Connect when you can. Prioritize feeling good together. Feeling safe in your relationship together will get your child much closer to his academic goals in the long run.

What this might sound like:

“It looks like you’re having a hard time getting that math worksheet finished. Why don’t we take a walk around the block together. I could use a break from my work, too.”

Tip #2: Practice being calm

Don’t you hate when people say, “calm down”? It also kind of bugs me when people push mindfulness and meditation as solutions to stress. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely believe in mindfulness and meditation as tools for stress management and overall mind/body health. But the words have become buzzwords, and sometimes feel too “soft” in the moment of crisis, anger, or worry. So, what do I mean by “practice being calm”?

I just mean, take a second to take a breath. Step away from this moment in your mind. Pretend you’re a bird, up above whatever situation you’re in. Can you relax your grip on anything right now – whether that’s a worrisome thought, or your need to control an interaction? Can you relax your stomach muscles, or your shoulders? Find a moment to regain perspective, whenever you can. Everybody in the world is in this same leaky boat, plugging holes to stay afloat. Stop staring at the little leaks for just long enough to breathe. Decide where you want to place your attention and your energy.

You might say to yourself:

“I am going to let go of this particular worry for just five minutes. I can come back to it later after I feel calmer.”

Tip #3: Be Curious

Anxiety makes us clench, and it closes us down. We get rigid. We seek control. Curiosity opens us up. Next time you’re tussling with your kid about sight words or times tables, practice curiosity: “What would happen if I…”

You might ask yourself:

“What would happen if I asked him what the best way is to practice?”
“What would happen if we went for a walk and did sight words or times tables later?”

It doesn’t matter what question you ask or how you answer it. The point is to make a mental shift. Curiosity enables you to step back from a situation. Your perspective widens. You can step away from conflict, and that makes connection more likely.

You might even be able to take a breath -and find that you feel calm.

Back to School: This is Frustrating, but I Can Roll with It

Jennifer Lewis is a Licensed School Psychologist who has a background in community mental health. Currently she is an Elementary School Psychologist and works within the Maple Heights City School District. Jennifer’s areas of specialization include early childhood development, social emotional learning, and anxiety. She works with families on a daily basis and is often their first point of contact with the school system as she walks them through the special education process. Jennifer co-leads live discussions with fellow School Psychologists discussing topics, providing resources, and answering questions through a new social media platform coined #AskASchoolPsych.

This is the time of year where we collectively begin our “Back to School” preparations as the summer comes to an end. As an educator my experience this time of year involves preparing for work and getting my son ready for the upcoming year. Every year usually involves school clothes shopping, purchasing school supplies, establishing a routine as we transition back into our school year structure, setting intentions, and getting motivated for the year ahead. However, this year feels very different. So far, 2020 has been a year flooded with new experiences, panic, adjustments, disappointments, and unknowingly has been a catalyst for creative thinking.

Just a few months ago, as a parent and as an educator the world as I knew it turned upside down. I made attempts to juggle working from home all while enforcing virtual learning for my elementary-aged child. I’m sure I experienced the same frustrations as many parents who were working from home. In the beginning things felt chaotic, uncomfortable, and ineffective. It took me a few weeks, but over time I found the following to be most helpful in my household:

Setting Boundaries

I spent time teaching my son internet safety and appropriate behavior for video calls. We discussed the importance of engaging in minimal interruptions as I held my virtual meetings for work. I also had to set boundaries for myself, by being realistic with my remote work productivity.

Creating a Visible Schedule

I collaborated with my son to combine his daily morning routine and his school schedule. We hung my son's schedule on his bedroom wall so that he could reference it throughout the day. At the start of each week we reviewed the assignments due for that week. I assisted my son with creating post-it notes for each day that listed the assignments/readings he needed to complete each day. He crossed off each assignment as he completed them, in order to stay organized.

Setup a Student Work Area

With my son’s input, we agreed on a work station location in our home. His work area consists of a desk, a work stool, a cool background (a way to express his personality in the background of his virtual chats), and school supplies (pencils, markers, notebooks, etc).

Be Flexible

At home our motto during times of difficulty is as follows: “This is frustrating, but I can roll with it”. I often try to model this in our everyday life. For example, one day earlier this year, my car battery died and my car would not start as I attempted to begin my day. I took the time to say our motto, took some deep breaths, and then made the necessary phone calls to get help. The same applies now as we shift to using and understanding virtual classrooms. We must be open to new ways of thinking and maintain composure when faced with challenges.

Engage in Self Care

We can’t forget to take time for ourselves and more importantly encourage our children/students to develop self-care strategies. This could be as simple as deep breathing, listening to our favorite song, journaling, drawing a picture with your child, or even taking a nap! Get active. Take some time for yoga and/or meditation.

Home-School Connections

It is so important that we as parents communicate our needs and concerns with our child’s educational team. If it has not already been done, make a request to schedule a 1:1 virtual meet and greet with your child’s new teacher. Touch base with your child’s teacher so that you know the standards or teaching goals for each week. Know that you have the right to reach out to your school team if you have concerns with your child’s progress (they may even offer intervention support).

As we prepare for the year ahead, I plan to continue utilizing these helpful tools and it is my hope that it will be a blessing to you. Be well!

COVID-19

As Ohio begins to reopen, our first priority is to keep both our clients and our staff healthy. There are several new procedures that we will be implementing to ensure everyone’s safety to the greatest extent possible.

Wilson Reading System Tutoring

Because of the large number of students that our tutors see in a variety of settings, virtual tutoring will continue for all of our clients through summer.

Psychoeducational Assessments

In-person assessment will begin starting Monday, May 18. However, we will be implementing several new policies to address concerns about COVID-19. These are subject to change in the future as the situation develops.

• Canceling due to illness. Please contact us to cancel if the client or anyone within the home is ill, or if they have been in contact with someone who is suspected of having COVID-19 within the past 14 days. Please check your temperature prior to coming to the office. We may ask to check clients’ temperatures using a no-touch thermometer upon arrival. If it reads 100 degrees Fahrenheit or over, we will not be able to continue the assessment at that time. Our school psychologists are also checking their temperatures daily, and will need to cancel your appointment if they have a temperature or exhibit other symptoms of COVID-19, such as cough and shortness of breath.

• Arrival to the office. Please do not enter the building more than 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

• Waiting room. We will be closing our waiting room to clients and their families. This means that the client will enter a door directly into the testing room from the hallway. Anyone accompanying the client is asked to wait outside of the building. We will call you once the client has completed the assessment and will walk him/her out to the front door to meet you.

• Testing environment. We have also made some changes to the office where testing occurs. We are using a longer table with a plexiglass barrier to maintain the greatest distance feasible during the assessment. Materials such as pencils, paper, etc. will be set up on the client’s side of the plexiglass to reduce the need to pass materials back and forth between the client and examiner. Additionally, clients will be asked to use hand sanitizer located on their side of the partition at the beginning of the assessment.

• Cleaning procedures. All materials and furniture in the office are being cleaned regularly. We will clean the testing area and all testing materials before and after each testing session.

• Intake and feed-back sessions. To reduce face-to-face services as much as possible, we are completing initial intake sessions and feed-back sessions by phone.

• Scheduling. We will be staggering appointments so that we will be seeing as few clients during any given time frame as possible. This may mean that we will schedule you out further than we have in the past, or, if you need to be seen for multiple sessions, the appointments may be scheduled closer to each other.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we begin the reopening process. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns related to your own situation, and we will do our best to come up with a solution that works for everyone involved while maintaining health recommendations.