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If your child has been diagnosed with hyponasal speech, you probably have a lot of questions. Like, what is hyponasality and how will this affect the way my child communicates? Hyponasality affects the way your child can balance nasal air emissions. It causes a congested sound as your child speaks. This can lead to difficulties with articulation and communication. However, there is hope. There are several treatment options for children with hyponasality. Read on to find out about hyponasality and how it affects children’s ability to communicate. What Is Hyponasality? A child with hyponasality has a resonance disorder where there is a disruption in the child’s speech sound because not enough air is coming from the mouth and nose. This is usually due to a blockage in the upper airway of the body. The issue is in the resonance of your child’s speech. Resonance refers to the sound produced by the vocal cords in the vocal tract. The vocal tract is made up of the pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity. If anything is inflamed or in the way of the vocal tract, it can cause issues with the way your child speaks. What Does Hyponasality Sound Like? There are several resonance disorders and they can all end up sounding alike to an untrained ear. Also, the difference is language and dialect can affect how people sound when speaking. Because of these factors, sometimes a child’s school may be the first to notice hyponasality. They may send home information and refer your child for evaluation by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). If you’ve received this information, you may be wondering what hyponasality even sounds like. As a parent, it can be easy to get used to the way your child speaks, which makes it difficult for you to notice any abnormalities. Hyponasal speech sounds like your child has constant nasal congestion, even if your child is healthy. Swollen adenoids or tonsils can cause blockages in your child’s nasal air emissions that make your child sound like they have a stuffy nose, even when they don’t. This swollen tissue can make articulation difficult for your child. The position of the tongue, the degrees of the mouth opening, and the opening and closing of the velopharyngeal valve (VP) also all contribute to the shape and size of the vocal tract. When all of these achieve a balance, normal resonance is achieved. Resonance changes for vowels, oral consonants, and nasal consonants. It can also vary based on different dialects and languages. When there is too little or too much nasality in the oral sound energy, this is a sign of a resonance disorder. These are usually caused by functional or structural issues and can lead to deficits in speech such as articulation errors and mislearning of sounds. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Nasal airflow “errors” are related to articulation when there is an inappropriate escape of air through the nasal cavity during the production of pressure consonants.” However, hyponasality is not to be confused with hypernasality, also known as velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Hypernasal speech is when too much air escapes through the nose and mouth while speaking. This is when a child makes more nasal sounds than usual. Both are types of resonance disorders. There are other types as well including mixed resonance and cul-de-sac resonance. What Are The Symptoms of Hyponasality? Hyponasality occurs in children with the following symptoms: Reduced nasal resonance on vowels, sonorants (sound produced with the vocal cords), and nasal consonants Denasalization of nasal consonants A child may say the nasal phonemes that are similar to their cognates. For example, “b” for the “m” sound, or “d” for “n.” If you’ve noticed your child with these symptoms and there is no underlying illness, it may be time to get your child checked by a pediatrician to find an underlying cause. What Are The Causes of Hyponasality? There are several causes of hyponasal speech. Most are related to a blockage in the craniofacial or upper airway of the body. A deviated septum is one cause of hyponasality. The bone and cartilage that divides the nose in half is called the septum. Sometimes it can be crooked or have an abnormality either from a break or because it naturally formed that way. The deviated septum can make it hard for your child to balance their airflow, leading to nasal resonance issues. Another common cause of hyponasality is an enlargement of the adenoids or tonsils. Enlarged adenoids and tonsils usually mean there is an infection that your child’s body is trying to fight off. However, if they remain enlarged even after infections are gone, they can become problematic. Some children are even born with abnormally enlarged adenoids. This can lead to resonance issues and a stuffy nose-sounding speech. Similar to the enlarged adenoids and tonsils, sinuses can also become inflamed. If your child’s sinuses remain inflamed even when an infection has passed, it can affect their speech. Nasal polyps, or soft non-cancerous growths on the lining of the nasal passage, is another cause of hyponasality. Foreign objects and tumors can also obstruct the nasal and upper airway passages making it difficult for your child to balance their air and speak. Some of these issues can be present from birth and others are symptoms of other medical issues. According to WebMD, children with cleft palate or cleft lip have a higher chance of developing a resonance disorder because of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). VPD is when the velum or soft palate does not touch the back of the throat while speaking or swallowing. Even after cleft palate repair, these children may have difficulties with resonance. Issues with the ears, nose, and throat can lead to velopharyngeal incompetence due to the scars left from pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty (cleft palate repair surgery). These can cause hyponasality. Also, children who have hearing loss or auditory disorders tend to have higher incidences of hyponasality. Hearing impairments managed with cochlear hearing aids have less resonance feedback. Other causes of hyponasality include the following: Abnormal narrowing of the passageway between the nose and pharynx (choanal atresia) Problems with velopharyngeal closure timing Neurological trauma and disorders such as dysarthria, cerebral palsy, apraxia, stroke, and velar paralysis Sometimes hyponasality is not due to any structural issues but is simply a result of learned misarticulation. In these cases, the child has learned to compensate for difficulties in speaking by mispronouncing certain sounds. Your child will need to be evaluated by professionals to determine the causes of their hyponasality. How is Hyponasality Diagnosed? A pediatric doctor will look at your child’s recent health history and perform a physical exam. Then, if they believe your child’s speech disorder may be caused by hyponasality, your child will get a referral to an otolaryngologist (ENT). This doctor specialized in disorders of the ears, nose, and throat. They will perform a nasal endoscopy, which uses a small flexible tube with a camera on the end. This will be inserted into your child’s nasal cavity to look inside and figure out what is going on. Once your doctor has an idea of what is causing the speech issue, they can begin treatment. How is Hyponasality Treated? Hyponasality can be treated in a few different ways. Nasal polyps can sometimes be treated with medications to shrink them. If this does not work, then surgery to remove them will be necessary. This is usually an outpatient procedure where the surgeon will remove the polyps using an endoscope and then enlarge your nasal passageway. If there is a foreign object, it will need to be removed. This may result in surgery, depending on the object. First, your child’s doctor may try antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroid sprays for a deviated septum, but if these don’t work surgery at a children’s hospital may also be needed for correcting a deviated septum. In this surgery, the nasal septum is straightened and recentered. Sometimes enlarged adenoids need to be removed with a surgery called adenoidectomy. Oftentimes, the nasal passages are still swollen for several weeks after the surgery, so the articulation disorders will continue to persist. However, these phonological issues are usually temporary. Surgical reconstruction may also be needed to enlarge stenotic nares (nostrils). This will improve the amount of air your child can take in and can help to balance their airflow. Besides physical treatment, your doctor will likely recommend speech therapy as a way to help your child communicate more effectively. Even if issues in velopharyngeal function get corrected, young children will need help relearning how to balance their airflow and unlearn compensatory language development. What Role Does Speech Therapy Play? Once you have identified and treated the cause of your child’s hyponasality from the physical side, you will want to get your child in to see a speech-language pathologist (SLP). An SLP will evaluate your child’s speech samples and come up with a treatment plan. The clinician will treat speech problems with effective strategies for children with communication disorders. During sessions, the speech therapist can give your child strategies to help them improve their speech sounds. A speech therapist will teach your child how to adjust articulation placement to produce sounds correctly. They will also help your child speak, loudly, and slowly to compensate for their resonance disorder. They will also continue to practice sounds to strengthen your child’s speech muscles and improve voice quality. This will improve speech intelligibility and give your child more confidence as they speak. Where Can I Find a Good Speech Therapist? If you are looking for an SLP who specializes in resonance and voice disorders for children, then the California Scottish Rite Foundation can help. We offer California residents free-of-charge speech-language and literacy programs. These can boost your child’s confidence and give them the tools they need to successfully communicate. There are 17 RiteCare Childhood Language Centers throughout California to assist your child. Our centers partner with Universities around the state to provide services for a wide range of language and communication disorders. How Can Parents Help a Child With Hyponasality Communicate More Effectively? As with most skills, practice goes a long way. Once you have your child in speech therapy, the SLP should provide you with some strategies to practice at home. Remember to offer your child plenty of emotional support. Resonance disorders can affect your child’s self-esteem and confidence. Practicing strategies for speaking more clearly at home will give your child a chance to build up their language skills in a safe space. Then, they can take what they’ve learned and apply it to social situations outside of the home. Hyponasality and School If your child is school-aged, it is important to let the school and teachers know what is going on with your child. Especially, if they include extended absences for surgery or treatments. The school may offer speech therapy services that you can use. Also, it is important to let teachers know so that they can accommodate your child’s speaking difficulties. This way they won’t come across issues when there are activities in class that involve speaking. Let the teacher know that hyponasality can make it more difficult for your child to speak and articulate. They should also be informed that your child’s confidence may be low. This can help your teacher to praise and encourage your child for efforts in speaking to bolster their confidence. Conclusion There are options for children with hyponasality. If this resonance disorder is due to a structural issue, surgery may be needed to correct the problem. However, if it is a learned error, practice can help reduce voice sound issues. Either way, it is important to get your child treatment both by an ENT and SLP. Also, give your child the support and practice they need at home to be successful, and let your child’s teacher and school know about what’s going on. With all these factors in mind, your child can successfully communicate with hyponasality. The right treatment can make a world of difference in your child’s speaking quality and confidence.

