Christie Speech Therapy

31/12/2024

~~End of Year Note 2024~~

Another year has come and gone, and I'd like to thank all the families (old and new) who have once again put their trust and faith in my hands to accompany and guide them in their speech and language therapy journey.

I'd like to thank you for taking a leap of faith to start and/or continue your therapy journey as I transitioned from offering hybrid face-to-face and online consultations to becoming a fully run telehealth practice.

The learning curve has been steep, but I'm now more tech-savvy. I've learned to use the green screen, make interactive boom cards, set up digital classrooms, use various AI tools, and create videos and worksheets to make the online sessions playful and interactive for the kids as young as pre-schoolers! I've even learned how to remotely update a person's AAC device!

I have enjoyed watching the parents taking a more active role in their children's therapy intervention as they dutifully complete their weekly homework, and proudly share their therapy progress via short video clips and pictures.
I'm also pleased to report that the % of fathers involved in therapy has increased from 10% last year to 30% this year! Well done dads! I'm hoping that next year the number will go up to 50% :)

As I often say, it takes a village to raise a child but it takes an even larger village to raise a child with special needs. I would like to thank all the teaching assistants, nannies and carers who have attended my online workshops and who have become fully trained to confidently carry out the speech and language therapy goals of the children. Thank you for your relentless work both at school and at home, and even during the weekends and school holidays!

My greatest achievement this year has been successfully teaching nonverbal and minimally verbal autistic children and children with verbal dyspraxia how to read and spell. Unlocking this mode of communication is a big leap forward in helping children become independent participants in society.

I cannot wait to tackle the challenges that 2025 will bring and learn new ways to use technology to help advance speech and language therapy. See you all in the New Year!

~Christie~

-Pictures of the yummy chocolate-themed rewards throughout the year :)

For more info on the workshops, visit https://www.christiespeechtherapy.com/workshopsandprograms/

To purchase kindergarten level to Year 1 literacy worksheets, send a message on Messenger.

01/11/2024

Following the Mauritian Government's new internet access restrictions until the general election, please download a VPN prior to your Speech and Language Therapy online appointment. It is also advisable to connect using a TOR browser.

If you're having any issues, let your speech therapist know in advance.

Christie

09/10/2024

I cannot wait to watch this Disney movie about a girl with cerebral palsy (CP) who is learning to use AAC 😊

Loved when the dad told the specialist 'Why don't you raise your expectations? She loves to learn.'

Don't be afraid to set high expectations and tough goals in therapy, in time, your kids will meet them!

https://youtu.be/AvVxyoQQzFs?si=ou8a8l__vFvnEX2s

Let them hear you. Melody Brooks, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but because she is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair, ...

28/07/2024

Amazing high-tech Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices are being invented and built daily to help people with disabilities find their voices and communicate.

https://www.weforum.org/videos/mouth-operated-touchpad/

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquar...

27/07/2024

Ｄｉｄ ｙｏｕ ｋｎｏｗ？

It is recommended that children stop using a pacifier by approximately 12 months of age. Prolonged use of a pacifier can potentially affect speech development, teeth alignment and oral health.

Pacifiers are also linked to immature swallow. For more information on immature swallow, click https://www.christiespeechtherapy.com/tongue-thrust/

26/07/2024

𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙤𝙬-𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙪𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (𝘼𝘼𝘾) 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨

School holidays are the best time to do speech therapy outside the speech therapy room!

During our holiday intensive sessions, I have the opportunity to train the families to use their speech therapy strategies and techniques throughout the day in various activities and settings to foster their kids' speech, language, and communication development.

But first, let's have FUN!

🦋𝓗𝓞𝓦 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓘𝓝𝓒𝓛𝓤𝓢𝓘𝓞𝓝 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮?🦋

Inclusion of a non-verbal or minimally verbal autistic child typically involves creating a supportive and accepting environment that accommodates their unique needs and abilities. Here are some ways inclusion may look like for a nonverbal autistic child:

1. