May 31 is the last day of Speech-Language-Hearing Month. June 1 is the first day of hurricane season. This article recognizes both. Here Comes Summer—Here Come Weather Worries “What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever,…
Tag: AugmentativeAndAlternativeCommunication
Client Story: A Child’s Communication Journey
We close out Speech-Language-Hearing Month with this Client Story from Daryn Ofczarzak, Speech Language Pathologist at BridgingApps and Easter Seals Greater Houston. Frances is a seven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, who uses an eye-gaze computer to communicate. I…
Celebrating Speech-Language-Hearing Month: 100 Years of ASHA
“Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.” –ASHA mission statement The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) was founded in 1925, just three years after the first “speech correction” PhD in the U.S. Initial membership comprised 25 speech…
On AAC: The Latest Word from Our Team
Most parents eagerly anticipate their children’s learning to talk. However, there are children—and seniors, and people of all ages between—for whom “talking” in the conventional sense is a problem. Speech disabilities have a number of physical and neurological causes, including:…
Do I Need Assistive Technology for Hearing Loss?
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and also Older Adults Awareness Month. Today’s post is for everyone dealing with the onset of age-related hearing loss. Not “Getting It” Like You Used To It’s hard admitting that your hearing isn’t what it…
Client Success Stories: Learning and Growing with Autism
April is Autism Acceptance Month. Daryn Ofczarzak, BridgingApps Speech Language Pathologist, shares the stories of two youngsters meeting autism challenges with help from ESGH. Juliet Juliet is 13 years old and has cerebral palsy, autism, and visual impairments. When her…
Word Prediction or Word Intrusion? When Software Has Its Own Vocabulary
Today’s digital world is full of apps routinely telling users what to say next. Help or nuisance? It depends. When Word Prediction = Assistive Technology Sometimes, word prediction/auto-correct is not only helpful but essential to daily functioning. Says Andi Fry…
Speak Out Against Bullying and Abuse
In recognition of Anti-Bullying Week 2023 (November 13–17), and its theme “Make A Noise About Bullying.” Around one child in six experiences sexual abuse before age 18. About as many are bullied physically, verbally, or digitally. Bullies and abusers count…
Learning to Speak: When AAC Partners with Verbal Communication
We wrap up Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month with a look at how AAC can partner with verbal speech. Most children develop a spoken vocabulary by age two, and are talking in short sentences by two and a…
It Sounds Just Like You: The World of Text-to-Speech
October is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month. AAC is assistive technology that provides audible voices for people who have disabilities impairing physical speech. There are many reasons a person may not be able to speak physically: The Evolution…