Aphasia in children is a condition in which their communication skills do not develop at a typical rate for their age. Many people mistake this condition for autism or Asperger's syndrome. A comprehensive assessment of symptoms by a professional can distinguish aphasia from other disorders. A child with aphasia typically has difficulty expressing themselves verbally, understanding language, or both. They may struggle to form complete sentences, use correct grammar, and find the right words to convey their thoughts and ideas. Additionally, they may have difficulty following directions, answering questions, and conversing with others. Children with aphasia may sometimes exhibit frustration or emotional distress when trying to communicate, leading to behavioral problems or social isolation. It is important to note that the severity and symptoms can vary widely, depending on the individual case. Aphasia Explained Aphasia speech disorders in children are a type of communication disorder that impairs a child's ability to understand, produce, and use language. Children with aphasia often have difficulty expressing themselves and understanding the language of others. It is important to note that aphasia is not a sign of intelligence but rather a language-processing disorder. Although aphasia is not a common condition, approximately 2 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with it, with an additional 180,000 new cases each year. However, aphasia is commonly associated with certain medical conditions, such as stroke, with nearly one-third of stroke patients experiencing some form of aphasia. Early intervention is critical to helping children with aphasia, as research has shown that early intervention can help reduce the severity of the disorder and help the child learn to communicate more effectively. It is essential to understand aphasia in children for several reasons: 1. Early Intervention If you understand what aphasia is and can identify it in children, you will quickly know how to help the child. Early diagnosis and treatment of aphasia can significantly improve a child's ability to communicate effectively. Children with aphasia may struggle with language development without intervention, impacting their academic, social, and emotional growth. You can prevent many things if you identify the issue early and provide much-needed support. 2. Differentiation From Other Disorders Aphasia in children is often confused with other conditions such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and ADHD. Understanding the unique symptoms of aphasia can help you get the appropriate support at the right time. 3. Support for Parents and Caregivers Children with aphasia may require extra support from their parents and caregivers to cope with their condition. Understanding the disorder can help parents and caregivers develop effective communication strategies, advocate for their child's needs, and build a support network. Types of Aphasia Disorder in Children Generally, children with aphasia may find it challenging to express themselves verbally and to understand others. However, the symptoms are not the same for every child. Here are some of the known types of aphasia: 1. Expressive Aphasia Expressive aphasia can occur in children due to brain injury or developmental disorders affecting the brain's language areas. Children with expressive aphasia have difficulty expressing themselves through spoken language. Children with expressive aphasia may struggle to find the right words to express their thoughts or construct correct sentences. They may also have trouble with word order, verb tenses, and function words such as "the" or "and." As a result, their speech may sound halting or disjointed, and they may use a simpler and more childish vocabulary than their peers. Children may not have a fully developed language system yet, so it can be more challenging to distinguish between typical language development and expressive aphasia. However, parents and caregivers may notice that the child has difficulty communicating their needs or expressing their thoughts, has a limited vocabulary, and struggles to construct sentences with more than a few words. Early intervention is crucial for children with expressive aphasia to help them develop their language skills and improve their ability to communicate effectively. Treatment typically involves speech therapy to help the child improve their language production skills, develop their vocabulary, and learn alternative communication methods, such as gestures or writing. Parents and caregivers can work with speech-language pathologists to learn strategies for supporting the child's language development at home and in social situations. 2. Receptive Aphasia Receptive aphasia is a type of language disorder that affects a child's ability to understand language. It is caused by damage or injury to the brain's language areas, specifically the temporal lobe, responsible for language comprehension. Children with receptive aphasia may have difficulty understanding spoken language, written language, or both. They may have trouble understanding the meaning of words or sentences, following directions, or answering questions. They may also have difficulty with abstract languages, such as figurative expressions or jokes. The severity of receptive aphasia can vary widely, depending on the extent and location of the brain damage. Some children may have mild receptive aphasia and only struggle with certain types of language, while others may have severe receptive aphasia and struggle to understand most languages. Receptive aphasia can significantly impact a child's ability to communicate effectively, impacting their social and emotional well-being. Treatment for receptive aphasia typically involves speech therapy to help the child improve their language comprehension skills and find alternative ways to communicate, such as through visual aids or gestures. This condition is not irreparable. Parents and caregivers can work with speech-language pathologists to learn strategies for supporting the child's language development at home and in social situations. Early intervention is vital for improving the child's outcomes and helping them to achieve their full potential. 3. Global Aphasia Global aphasia is a language disorder affecting a child's ability to understand and express language. The child may struggle to write, read, speak, or understand others. Children with global aphasia have severe deficits in receptive and expressive language skills. They may have difficulty understanding spoken or written language, using language to communicate their thoughts and needs, and engaging in conversation with others. They may also struggle with word retrieval and have limited vocabulary. The severity of global aphasia can vary widely, depending on the extent and location of the brain damage. Some children may have mild global aphasia and only struggle with certain aspects of language, while others may have severe global aphasia and be nonverbal or use only a few words. Some children with global aphasia may only be able to produce and understand a handful of words. Children with global aphasia may not experience any other impairments besides language difficulties. They may use nonverbal communication methods such as facial expressions, gestures, and variations in tone to convey their message. 4. Mixed Aphasia Mixed aphasia is a type of language disorder that affects children's expressive and receptive language skills. It occurs due to damage or injury to multiple areas of the brain's language network, including Broca's and Wernicke's areas, as well as other areas of the brain involved in language processing. Children with mixed aphasia typically have difficulty with both understanding and using language. They may struggle to comprehend spoken or written language, have difficulty expressing their thoughts and needs verbally, and make grammar or syntax errors. They may also have difficulty with word retrieval and naming objects or people. Mixed aphasia is characterized by reduced and laborious speech. Children with mixed non-fluent aphasia also experience difficulty understanding speech. Children with mixed aphasia often have limited reading and writing abilities that do not extend beyond an elementary level. Causes of Aphasia Disorder in Children Aphasia is an issue linked to the brain. It can occur due to any condition that damages the brain or disrupts its normal functions. Here are some of the most common causes of aphasia in children: 1. Brain Injury A child can develop aphasia if there is an injury to an area of the brain. That means the areas of the brain responsible for language processing and production are damaged. Injuries to the left hemisphere of the brain are especially likely to cause aphasia since this is where the language centers are typically located. Depending on the location and severity of the brain injury, children with aphasia may experience a range of language difficulties, such as difficulty speaking, understanding language, reading, and writing. Brain injuries can result from various causes, including traumatic brain injury, infections, brain tumors, and strokes. 2. Developmental Disorders Developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and specific language impairment (SLI), can cause aphasia in children. In both cases, the underlying cause of the aphasia is related to developmental differences in the brain's language centers. These differences can affect the child's ability to process and produce language, leading to difficulties with communication. 3. Genetics Aphasia can be caused by genetic factors, which means that some genetic conditions or mutations can make it more likely for a child to have language difficulties that can lead to aphasia. For example, genetic conditions like Down syndrome or mutations in certain genes like FOXP2 can affect the development of the brain's language centers, leading to aphasia. In addition, some genetic conditions can increase the risk of stroke or other brain injuries, which can also cause aphasia. For example, children with sickle cell anemia have a higher risk of having a stroke, which can damage the brain and lead to aphasia. 4. Other Medical Conditions Many other medical conditions can cause aphasia in children. Some examples include: Traumatic brain injury (TBI): TBI is a common cause of aphasia in children. It can occur due to a fall, car accident, or sports injury. Brain tumors: Tumors in the brain can cause aphasia by pressing on or damaging parts of the brain that control language. Infections: Certain infections like meningitis or encephalitis can cause inflammation in the brain, leading to language difficulties and aphasia. Neurodegenerative diseases: Diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's can cause progressive damage to the brain, including the language centers, leading to aphasia. Epilepsy: Seizures can sometimes affect the areas of the brain that process language and cause temporary or permanent aphasia. Lead poisoning: Exposure to lead can cause damage to the brain, leading to language difficulties and aphasia. It's important to note that not all children with these medical conditions will develop aphasia, and some children may develop aphasia due to causes that are not yet fully understood. If a child shows signs of language difficulties or aphasia, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment options. How is Aphasia Treated in Children? Although there is no direct cure for aphasia, it can often be managed effectively through treatment. The initial step in managing aphasia is typically to address the underlying condition that caused it. For instance, in cases of stroke, prompt restoration of blood flow to the affected part of the brain can sometimes reduce or prevent permanent damage. For some children with aphasia, their condition can improve on its own without any treatment. However, treatment can be provided for those who experience more persistent symptoms through a rehabilitation approach that focuses on developing language skills by utilizing the brain's natural ability to adapt and change (neuroplasticity). Cognitive rehabilitation is a type of treatment that involves training to improve language skills, such as recognizing and producing sounds, as well as exercises to improve gestures, oral-facial movements, and sound production. As the rehabilitation progresses, more educational activities can be incorporated, such as exercises that use drawings and text to improve language comprehension and syntax skills. Building a Support Network A support network can be crucial in helping a child with aphasia. A child with aphasia may feel frustrated, angry, and anxious about their difficulty communicating. A support network that includes family members, friends, and healthcare professionals can provide emotional support and encouragement to the child. Our programs at the CASR Foundation can engage the child in activities that promote language stimulation. We will also give you and your child access to support groups, online forums, and educational materials about aphasia. These resources can help the child, and their family learn more about the condition and connect with others going through similar experiences.

