Conferences We Attend.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists attend many conferences each year to keep up to date with the innovations of our field.
International Dyslexia Association
Janet attended the International Dyslexia Association meeting in Orlando, FL, November 11th-14th, 2009.
Estimates by the National Institute of Child Health and Development suggest that as many as 20% of all students may have some degree of dyslexia. What is dyslexia? A language-based reading difficulty unrelated to teaching or intelligence. When identified early, reading difficulties can be remediated. Several factors can predict at an early age whether a child is at risk for a reading problem.
* Limited phonological awareness difficulties. For example, can your 4- and 5-year-old:
* Rhyme?
* Blend the sounds c-a-t and recognize that it is cat?
* Say a compound word with one word missing? (Example: say football without the word foot.)
* Inability to recognize letters of the alphabet and the sounds each letter makes.
* Weak vocabulary and listening comprehension skills (difficulty re-telling stories, or answering question about a story).
Children who have had or have certain speech or language difficulties are at risk for reading difficulties.
If you have questions about language and literacy or dyslexia, please call one of our offices and ask to talk to a speech-language pathologist.
Minnesota Speech, Language, Hearing Association Fall Conference
Janet attended the Minnesota Speech, Language, Hearing Association Fall Conference on October 15th, 2009. It is important to recognize that lack of language experiences will hinder reading readiness and the ability to learn. Preschoolers need to have a richnes of vocabulary and language.
Orofacial Myology: From Basics to Habituation
Congratulations to Pam and Shelly who traveled to San Diego to complete in intense course, Orofacial Myology: From Basics to Habituation (Formerly referred to as Tongue Thrust.) They are among a limited number of speech-language pathologists in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area who are now eligible for certification through the International Association of Orofacial Myology. They are excited to be utilizing their skills with patients in coordination with physicians, dentists and orthodontists, and are in the process of sharing their new knowledge base with their colleagues.
Practical Strategies, Interventions, and Treatments for Sensory Processing Disorder in Children and Adults
On March 11, 2009, Stacie, Jen, Sarah J., Kelly, and Anisha attended Practical Strategies, Interventions, and Treatments for Sensory Processing Disorder in Children and Adults, presented by Charlene Young, OTR/L, CEAS. This seminar provided current information on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), assessment, and the tools and approaches to enhance sensory development in those with sensory issues.
Strategies for the Assessment and Intervention of Social/Emotional Communication Needs for Learners with ASD
On February 27, 2009, Jen, Jenny, Jeanne, Stacie, and Sarah J attended Strategies for the Assessment and Intervention of Social/Emotional Communication Needs for Learners with ASD, presented by Jill Kuzma, M.A., CCC-SLP. We learned more about the assessment and treatment of social pragmatic need areas for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder within the contexts of conversation skills, perspective taking, emotion awareness and management, problem solving, and nonverbal communication interpretation and expression. The conference offered many treatment ideas that are applicable for a variety of ages, preschool through adult.
Practical Therapy Techniques
Stacie, Kelly and Katie attended Practical Therapy Techniques for Persistent Articulation Errors: Frontal Lisp, Lateral Lisp and Distorted R, presented by Pam Marshalla, M.A., CCC-SLP on January 14th, 2009. We learned new ways to help children understand what they are doing and new approaches to improve distorted /s/ and /r/ sounds. We also reviewed techniques to improve the generalization process.
ASHA Convention
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual meeting was held in Chicago this November. Janet attended a variety of presentations, including:
- Feeding disorders in children with Williams Syndrome
- Why teens can't comprehend what they read
- Speech and language skills of young children with velocardiofacial syndrome
International Dyslexia Association
Janet attended the annual conference of the International Dyslexia Association in Seattle this fall. The four-day conference covered a number of topics, including:
- There is a strong relationship between ADHD and Dyslexia (reading disorder).
- There is a strong connection between dyslexia and language disorders.
- Children who have difficulty writing may have a language disorder.
- Children with dyslexia are typically very bright but have unique learning styles.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Jeanne recently attended a conference called Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Apraxia is a problem with the ability to plan movements for speech. When a child attempts to say a word, each attempt to say the word may be different, or inconsistent. If a child has apraxia, they may be have an increased risk for early problems with expressive language, phonological awareness skills are literacy difficulties.
Literacy Speaks
On October 26, 2007 Katie, Shelly and Kelly attended a conference called Literacy Speaks: Interventions that Improve Speech Intelligibility and Promote Fundamental Literacy Skills for Children with Articulation Disorders and Apraxia of Speech by Keli Richmond, M.S. CCC-SLP. Studies show that children who have speech disorders have reading and spelling delays. To help these children be successful with reading and spelling they need early intervention. Keli Richmond discussed the importance of using print to show sound-to-letter correlation and sight words while targeting articulation sounds through an orthographic approach. Orthographic instruction addresses phonological awareness, print awareness, phoneme isolation, phoneme identity, phoneme categorization, phoneme segmentation, phoneme blending, decoding, sight words and silent letters.
