Audiology Awareness Month in the Time of COVID
October is National Audiology Awareness Month. Established by the American Academy of Audiology in 2008, it provides an opportunity to raise public awareness of audiology and the importance of wearing hearing protection to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.[1] Hearing loss is a global epidemic that affects an estimated 48 million Americans.[2] The World Health Organization (WHO)…
Facts About Communication Disorders
Communication disorders are among the most common disabilities in the US. 28-60% of children with a speech and language deficit have a sibling and/or parent who is also affected. The prevalence of speech sound disorder in young children is 8- 9%. By first grade, roughly five percent of children have noticeable speech disorders, the majority…
Help Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills
BEFORE READING A BOOK Before you begin, prepare your child. Talk about the cover, point to and read the title, author, and illustrator. Define any words he/she may not know. Name and point to the front and back of the book and talk about any pictures you see. Ask your child to guess what the…
Julie Aills Staff Spotlight
In honor of her three-year work anniversary, we’re giving a special shout out to SLP Julie Aills! Miss Julie joined Columbus Speech & Hearing in 2018. She earned her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from George Washington University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences from The Ohio State…
Summer Speech Fun
Kids are always on the go and summer is not any different! Here are some fun ideas to help keep your kids busy and work on speech/language skills during the summer! Have a picnic – To work on describing: play “What’s in the Basket?” Place several picnic items (spoon, napkin, play food, etc.) in a…
Summer Activities for Babies and Toddlers
Language: Use the same phrases (“Look! I see a…”) and simple sentences with your child. Match the length of your sentence with your child’s sounds/words (if your child uses 1 word, you use 1 word). Use gestures and pointing to help encourage understanding. Label items and pictures (“ice cream cone”) but also describe them (cold,…
Simple Things Families Can Do To Help Their Child Become a Reader
Try to read with your child for 20 minutes every day. It’s important to read aloud to your child so they can hear words and sentences being put together into a story. Have your child turn the pages, point out letters and words, and talk about the pictures. Make sure your child has access to…
July Board Spotlight: Barbara Kelley
Columbus Speech & Hearing is a longstanding nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Directors. To recognize the commitment of our 17 Board members, we’re shining a spotlight on these dedicated volunteers. This month, we’re excited to introduce you to Barbara Kelley! Barbara serves as Vice President of People at Safelite Autoglass and has been…
Getting Ready for School
Getting your child ready for school in the morning can feel like a race against the clock. For children with language delays, you may feel that you are constantly giving reminders of what needs to happen next. Maybe you find yourself breaking down the steps even further to complete specific activities. Perhaps your child is…
Activities to Encourage Speech & Language Development, Birth – 2 Years
Encourage your baby to make vowel-like and consonant-vowel sounds such as “ma,” “da,” and “ba.” Reinforce attempts by maintaining eye contact, responding with speech, and imitating vocalizations using different patterns and emphasis. For example, raise the pitch of your voice to indicate a question. Imitate your baby’s laughter and facial expressions. Teach your baby to…