Many issues can cause speech impairments and speech disorders. But could speech impairment be caused by the tonsils? Can this often overlooked and forgotten part of the body be the problem itself? It is quite common for large tonsils to go unnoticed and undiagnosed, and therefore leave parents confused as to what is causing the issue. In this article, we will figure out the connection between large tonsils and speech. We will also explore what can be done about the issue and its effects. What are Tonsils? Tonsils are a pair of visible lymph nodes located in the back of the throat on both the left and right sides. One is positioned on each side of the uvula, which hangs down the middle of the back of your mouth. The tonsils are essentially masses of lymphatic tissue that are barely visible when the mouth is opened wide and the tongue is down saying “ahhh” during a throat exam. The most important role of the tonsils is to filter out bacteria and other germs and help the body prevent infections. The tonsils will swell in response to an infection. What are Adenoids? Above the tonsils and behind the nasal cavity are the adenoids. Like the tonsils, adenoids are made up of the same masses of soft tissue. And along with tonsils, they can react to foreign infections by enlarging which is called adenoid hypertrophy. However, adenoids are not visible like tonsils are. Everyone is born with adenoids. However, as we age throughout childhood and into adolescence, they will shrink. Typically they will disappear completely by adulthood. Small children are highly susceptible to germs. It is believed that children tend to have bigger tonsils and adenoids because they are exposed to many new germs in their early years. In this period of a child’s life, the tonsils and adenoids are working overtime to protect the child from infection. But as we age, we’ve already encountered viruses and our body does not need to process them again. Therefore the tonsils and adenoids are activated much less often. However, children will frequently experience large tonsils since their immune systems are still building. This can be even more difficult for a child to experience than an adult because they have less room in the oral cavity. This means they also have less room for breathing, speaking, and eating. Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids Enlarged tonsils and adenoids (aka tonsillitis, tonsillitis, adenoiditis, or tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy) are common among children between the ages of three and five years old. Typically these children will show some of the following symptoms: Sore throat Trouble swallowing Unintelligible speech; can sound slurred and thick Uncontrollable drooling Excessive spittle and saliva Have the mouth agape while at rest Restless sleep Fatigue Untimely eating Have difficulty eating and swallowing certain foods Negative impact on consonant sounds made at the front of the mouth Negative impact on the voice Open mouth-breathing Nasal-sounding speech or hypernasality Hoarse voice Slurring or jumbling words Children experiencing issues with enlarged tonsils may also be experiencing: Sleep apnea Respiratory illness Nasal infections Chronic snoring Inner ear infection Bacterial or viral infection Strep throat or other throat infections Frequent misdiagnosis As we’ve mentioned, the tonsils are often looked over when it comes to diagnoses. Additionally, the adenoids are a little more hidden, and cannot be seen without the use of medical imaging scopes or X-rays. Due to this difficulty, enlarged adenoids can be mistaken for allergy problems. To prevent misdiagnosis, it can be helpful to differentiate between large tonsils and other conditions. These issues are commonly associated with and confused for large tonsils and adenoids: Sinusitis: An infection of the sinuses can have similar characteristics to having enlarged adenoids. A pediatric doctor will need to do an exam to determine if the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria. Tongue thrust: Tongue thrust occurs when a child gets in the habit of placing the tongue in the wrong place while swallowing. This could be either too far forward or too far on the sides. This causes an abnormal orthodontic condition called an open bite. Tongue thrust may also be caused by tongue tie, which is a restriction in the tongue’s range of motion. Similar to enlarged tonsils and adenoids, the tongue thrust condition can also give the speech a nasal sound, or cause unintelligible speech. Either a doctor or a speech therapist can evaluate to determine if the child’s speech is affected by tongue thrust. Snoring/sleep apnea: Sleeping can be greatly affected by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, causing snoring and sleep apnea. This will cause fatigue as well. Frequent ear infections: This occurs when fluid is being prevented from draining in the middle ear. This can cause some speech delays. Chronic nasal infections: These can affect speech quality through blockage of the nasal passages, increasing nasal resonance. Adenoid hypertrophy: Recurring catarrhal otitis media can cause rhinogenic deafness in children. This is the stagnation of the secretion fluid in the middle ear cavity from the nose and throat, causing hearing loss. This is one of the most impactful and dangerous symptoms of adenoid enlargement. The child must see a doctor of otolaryngology who can diagnose the nasal obstruction. Can Enlarged Tonsils Affect Children’s Speech? As you can see, having large tonsils can not only cause a painful sore throat but can also cause unintelligible speech. So yes, large tonsils can impact speech in children. Large tonsils may even delay speech. This is because the tongue is being pushed forward by the growing tonsils, which can make it difficult to make speech sounds. However, this is not common. For the child, the large tonsils will cause a change in vocal pitch, tone, and articulation. The quality of the child’s voice will change. Some children will sound hoarse, and muffled, with the resonance affected. This speech change will likely affect the child’s schooling. In particular, it can have a big effect when the child is learning to read. An enlarged adenoid will likely cause the child’s voice to be nasally (much like the way it sounds when plugging your nose). Treatment Options for Large Tonsils Young children experiencing enlarged tonsils will need to seek a pediatric doctor or speech therapist for their speech problems. To restore the child’s breathing and speaking capabilities, there are a few treatment options. Let’s take a close look at how to treat large tonsils. Tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy These surgeries remove the tonsils and/or adenoids. Removing the tonsils will allow the resonance issues to be resolved. But you may be wondering how the child will fight infection without the use of these lymph nodes. Fortunately, there does not appear to be a reduction in the strength of the immune system. Sometimes doctors think these surgeries are the only choice to get the child back to breathing and speaking normally. However, it is possible surgery may not be needed since most children will outgrow the issue before they hit puberty. Here are a few cases in which a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy might be considered: Acute tonsillitis: This occurs when bacteria or the swelling of the tonsils has caused a sore throat, which is common in school-age children. Typically symptoms will go away within 3 to 4 days. For this reason, surgery will likely not be needed. While acute tonsillitis is not contagious, the cold or flu that caused it will be. Chronic tonsillitis: This is a long-term tonsil infection. In this case, it is often ideal to get the surgery. Recurrent tonsillitis: When the child gets tonsillitis a few times a year. If it is a problem, it may be a good idea to get surgery. Acute mononucleosis “mono”: Also known as the “kissing disease, mono is highly contagious and is transferred through saliva. It will often occur with fever, and acute tonsillitis and affect the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Corticosteroids can be given to reduce the swelling, or a tonsillectomy can be performed in severe cases. Recurring strep throat: If the child has strep throat seven or more times in one year, a tonsillectomy may be recommended by a doctor. However, it is still possible for the child to get strep throat after the tonsils have been removed. Luckily, they will likely experience strep throat less often and less severely. Tonsil stones or tonsilloliths: These are hard bits of bacteria and debris that have gotten stuck within the crevices of the tonsils. They can be painful and cause bad breath and sore throats. Tonsil stones tend to form when the stuck debris has hardened or calcified. Often this will happen to those with long-term swelling and inflammation of the tonsils, causing recurrent or chronic tonsillitis. If tonsil stones turn into a long-term problem, it would be helpful to get surgery. Enlarged (hypertrophic) tonsils: This condition has been known to most frequently affect speech patterns in children. It will also reduce the size of the airway, which can cause snoring or sleep apnea. The number of children undergoing tonsillectomies has gone down dramatically since 1965. These days, we see about 250,000 kids under the age of 15 getting a tonsillectomy, much less than the 1965 average of 1 million kids yearly getting the surgery. This is due to more commonly recurrent infections back in the day, while today the surgery is mostly used for obstructive sleep problems. Speech pathology Open-mouth breathing caused by large tonsils can have an impact on the development of children’s jaw and face structure. This can hinder speech. Fortunately, this issue can be worked on in speech pathology sessions. While speech pathology may not resolve the problem of large tonsils directly, it can still benefit children with this impairment. The child can get used to the swollen throat and nasal passage and will adapt their speech style around it during crucial stages of language development. This causes dysfunction within the speech mechanisms. Working on exercises with a speech-language pathologist (SLP), can help a child exercise and strengthen the vocals that are not being used optimally. If the tonsils remain swollen, speech pathology will not provide much auditory improvement. It would be more beneficial to either wait till after surgery or till the swelling has subsided to start speech therapy. Speech therapy can be helpful for those children who have endured enlarged tonsils and adenoids for a lengthy period during speech development. These children probably have some issues with intelligibility. The first examination can be done by a speech therapist’s oral mechanism evaluation to check the tonsils. It can be helpful for both the child’s pediatrician, otolaryngologist (ENT or ear, nose, and throat doctor), and speech therapist to accurately diagnose the child’s issue. SLPs are trained specially to notice, observe, and evaluate the tonsils and adenoids and come up with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. They can help the caregiver make the best decision for the child’s situation, helping to mitigate any speech delays that might occur as a result. To find an experienced and licensed SLP, parents should look no further than our Rite-Care Centers which provide beneficial individualized care for children affected by speech issues. CARSF provides direct funding to these wonderful care centers located throughout the state of California. Mitigating the Effects Large Tonsils Have on Children’s Speech If the cause of a child's speech impairment is unknown, it can be wise to have a licensed SLP look to see if he or she has large tonsils. Large tonsils and speech unintelligibility are correlated because the tonsils give the mouth less room for articulation. Luckily, there are solutions. The child can undergo a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, as well as gain some speech therapy. While speech therapy will not eliminate the original problem, it can help the child undo some of the speech patterns that were learned when the tonsils were enlarged. If you’d like to support these children in their need for ongoing speech therapy, donate to the CASRF today!

An IEP is a specialized plan to help kids with disabilities have a better learning experience and communicate with others more easily. This article will teach us about IEPs and why they are so important for these kids. We'll also see speech and language IEP goals that can help and how to set effective goals. What is IEP? An IEP, an “Individualized Education Program,” is a personalized plan to help kids with special needs, like autism, succeed in school. IEPs support these kids' learning and development by tailoring the education process to their unique needs. IEPs are legally mandated in the United States under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that children with disabilities receive an appropriate and inclusive education. These plans provide a roadmap for teachers, parents, and specialists to work together to help the child succeed academically and socially, focusing on addressing their specific needs in areas such as speech and language development, among others. For autistic kids, IEPs can be especially helpful because they focus on improving speech and language skills, social communication, and other areas that can be challenging for them. These plans include specific goals, strategies, and accommodations to make sure the child gets the support they need to thrive in school and beyond. Speech and language IEPs are for kids with specific speech and language needs. It is designed to support the child’s development of communication skills to help them overcome speech challenges, improve their ability to communicate effectively, and access their educational curriculum more successfully. Who Determines Eligibility for an IEP? Eligibility for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is determined through a formal evaluation process. The process typically involves a team of professionals, including educators, special education teachers and specialists, and sometimes medical or psychological experts, depending on the nature of the child's disability. The steps involved in determining eligibility for an IEP include: Referral: A child is referred for evaluation by a teacher, parent, or another concerned party who suspects that the child may have a disability that affects their educational progress. Identification: A comprehensive evaluation assesses the child's strengths and weaknesses, typically covering cognitive abilities, academic performance, social and emotional development, and functional skills. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) may be involved in the IEP meeting to assess speech and language concerns. Eligibility Determination: The evaluation team reviews the assessment results from the SLP and determines whether the student needs special education services and an IEP. Eligibility is based on whether the child meets the criteria for one or more specific disability categories defined by federal or state special education laws. Individualized Education Program (IEP) Development: If the child is found eligible, an IEP team, including parents or guardians, collaborates to create an individualized plan that outlines the child's specific goals, services, accommodations, and supports needed to address their unique needs. This plan is designed to help the child access the general education curriculum and make progress. Implementation: The child’s IEP plan is implemented at this stage. The IEP team works together to ensure that the goals and services outlined in the IEP are implemented effectively. This step involves assigning responsibilities, scheduling services, and monitoring the child's progress regularly. Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how a person thinks, communicates, and interacts with others and their environment. It is referred to as a "spectrum" disorder because it can vary widely from one individual to another, making each individual's experience unique. Some key characteristics of ASD include: Difficulties in social interaction, such as difficulty with making eye contact, understanding social cues, forming relationships, or interpreting emotions in others Challenges in communication, including delayed speech development, difficulty in understanding and using language, and challenges in nonverbal communication system Often engaging in repetitive behaviors or having specific interests. These behaviors can vary widely and might include repetitive movements, fixations on certain topics, or following strict routines Heightened sensitivities to sensory stimuli, such as lights, sounds, textures, or tastes. ASD is typically diagnosed in early childhood, often by the age of 2 or 3. Early intervention and support can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD by helping them develop important skills and adapt to their environment. Importance of Speech and Language IEP for Autistic Kids Speech and Language IEPs are vital tools in addressing the unique communication challenges faced by autistic children and promoting their overall development. Here are several ways in which speech goals for autism can benefit and support autistic kids: Individualized Support: Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning it affects each child differently. Autism speech therapy goals are customized to meet the specific needs and abilities of each individual autistic child, such as providing language therapy with a speech therapist. This tailored approach ensures that the support provided is highly relevant and effective. Communication Development: Many autistic children experience speech and language development delays and may need language therapy with a speech therapist. IEPs set clear goals for improving expressive skills (speaking) and receptive language skills (listening and understanding). For nonverbal or minimally verbal autistic children, IEPs may include goals related to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, which can help these children express their thoughts, needs, and desires effectively. Social Communication: Autistic children often struggle with social communication, including the ability to initiate and maintain conversations (a result of undeveloped conversation skills), make eye contact, and interpret nonverbal cues. Speech and language IEPs include goals to improve pragmatic language skills, essential for building relationships and participating in social interactions. Academic Success: Communication skills are essential for academic success. IEPs can include goals to support language comprehension, reading, and writing skills, enabling autistic children to access and understand their curriculum more effectively. Improving Independence: Effective communication skills are essential for daily living and independence. IEPs help autistic children develop the ability to communicate their needs, make choices, and engage in self-care and daily routines. Support for Teachers: Speech and language IEPs guide teachers and other professionals working with autistic children. These plans offer strategies and techniques to support communication in the classroom, making it easier for teachers to provide effective instruction and foster a positive learning environment. Regular Progress Monitoring: IEPs include mechanisms for tracking a child's progress toward communication goals. This allows for ongoing assessment and adjustments to the plan as needed to ensure continued growth. Parental Involvement: Speech and language IEPs often involve parents and caregivers in the planning and implementation. This collaboration ensures that the child's communication goals are reinforced at school and home. Speech and Language IEP Goals for Autistic Kids Speech and language IEP goals for autistic kids can be broken down into the following categories: Joint attention Social reciprocity Language and related cognitive skills Behavioral and emotional regulation Joint Attention This refers to the collective attention of two or more people on an object or action. It involves balancing one's attention between oneself, another individual, and an object or event within one’s environment. This IEP goal focuses on enhancing the child's ability to engage in joint attention, which is important for developing social interaction, language, and learning skills. Sample IEP Goals to Promote Joint Attention: Responding to a caregiver's voice. Shifting focus between people and objects. Identifying and describing their emotional states and that of others. Leaving comments to express enjoyment and interests. Recognizing what others are suggesting through gaze and gestures. Using the emotions of others to steer behavior in social interactions, such as showing empathy or praising others Social Reciprocity Social reciprocity, also known as the give-and-take in social interactions, involves the ability to respond to others' interests, engaging in back-and-forth conversations, and adapt one's behavior in a way that promotes positive and meaningful social interactions. It encompasses taking turns in conversation, listening actively, sharing attention, and understanding social norms. Children with autism often struggle with understanding and engaging in social reciprocity because they may not naturally pick up on social cues that develop social skills or know how to respond appropriately in social situations. Sample IEP Goals to Promote Social Reciprocity Taking turns in conversational exchanges by responding to other people’s comments or questions appropriately Initiating conversations with others by asking questions or making comments that are relevant to the topic. Demonstrating active listening skills during discussions, such as maintaining eye contact with the speaker. Sharing attention with others by directing attention to objects or structured activities of mutual interest. Responding positively to peers' invitations to play or interact. Using appropriate greetings and farewells during social interactions. Recognizing breakdowns in communication and attempting to repair them Language and Cognitive Goals Language goals and cognition goals are anything that has to do with the understanding and use of the child’s native language. This can also include nonverbal communication, such as gesturing. These IEP goals for autistic children, particularly language activities and goals, are essential for promoting functional communication, comprehension, and cognitive development. They include skills such as understanding spoken instructions, expressing thoughts and feelings, using appropriate gestures, and developing cognitive skills that support language development. Sample IEP Goals to Promote Language and Cognition Following one-step verbal prompts or instructions, e.g., “Touch your nose” Following multi-step verbal instructions, e.g., “First, pick up the book, and then give it to me” Using gestures or simple signs (a form of non-verbal communication or sign language) to request preferred items or activities Categorizing objects or pictures into basic groups Demonstrating improved understanding of facial expressions Identifying basic emotions and their corresponding expressions Combining words with gestures to express intentions as expressive language Turning pages and pointing at images in books similar to using the Picture Exchange Communication System (Pecs) or role-play Understanding sequence of events in stories Behavioral and Emotional Regulation Behavioral and emotional regulation goals for autistic kids focus on developing skills related to recognizing, expressing, and coping with emotions in socially appropriate ways. This can be particularly challenging for autistic children because it deals with the core of their diagnosis. Sample IEP Goals to Promote Behavioral and Emotional Regulation Identifying and communicating basic emotions in themselves using verbal or nonverbal cues, such as visual cues Using a visual or sensory calming tool when experiencing heightened emotions. Requesting a break when feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Protesting undesired activities Identifying the emotional state of others and responding with empathy and appropriate support How to Develop IEP Goals for Autistic Kids Developing IEP goals for autistic kids requires a collaborative and systematic approach involving parents, educators, specialists, and other professionals. Here are some tips on developing effective IEP goals for autistic children: Conduct an Assessment: Begin by thoroughly assessing the child's strengths, challenges, and specific needs. Use the SMART Criteria: Ensure that each goal meets the SMART criteria. Specific: Define the goal in a clear and specific manner, specifying what, where, when, and how the skill will be demonstrated. Measurable: Include criteria for measuring progress and success. What will be counted or observed to determine if the goal has been met? Achievable: Goals should be challenging yet attainable. Consider the child's current abilities and potential for growth. Relevant: Goals should be relevant to the child's unique needs and educational objectives. Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe for achieving the goal, typically within one school year. Address Priority Areas: Focus on areas that significantly impact the child's educational progress and daily life. Align with State Curriculum: Ensure that IEP goals are aligned with state educational standards and the curriculum. This helps the child access the general education curriculum to the greatest extent possible. Consider Real-Life Skills: Include goals that focus on functional skills that the child will need in everyday life, such as functional communication, social skills for interaction, self-help, problem-solving skills, and emotional regulation. Include Short-Term Goals: For some children, including short-term benchmarks within a goal may be helpful. These break down the larger goal into smaller, more manageable steps. Monitor Progress and Make Adjustments: Regularly monitor the child's progress toward each goal and adjust as needed. If a goal is not being met, consider modifying the strategies or the goal itself. Conclusion Speech and Language Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals for autistic kids are essential for addressing their unique communication needs. These goals focus on improving communication, social interaction, language development, and emotional regulation. By setting clear, measurable goals and providing tailored support, IEPs play a vital role in helping autistic children reach their full potential and thrive in educational and social settings.