Understanding Hmong Youth
On November 7, 2007, Sarah and Jenny attended a conference on Understanding Hmong Youth put on by Dr. Zha Blong Xiong, a professor from the University of Minnesota. This conference discussed the unique challenges in working with Hmong adolescents in the United States. Sarah and Jenny are excited to put this information to work as they embark on a new adventure, working at Hmong Academy, a charter school in St. Paul, two days a week!
Practical Implications of Genetic Diagnoses
Janet attended a workshop called Practical Implications of Genetic Diagnoses in Bemidji, MN on 11/16/07. Brenda Finucane, Executive Director Genetic Services at Elwyn Inc (Elwin, PA), stressed the importance of a genetic workshop for children with developmental delays and disorders. A genetic diagnosis can define the cause of a child's symptoms. Knowing a cause can provide answers about prognosis, potential treatments, and hereditary implications. A diagnosis allows parents to access a growing body of syndrome-specific literature on educational, behavioral, medical, and therapeutic interventions. According to Brenda Finucane, a genetic diagnosis provides the fundamental answer to a parent's question: Why is my child different?
Pediatric Dysphagia
Janet attended a 4 day conference (10/31-11/3/07) on pediatric dysphagia (feeding & swallowing problems) in Mesa, AZ. A child who has unpleasant feeding experiences as an infant or toddler may develop feeding disorders at a later time. These unpleasant experiences could be a result of gastroesophageal reflux, nasogastric tube feeding, prematurity, or early aversive procedures while in the hospital after birth or following surgery.
Many children who have difficulty tolerating certain sensory input may restrict their diet to a very limited number of foods. If you have concerns about your child's limited food intake or repertoire or if they gag or choke frequently during feedings, talk to a speech language pathologist at Associated Speech & Language Specialists.
A Strength-Based Approach to Asperger's, Non-Verbal Learning Disorder and High Function Autism
Jeanne, Jenny, Noëlle, Shelly and Kelly attended a conference called A Strength-Based Approach to Aspergers, Non-Verbal Learning Disorder and High Functioning Autism. The focus was on Asperger's, which stands at the mildest and highest functioning end of the autism spectrum. Deviations in social skills and communication are typically seen, as well as behavioral characteristics such as repetitive features and a limited, but intense range of interests.
Recognizing Autism in Infants and Young Children
Noëlle, Jenny, Sarah and Jeanne attended a two-day workshop called Recognizing Autism in Infants and Young Children. The information focused on the importance of early diagnosis and intervention including recognizing atypical behaviors and understanding social communication characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorders.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association Annual Meeting
Janet attended the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Assocation annual meeting, July 12th-July 14th, 2007 at Disneyland.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder affects a child's ability to produce and combine sounds to form words. A child who has Childhood Apraxia of Speech needs the opportunity to practice, practice, practice speech. This means the speech therapy sessions should be short, but frequent and intense.
If you have questions about CAS or treatment for this speech disorder, contact any of the speech-language pathologists at Associated Speech & Language Specialists.
Symposium on Research in Child Language Disorders
Kerry attended the Symposium on Research in Child Language Disorders conference in Madison, WI in June. Some of the topics covered included the language characteristics of children with autism and Williams Syndrome; social skills impairments in children with language learning delays; and links between communication skills and literacy starting in the preschool years.
5th International Conference for Smith-Magenis Syndrome
Janet attended the 5th International Conference for Smith-Magenis Syndrome in Reston, VA from 5/10/07-5/13/07. Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a genetic condition which was first described in the 1980's. SMS is associated with a specific pattern of physical, developmental, and behavioral features, including: poor muscle tone, cognitive delays, prolonged tantrums, sleep disturbance, attention-seeking behavior, and speech & language disorders. For more information regarding this syndrome contact Janet at the Arden Hills office or visit smithmagenis.org.
American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Associateion Annual Meeting
Janet attended the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association annual meeting in Bloomfield, Colorado from April 23-28th, 2007. Sessions included discussion on international adoption of children with cleft and craniofacial defects and the risks for learning disability in children with clefts. If you have specific questions about any issue related to hypernasal speech or cleft lip and palate, feel free to contact Janet Jacobs at the Arden Hills office at 651-639-0942.
Down Syndrome Youth Conference
Jeanne, Janet, and Jill participated with Hannah at the Down Syndrome Youth Conference on Saturday, April 21st, 2007 in St. Paul. We stenciled flower pots to give as housewarming gifts to new owners of Habitat for Humanity houses. We also made quilts for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The conference concluded with a fun dance.
Pictured below, from left to right: Jeanne, Hannah, Janet, and Jill
Literacy Development for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
On February 23rd, 2007, Shelly, Stacie, Maria and Sarah attended a workshop on Literacy Development for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Phyllis Kupperman, MA, CCC, SLP. This workshop described the unique learning style of children with ASD as it relates to decoding and comprehension. Common problems related to reading--decoding, fluency and comprehension--were identified and practical strategies based on research and the national reading panel were introduced. Shelly loved learning about the new strategies and that they can be applied to any reader!
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Speech and language clinic located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Call us in St Paul, MN, Arden Hills, MN, Plymouth, MN, or Maplewood, MN to set up an evaluation or therapy appointment.