While dyslexia can impair a child’s ability to read, hyperlexia intensifies their ability to read at an early age. You may ask, “Why would a precocious reading ability need to be treated?” Unfortunately, these children will be lacking in comprehension and other areas which necessitates treatment. Treatment can help children with hyperlexia become better learners, and overall improve their successes in life. In this article, we will take a close look at hyperlexia, its symptoms, and causes, and finally, we will discuss hyperlexia treatment that can help improve the child’s symptoms. What is Hyperlexia? Hyperlexia is a learning disability that involves a child’s ability to read at levels far beyond those expected for their age. “Hyper” means better than and “Lexia” means reading or language. He or she can decode written language easily, which is the driving factor in their precocious ability to read so early. It is not unusual to see a hyperlexic child knowing how to spell long words before turning two years old! By the age of three, he or she will most likely be reading whole sentences. So how exactly is reading at a young age a learning disability? After all, aren’t these the desired outcomes when it comes to teaching a child to read? The trouble comes when these early readers struggle with understanding speech and can have comprehension deficits. Unlike other gifted readers, hyperlexic children will have below-average oral language skills. Symptoms To differentiate between a gifted reader and a hyperlexic, there are some stark differences to watch out for. Signs of hyperlexia include the following symptoms: Show strong readings skills by age 5; typically starts to read early, between the ages of 2 and 4, but can be as young as 18 months Reading abilities far surpass his or her peers Is fascinated by things like letters, numbers, fonts, languages, anatomy, and geography Difficulty speaking or communicating May have some behavioral problems like poor eye contact, trouble giving and receiving affection, withdrawal, and repetitive behaviors Lacking social skills Decoding words quickly but struggling to understand what they have read; low reading comprehension skills Will teach themselves to read or with little teaching Will like books more than toys or games Will show signs of a developmental disorder like autistic disorder High reading skills but lacking in learning skills Struggles with putting together puzzles and figuring out games and toys Repeats words he or she sees or hears over and over, known as echolalia Spells words out loud or in the air with fingers Types of Hyperlexia There are several types of hyperlexia. They are: Hyperlexia I: This type, though rare, includes neurotypical children with early reading skills. Oftentimes they can read at a 7th-grade level upon starting kindergarten. Hyperlexia II: This includes children who are autistic. Kids with hyperlexia II are obsessed with letters and numbers and things like birthdays, license plate numbers, or the solar system. They will show behavioral problems like avoiding eye contact, withdrawal, and easily feeling sensory overload. Besides autism, these children may also already be diagnosed with PDD/NOS, Asperger’s, a behavior disorder, a language disorder, a learning disorder, or have been qualified as gifted. Hyperlexia III: This type of hyperlexia can show some of the autistic behaviors mentioned above and be categorized as “autistic-like”. However, these behaviors will typically go away. Those with hyperlexia III can have amazing memory and comprehension skills but will have difficulty speaking. Children with hyperlexia III can also have trouble with auditory processing, sensory integration, and social delays. Causes of Hyperlexia Hyperlexia can be a splinter skill or savant skill in a child with an underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers found that almost 84% of hyperlexic children are autistic. However, as you can see from the types listed above, not all hyperlexic kids are on the autism spectrum. And not all autistic children have hyperlexia (it is estimated only between 6 to 14% of autistic children are affected by it). From a neuroscience perspective, hyperlexia is caused by dysfunction happening in the brain. Similar to developmental dyslexia, hyperlexic reading is associated with the activation of the left superior temporal cortex. But while dyslexic brains will see a hypoactivation (under activation) of this area, brains with hyperlexia will experience hyperactivation. Hyperlexia typically doesn’t develop on its own as a stand-alone condition. Children with hyperlexia can have other conditions such as sensory integration disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), childhood apraxia of speech, motor dyspraxia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and/or seizure disorder. Regardless of accompanying diagnoses, the causes of hyperlexia are still unknown and more research is needed. But, even though we may not fully understand the cause of this learning disorder, there are plenty of treatment options that can make a difference. How to Treat Hyperlexia in Children? Next, we will explore how hyperlexia is diagnosed and treated in children. So let’s start at the beginning. Diagnosis Before treatment can start, a clear diagnosis of the child must be given. But unfortunately, the diagnosis doesn’t go by the book since hyperlexia is associated with a variety of possible behavioral and learning problems. And hyperlexia is also not clearly defined by the DSM-5, which makes diagnosis a bit tricky (Hyperlexia is listed as a part of autism). Hyperlexia is diagnosed based on symptoms and changes over time. However, the child may be given special tests including blocks or a puzzle that will test their language comprehension. Or they will simply have a conversation. A doctor can even check the child’s hearing, reflexes, and vision to rule out any impairments causing delayed speech or poor communication skills. There will be a difference in intervention strategies, educational placements, outcomes, and long-term implications if ASD is suspected. Therefore a differential diagnosis approach should be taken before definitively diagnosing the child with ASD. These children with signs of autism must be watched over time to eventually find whether their hyperlexia falls into type II or III. Hyperlexia can be diagnosed by a child psychologist, behavioral therapist, or speech therapist. Unfortunately, a pediatric or family doctor may need to refer to these experts and may be unable to make the diagnoses themselves. Occupational therapists, special education teachers, or social workers can help diagnose hyperlexia. Treatment options As we mentioned, there are different types of hyperlexia. Each child needs an individualized treatment plan based on their own individual needs and learning style. Treatment plans range from a few years to adulthood. Treatment for hyperlexia I: Hyperlexia I is not a disorder, so it does not need a diagnosis. Treatment for hyperlexia II: Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and play-based applied behavioral analysis (ABA) can improve symptoms. These children benefit from alternative placement in special education classrooms. This is because regular classroom settings can overstimulate the child. Therefore, it is more helpful for the child to be taught in relaxed, one-on-one environments that enable them to concentrate on the material. Treatment for hyperlexia III: Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and play-based applied behavioral analysis (ABA) can improve symptoms. These children benefit most from full integration into their classroom with other children their age. The treatment for the child should center on the child’s strengths and interests to help improve the areas of weakness. The therapists involved must be open-minded and willing to work with the child’s unique challenges. Professionals of this caliber can be found at any Rite-Care facility, with the experience and education to improve the child’s chances of success. Next, we will take a closer look at possible treatment options available for kids with hyperlexia. Language comprehension exercises Hyperlexic kids seem to struggle most with comprehension. Integrating exercises like these into the child’s treatment plan will be most beneficial for improving comprehension skills. A parent can do them with the child at home, or they can be used in school or therapy sessions. Visualizing and Verbalizing kit: Many parents and educators use Lindamood-Bell programs to help hyperlexic children work on comprehension. Though the programs can be expensive, they seem to be highly effective. This kit includes things like word cards, Sentence by Sentence lessons, Word Imaging Easel Book, and more. Story grammar and story mapping exercises: This approach is often used in schools and by speech and language therapists. It is beneficial for kids with ADHD, hyperlexia, and other learning disabilities. Story maps provide a visual-spatial display of key information in stories the child reads. Children in Kindergarten could use a story map to record the beginning, middle, and end of the story, while older children can include more in-depth information. The map prompts the child to identify story elements like the characters, time, problems, goal, action, and outcome of the story and record them. Scaffolding and the Scaffolding Interrogatives Method (SIM): Scaffolding in education refers to breaking up learning into chunks, then providing the tool or structure to use alongside each chunk. Scaffolding used in the context of reading would involve a preview of the text and a discussion of key vocabulary. Teachers could also chunk the text, reading and discussing each chunk at a time. Research surrounding the Scaffolding Interrogatives Method (SIM), has shown this method to be beneficial for reading comprehension. Speech and language therapy To help improve a child’s expressive language, spoken word comprehension, and social interaction, working with a speech therapist can help. Hyperlexic children often have issues with pronoun reversals, articulation errors, and difficulty answering questions. Speech therapy can help with these issues and more. The speech-language pathologist (SLP) will use things like visual timetables/schedules, pictures, visual prompts, association games, cause-and-effect predictions, and social stories. Occupational therapy (OT) Occupational therapy (OT) can also be of great benefit for hyperlexic kids. OT can help the child improve their fine motor skills, impulse control, sensory integration, self-regulation, motor planning, and more. The OT treatment plan will be specialized for the child and will be centered around the highest areas of difficulty. Some of these areas could include sleeping, feeding, self-care, school participation, social participation, writing, and response to sensory stimulation. Individualized education programs (IEPs) In the United States, those with learning disabilities are allowed individualized education programs (IEPs) when entering school. These plans will lay out a designated path for the child’s specialized learning needs. Learners will get extra help in difficult subjects, and with skills, they are lacking in. IEPs are made for children as young as 3 years old, and for any child who could benefit from special attention in these areas, they are struggling in. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) While some children benefit from just speech therapy, others may also benefit from applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA is a type of therapy that focuses on improving specific behaviors, like social skills, communication, reading, and academics. It also focuses on teaching the child adaptive learning skills like fine motor dexterity, hygiene, grooming, and punctuality. It is primarily used to treat children with autism. ABA can help hyperlexic children attend to teaching or help them learn fundamentals like potty training, dressing themselves, etc. It also helps them learn to follow a classroom routine. Letter interest, word recognition, and reading can be used to motivate the hyperlexic child and teach them new skills. Medication Medication is always the last option. It must be stipulated that medications, diets, or supplements prescribed to the hyperlexic child are not cures. However, they can help with some symptoms of anxiety, OCD, and ADHD that can accompany hyperlexia. Reducing these symptoms could make it easier for the child to focus and learn. Outlook for Children with Hyperlexia The sooner the hyperlexia diagnosis is found, the more successful the prognosis for most cases will improve. These children will likely see an improvement in their language and social skills. Some of them may be able to eventually attend college or live on their own. However, others may need ongoing special education, therapy, and supervised living throughout their lifetime. Providing the Best Treatment for Hyperlexia At California Scottish Rite Foundation, we want to give these children the best resources to help them improve their symptoms. Through donations, we fund Rite Care Centers all over California that specialize in hyperlexia and other learning disorders. With the right diagnosis and hyperlexia treatment, we hope to see these children make it to lead successful, independent lives. Our goal is to secure the funding to do that. We could use your help; please donate to this very worthy cause!

This Article, written by Steven Libowitz, was Originally published in Montecito Journal, Vol #30_29, July 18-25, 2024. There are 19 RiteCare Childhood Language Centers across California, a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation that provides life-changing speech therapy, language skills, and literacy services to more than 2,300 children at no cost to the families. The highly effective centers in many ways more than fill the gaps between what the public schools are able to provide and what is necessary to help the children achieve and thrive in their classrooms and in life, including working with kids who are younger than school age when the programs are particularly effective. “The public schools do a great job, but they don’t have the flexibility or capacity to design a therapy session around the child’s specific needs,” explained Arthur L. Salazar, Jr., Executive Vice President and Board Secretary for the foundation. “Our programs also allow the parents to be much more engaged in the session, which gives them the opportunity to be able to practice some of those exercises at home. That really helps reinforce the lessons, which makes a big difference.” The goals for each child depend on the level of speech and language delays, Salazar said. “It can be something as small as allowing a child to be able to say several words to their mom: ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I love you,’ simple things that they weren’t able to communicate before. It might be helping to overcome their stutter and gain a confidence that allows them to improve their grades at school and go on to college. It’s pretty amazing how some of our clients from years ago have gone on to become very successful, including lawyers who now advocate for services for children with disabilities, and others in leadership roles with youth groups. They get confidence in public speaking and in themselves that they matter, and they realize they’re valued and that they can do anything.” What’s even more notable for locals is the superior effectiveness of the Santa Barbara RiteCare Childhood Language Center, which stands out from the other 18 RiteCare Language Centers in a number of ways. Santa Barbara’s center, for example, is the only one to offer Camp Chit Chat – a fun and socially interactive camp for children ages three-and-a-half to six with mild to moderate speech and language delays. Each camp participant participates in a small group of no more than three same-aged peers also working on similar skills such as articulation, language, fluency, and social communication. The popular camp is an excellent opportunity for children to maintain essential communication skills during the summer – when regular therapy services are not available – through fun activities that also develop social and emotional confidence. A closing picnic at the end of summer for all the kids and their families helps to build the Center’s supportive community network of understanding and encouragement. The camp was created by the center’s director, Speech-Language Pathologist Julie DeAngelis – who has worked at RiteCare for nearly 17 years – and is co-run by fellow SLP and Center Program Director Summer Calvert. Community support has provided the funding to create and maintain Camp Chit Chat. “Santa Barbara has something special,” said Salazar. “The way that Julie and Summer have been able to connect with the children and their families, plus the dynamics of the Santa Barbara community, has created a unique community engagement at the center. Camp Chit Chat has become an important bridge to mitigate some of the ‘summer slide’ that might otherwise take place, especially with children who are struggling with speech and literacy skills.” The Santa Barbara RiteCare Center also excels through the connection with UCSB’s undergraduate program, in which students serve as interns at the center, providing an asset to both the university and the center. “The Center gets more staff to help with things like Camp Chit Chat throughout the year, while those undergrads who are considering careers as speech pathologists have an opportunity to see what that profession looks like up close and personal,” Salazar said. The interns also help out with Brain Lab, the software-based literacy intervention program for children in 2nd to 6th grade – which Santa Barbara RiteCare’s center is the only one to offer. Peabody Charter School referred many of its students to the after-school program, and was so impressed that the school later created its own reading intervention curriculum based on Brain Lab. The program is in Santa Barbara due to the directors’ impetus. “You have to have a special credential to be able to supervise the use of that software,” Salazar explained. “Julie and Summer took the initiative on their own to obtain those credentials.” Last year, Calvert also completed an intensive training to get certified in dyslexia intervention, allowing the Santa Barbara RiteCare to provide additional skills to children with that learning disorders. “They do phenomenal work there because for Julie and Summer, speech therapy and language services aren’t just what they do during their business hours,” Salazar said. “It’s a passion.” All that wouldn’t be possible without community support, because the Foundation itself only provides about 15-20 percent of the funding necessary to run the center, covering administrative expenses, while local grants and giving cover the salaries, materials and more. Recently, through community generosity, SB RiteCare was finally able to hire a third SLP, which will allow the center to reduce the waiting list for its services. “The community has really stepped up with solid support that has grown to the point where we had enough of a comfort level to be able to hire additional staff and be able to sustain it,” Salazar said. “That means up to another 35 families will be getting the help they need to make a huge difference in their lives.” By Steven Libowitz

Sensory play is any activity that activates one or more senses, making it an extremely beneficial tool for children's development. Leading with curiosity, sensory play involves engaging with senses such as touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell in an experimental way. There is no limit to sensory play or how to engage with it, and it promotes problem-solving, exploration, and creativity, and directly improves the development of children. Sensory play is something a child can do alone and with others, and it benefits children at every stage of life, from infants to school-age kids. Imagine a baby enjoying the texture of different objects or exploring various sounds around them. They are innately curious about their surroundings, engaging their senses in new ways, and building a deeper connection to the world. This innate curiosity is something true in all of us. We seek to engage with what and who is around us, utilizing our senses. By encouraging sensory play from a young age, we foster interaction and exploration, helping to build social and emotional connections. Sensory play activates at least one of our five main senses, and this engagement leads to a range of benefits that support the development of brain areas, cognition, motor skills, social skills, and emotional skills. These areas of development and skills are a child’s fundamental building blocks of growth. In this article, we will explore the main areas of growth proven to be supported by sensory play and provide ideas and tools to help you reach those developmental goals. How Sensory Activities Support Development Cognitive Growth Problem-solving skills: Sensory play encourages children to figure things out and find solutions, such as transferring beads from one container to another. End Goals: It helps improve attention span, organization skills, categorizing by colors, and recalling information. Understanding Textures and Toys: Sensory play aids in understanding different textures and the use of various toys. Motor Skills Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Sensory play involves a lot of muscle coordination as children build, pour, and physically interact, helping them develop movement skills to hit developmental milestones like tying shoes. Tactile Play: Engaging muscles through activities like holding objects can later translate into skills such as holding a pencil. Social Skills Understanding Impact: Children learn how their actions affect their surroundings. Cooperation and Collaboration: Playing alongside others helps children grasp different viewpoints and ways of playing. Individual Expression: When children express themselves through play, they increase their confidence and ability to interact with others. Turn-Taking and Following Directions: Emphasizing these skills during play helps children in all areas of socialization, whether at home with siblings or in the park with friends. Emotional Skills Self-Reflection and Soothing: Sensory play allows children to self-soothe and reflect on their emotions before, during, and after play. Positive Associations: Associating play with positive experiences. Emotional Expression: Creativity through art provides non-verbal expression for those who may struggle with verbal communication or have not yet developed that skill. Outlets for Strong Emotions: Sensory play offers a chance to step back from strong emotions, breathe, and redirect emotional energy in a less reactive way. Practical Sensory Play Ideas Sensory Bins In a container or box, place objects with a variety of textures to allow for hands-on play. Include items like sand, rice, and beads. Let the child lead and explore the different textures and objects. The Benefits: Sensory bins provide a hands-on experience with various textures, promoting tactile exploration and fine motor skills. Items like sand, rice, and beads allow children to feel different sensations, which stimulates their sense of touch and encourages curiosity and discovery. Playdough or Slime Encourage the creation of different shapes. Allow the child to pinch, squeeze, and pull the material. The Benefits: Playdough and slime activities involve playing with malleable materials, which enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Pinching, squeezing, and pulling these materials helps develop muscle strength and control. Household Items for Imagination Transform everyday items: a paper towel roll can become a telescope; pots can make different noises. Use their toys to create and narrate stories. The Benefits: Household items transform into imaginative tools, encouraging creative thinking and problem-solving. By using everyday objects in new ways, children enhance their cognitive skills, learn about cause, and effect, and develop their ability to create and tell stories. Water Play Provide various tools like cups, funnels, and sponges for pouring, squeezing, and splashing. Incorporate floating and sinking toys for exploration. Add color to the water for extra sensory stimulation. The Benefits: Water play involves action verbs that can be modeled as they play with water. These are key vocabulary words such as “full” and “empty.” This also helps to learn with cause and effect. Painting Encourage expression with finger painting, brushes, or sponges. Experiment with painting on various surfaces like paper, cardboard, or fabric. Create textured paintings using tools like forks, cotton balls, or leaves. The Benefits: Painting activities, such as finger painting or using brushes, engage multiple senses—touch, sight, and sometimes smell. Experimenting with different painting tools and surfaces enhances room for expression. These practices offer a range of engaging sensory activities to support many areas of a child's development. In Conclusion, Sensory play is a vital component of childhood development, offering numerous benefits across cognitive, motor, social, and emotional domains. By incorporating a variety of sensory activities, you provide children with enriching experiences that stimulate their senses and support their overall growth. Each of these activities not only engages different senses but also fosters creativity, problem-solving, and can enhance social interactions. Sensory play helps children build essential skills while having fun. As you integrate these practices into your daily routines, you contribute significantly to your child’s developmental milestones and emotional well-being.

Hearing a child speak their first words is a monumental moment for caregivers, signifying the child's entrance into the world as they begin their communication journey. This journey looks different for each child and family, which is why at the California Scottish Rite Foundation, our mission of “giving the future a voice” works to make that journey more successful by providing families with vital support and funding for speech and language therapies free of charge to families. As children learn from the world around them, their curiosity is often directed toward their caregivers and peers. For caregivers, this can be intimidating, as they might feel apprehensive about their ability to model behavior, speech, and overall development. Understanding that children learn most from modeled behavior is the first step in your collective communication journey. From facial expressions to tone of voice, being aware of these fundamental areas of both verbal and non-verbal language is crucial as you foster a child’s development, giving them a brighter future and you the confidence to facilitate their growth and spirit. In this article, we will explore “how to talk to children who are learning to talk,” focusing on the role of behavior modeling, positive reinforcement, language guiding, emotional awareness, and more. The Importance of Connection and Communication As a parent or caregiver, you are a child's first point of connection—not only to the world around them but also to how they begin to connect with themselves. This connection starts when babies make noises to express their needs and wants, eventually developing into two-way conversations where their personalities start to shine through. Every child is different, so the level of connection and the ways you achieve it may not look the same as others. This is normal and encouraged, as individualized care and support enable a child to flourish naturally and with great attention. As you embark on this journey of connection and communication, take a step back and ask yourself: “What can they teach me?” Growing alongside a child allows for a unique level of understanding, giving them the space to feel heard and seen, not just taught. It is important to have these check-ins with yourself regularly. As the behavior modeler, you want to match your child's curiosity, and you might even discover new things from them as you open yourself to seeing the world through their eyes. Approaches to Enhancing Early Communication With a fundamental understanding of the importance of fostering a child's initial connection to the world through both non-verbal and verbal language, we can now look at practical approaches. A wide range of practices are suited for individuals at each stage of development. No matter what stage your child is at, there is a tool for everyone, offering hope and instilling confidence in you as their teacher. Here are some key points to guide you: Start Early Talk to your baby as you would a friend, avoiding baby talk. This helps them stay curious and develop a love for learning from what you share. Being around language, whether in conversation or song, allows a child to recognize sounds from a young age, making them more comfortable with its role in everyday life. Starting early can also help identify any language or speech delays, bringing awareness to potential issues. Be Interactive Use expressive language when you interact. Over-exaggerate facial expressions and say the emotion as you display it for example. You can say “happy” when you smile. Ask open-ended questions and let them answer. Prompt them to describe what they are doing to build their vocabulary. Fill in the blanks if needed or add descriptors to connect thoughts and feelings to actions. Share your feelings with them. Go Slow Take your time to sound out sentences and words. Over-exaggerate mouth movements to model speech sounds and the use of the tongue for creating verbal language. Do not express frustration or concern if a child takes longer than expected. Instead, if they are stuck, give them confirmation that you are still listening and guide them if needed. Avoid interrupting. Show lots of interest in what they are saying and how they are saying it. This will let your child know it is okay to take time and go slow to reach the end result instead of not speaking at all. Keep It Simple Sometimes it is hard not to correct children, but acknowledging their limited life experiences in language and emotions can help you gain perspective into what “keeping it simple” can be for both you and your child. Work to relate to your child. If they want to use their imagination, play into that together. Focus less on directions and more on guidance. In Conclusion, Understanding and supporting a child’s journey in learning to talk is a rewarding and vital part of their development. As a parent or caregiver, your role is to provide a nurturing environment where both verbal and non-verbal communication can flourish. By starting early, being interactive, taking things slow, and keeping your interactions encouraging, you can help your child build the necessary skills to communicate effectively. Remember, every child’s journey is unique, and your patience and dedication are key to their success. At the California Scottish Rite Foundation, we are committed to "giving the future a voice." By implementing these tools and practices, you not only foster your child’s growth but also instill in them the confidence to explore and express themselves. Embrace this journey together and take joy in the small victories and milestones along the way. Your support, understanding, and active engagement make all the difference in helping your child connect with the world around them.

If you are seeking ways to enhance your child's reading fluency and speech development, working with sight words is an excellent approach. Sight words, often referred to as "high frequency" words, are common words that appear frequently in our reading, writing, and conversations. Unlike concrete nouns, many sight words (such as "the" or "and") do not have specific images associated with them. However, they are crucial connectors in almost any written or verbal situation. By helping your child memorize and recognize these words early in their communicative journey, whether verbal or non-verbal, you are providing them with essential building blocks for language. Understanding and quickly recognizing sight words allows children to focus their energy on more complex words and concepts, leading to faster, more fluent reading with fewer pauses. This foundational skill sets them up for success in their overall language development and comprehension abilities. The Importance of Sight Words in Building Reading Fluency Understanding and practicing sight words is crucial for young readers' development. As the name suggests, the goal is for children to visually recognize these high-frequency words instantly, without needing to sound them out. This skill of instant recognition is key to building reading fluency. By working on sight words, children develop an immediate knowledge base of the most common words, which serves as a foundation for more complex reading. It is important to note that this process is gradual and individualized; each child progresses at their own pace, building upon levels of sight words as their capacity for fluency grows. This journey can be an exciting milestone for your child, as mastering sight words opens a world of stories and enhances both verbal and non-verbal communication. One of the most encouraging aspects of sight word practice is its accessibility. You can work on this skill at home or on the go, with minimal materials and without professional support like teachers or tutors. This allows you to naturally integrate sight word learning into your daily routines, tailoring the practice to your child's unique needs and interests. Effective Strategies for Teaching Sight Words When it comes to teaching sight words, there are numerous effective approaches. The key is to begin by assessing your child's current level of understanding and fluency. This initial evaluation ensures that you start with a solid foundation that aligns with your child's developmental stage and reading abilities. It is natural to feel intimidated when embarking on your child's reading journey, but it is crucial to remember that every child is unique. Some may need extra support, while others might excel rapidly. Regardless of your child's ability, working towards sight word practices can boost your confidence in your ability to teach and mentor your child through this exciting new stage of life. By setting achievable goals and celebrating small victories along the way, you will not only enhance your child's reading skills but also strengthen your bond through shared learning experiences. Activities That Facilitate Sight Word Growth See and Say Present a list of sight words to your child. Have your child physically point to each word on the list. As they point out, encourage them to say the word aloud. This activity reinforces the connection between the visual appearance of the word and its pronunciation. Visually Available Place words around the house, especially in areas your child frequents. Suggest they take a moment to say the words together when in these areas. Natural way to learn, as opposed to formal flashcard sessions. Associate positive memories and sensory experiences with learning by placing words in areas your child enjoys. Online Games Choose a suitable educational website or app that offers sight word games. Accessible on the go for learning anywhere. Engaging and vibrant displays encourage playful learning. Sight Word Art Combine crafts with learning, this is great for visual learners. Write out sight words for children to trace. Can be done outside with chalk, on paper with pens, or even in the air. DIY Worksheets Tailor worksheets to your child's interests (e.g., if they like cars, incorporate car themes). Create your unique worksheets with sight words. Find inspiration online for worksheet ideas. A personalized approach makes learning more engaging to your child. In Conclusion, Incorporating sight words into your child's learning routine is a powerful way to boost their reading fluency and overall language development. By making sight word practice fun and accessible, you can seamlessly integrate it into daily activities, fostering a positive and effective learning environment. Mastering sight words sets the stage for your child's success in both verbal and non-verbal communication.

As summer vacation begins, it is important to keep children engaged and prepared for the upcoming school year. With increased free time, maintaining a connection to learning—especially through reading—is invaluable for a child's ongoing development. Reading is a versatile tool that can guide them towards important developmental milestones and be used for emotional regulation. In this article, we will explore practical tips and techniques for creating successful reading experiences at home. Whether you are looking to establish a daily reading routine or make reading more engaging, we will provide strategies to help your child maintain their reading skills and discover the joy of books. By implementing these ideas, you can turn summer reading into an adventure for both you and your child that sets the stage for a lifelong love of learning. The Power of Reading for Children Reading with your child offers numerous benefits across social, cognitive, and emotional aspects of their lives. Not only does it benefit your child, but reading also helps strengthen family bonds. Whether it is before bed or throughout the day, reading allows families to slow down and engage in imaginative ways. From bringing favorite characters to life to improving self-confidence as children resonate with books, all time spent reading is valuable. Utilizing reading as an imaginative tool can unlock a world of potential and excitement for children of all ages, improving creativity and helping them find new ways to communicate and be understood. With a unique skill set and level of ability, each child is different. Reading and communicative processes can help you gauge where your child might be in terms of maintaining developmental milestones or recognizing areas for growth and intervention. With this awareness, you can start to set personalized goals for supporting your child's communication journey. Encouraging a Love for Reading In Children Encouraging a love for reading in children goes beyond traditional storybooks. It is about fostering an environment where any form of reading is celebrated and explored. Remember, all reading is good reading! If your child shows interest in unconventional reading materials, such as a cookbook in the kitchen, match their enthusiasm and explore together. Engaging Reading Techniques to Enhance Your Child's Development Here are some strategies to make reading time more engaging and beneficial for your child's development: Bring the words to life Act out parts of the story, incorporating movements and expressions. This is not just for the children – caregivers can participate too, turning it into a valuable modeling behavior exercise. Demonstrate the emotions of characters through facial expressions and tone of voice. This helps children understand emotional cues and enhances social skills. Encourage focused attention Guide your child to pay attention to specific parts of the story or illustrations. This practice can help improve their concentration skills and contribute to better emotional regulation. You can do this by asking them to point out certain objects or characters, or by discussing a particular scene in detail. Let them "read" to you Even if your child is not at a reading level yet, give them opportunities to interpret the book in their own way. This could involve playing with the book, pointing at pictures that excite them, or making up their own story based on the illustrations. These activities all contribute to learning and positive engagement with books, making them fun tools for play and associating positive emotions with reading time. Slow down Use a clear and slow tone when reading. This helps children process the information better and allows them to enjoy the sounds. It also gives them time to ask questions or make comments about the story. Read stories repeatedly Pay attention to which books your child is drawn to and incorporate them into your regular reading routine. Repetition can be particularly helpful for struggling readers or non-readers, as it allows them to become familiar with the story, anticipate what comes next, and feel more confident. This practice also shows children that you value their interests and preferences. Use question prompts: Incorporate questions that encourage deeper understanding, especially around emotions. Ask how characters might be feeling, why they made certain choices, or what your child would do in a similar situation. This helps develop emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills. In Conclusion, As we have explored, reading with your child offers many lifelong benefits and opportunities for growth. By implementing these strategies, you are not just teaching them to read—you are opening doors to new worlds, fostering creativity, and building stronger bonds. Whether you are diving into storybooks, exploring cookbooks, or letting your child lead the way, you are laying the foundation for a confident communicator. Nurturing the power of communication gives the future a voice, one page at a time

The California Scottish Rite Foundation is committed to supporting and assisting children in California by offering programs focused on childhood speech-language, literacy, and education, fostering a lifetime of improved communication and confidence. The RiteCare Childhood Language Centers, a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation offers best-in-class, personalized services tailored to the needs of developing children and their families. Thanks to donor support and granting organizations the Speech-Language Pathologists at the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers empower children to achieve greater independence, decrease frustrations, and pave the way for academic success, all at no cost to the families. The foundation's mission is to work alongside families like yours, empowering you to give your child's future a voice and the opportunities they deserve through access to individualized therapies and evaluations. In this article, we will explore how you can begin a transformative journey with the California Scottish Rite Foundation, having already taken the courageous first step of recognizing potential signs that extra support for your child may be needed. The RiteCare Childhood Language Centers Each year the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers of California provide services to over 2,300 children with speech, language, and literacy disorders. The RiteCare Childhood Language Program Centers provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as well as learning disabilities. Equally important, all services are available regardless of race, creed, or the family’s inability to pay. There are 19 RiteCare Childhood Language Center locations across the state of California, making it possible to find care near you. We invite you to familiarize yourself with speech-language disorders as well as developmental milestones to recognize your child and could benefit from services provided by one of the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers. Understanding Language Disorders Children who have a speech-language -disorder have trouble understanding and/or communicating language. Speech is the sound produced and language is a measure of comprehension. There are 2 kinds of language disorders – receptive and expressive. Children often have both at the same time. A child with receptive language disorder has trouble understanding words they hear and read. A child with an expressive language disorder means they have difficulty getting their meaning across through speech, writing, or even gestures. Some children have a language disorder even though they produce sounds and have clear speech. 1 in 10 children have a diagnosed speech-language disorder. Evidence implies that undiagnosed, untreated childhood language disorders put children at a higher risk of social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems in adulthood. We recommend visiting these resources for more information: Language Disorders Explained Speech Disorders Explained Developmental Milestones The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association publishes guidelines for speech and language skills that the average child can achieve by the time they reach a certain age. Every child is different. However, you can use these guidelines to determine if your child might benefit from a speech-language evaluation. How You Can Get Started Making the decision to seek help for a child who may be facing developmental, or speech-language challenges can be intimidating, but the California Scottish Rite Foundation is here to guide you every step of the way. The California Scottish Rite Foundation has RiteCare Childhood Language Centers conveniently located across the state of California, they can be found in the following cities and service their surrounding areas: Burlingame Coachella Valley Fresno Bakersfield Los Angeles Northern California Oakland Long Beach Pasadena Sacramento San Bernardino Orange County San Francisco San Jose Santa Barbara San Diego Stockton Ventura Santa Rosa Advise For Contacting Your Local RiteCare Childhood Language Center Parents know their children best. If you are concerned about your child's communication in any way, give your local RiteCare Childhood Language Center a call or email at info@ritecare.org. Together you can assess the needs of your child and how they might be able to help. The caring staff are ready to listen and guide you through the next steps and there is no charge. Take A Deeper Look into the Work of The RiteCare Childhood Language Centers As you continue to explore if one of the RiteCare Childhood Language Centers programs is the right fit for you and your child, we invite you to explore our impactful and insightful materials that provide a deeper look. In Conclusion, No matter where you are in California, the California Scottish Rite Foundation's RiteCare Childhood Language Centers are here to support your child's journey. With convenient locations across the state and caring staff ready to listen to and guide you, do not hesitate to reach out and start your child's journey. We encourage you to explore our resources and contact us with any questions to determine if this is the right fit for your family. Together, we can unlock your child's potential and give their future a voice.

The California Scottish Rite Foundation has valuable partnerships with several universities which grant them the ability to offer a greater breadth of services to a wider range of children in various communities. These partnerships also enable aspiring graduate students at these universities to obtain the necessary hands-on experience they need under the supervision of their clinical professors so that they can make an immediate difference as a Speech-Language Pathologist upon graduation. The California Scottish Rite Foundation is currently partnered with California State University Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles, Chapman University in Orange County, Fresno State, Pasadena City College, and University of the Pacific in Stockton. In this article, we will highlight the work being done at California State University Long Beach, home to the Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program, one of the many amazing programs made possible by the foundation's partnerships. History of The Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program The Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program, founded in 1978, has been a transformative force in the lives of children living in Long Beach and its neighboring communities. This program offers invaluable speech, language, and literacy interventions for childhood language disorders, free of charge, to children ranging from 18 months to 18 years old. Through its services, the program has made a lasting and positive impact on the lives of countless children and their families. Community Involvement The Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program is truly outstanding. Not only do they provide exceptional services to at-risk youth, but they go above and beyond to ensure their widespread impact. They share an unwavering commitment to the foundations' missions to support and assist children in California by providing childhood speech-language, literacy, and education programs for a lifetime of improved communication and confidence. Putting this mission into action, they actively engage with their surrounding community, further amplifying their reach and leaving a meaningful impact on the lives of many. Driven by a profound sense of purpose and passion, the staff—consisting of clinicians who double as mentors, as well as graduate students—extends their influence beyond the program's walls. They understand that true change and lasting impact are achieved through meaningful connections with the community. By fostering these vital connections, they establish a strong network of support, empowering children, and families to thrive. Recent Charitable Event: Celebration of the Young Child Recently, The California State Long Beach Speech and Language Program participated in The City of Long Beach’s Celebration of the Young Child at the Billie Jean King Main Library on Saturday, April 27, 2024. The student clinicians conducted articulation screenings, under the supervision of Deanne Wayt, The California State Long Beach Speech, and Language Clinic Director, at the event, which was a collaboration between the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, the Long Beach Public Library, and the Mayor’s Fund for Long Beach. More than 50 organizations provided resources, hands-on learning, and entertainment to over 1,000 families. Importance of University Partnerships University partnerships such as this one provide the California Scottish Rite Foundation an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in diverse communities. Through their unwavering dedication and genuine care, Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program has become a shining example of how compassion, expertise, and community engagement can deeply impact the lives of children, nurturing their growth and empowering them to reach their full potential. Giving to The Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program The Long Beach Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program, a program of the California Scottish Rite Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, reliant on philanthropy from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. The program does not receive any state or federal funding, making donations, awareness, and community involvement imperative. Consider donating today; your generosity will reach countless individuals and communities, giving voice to the future.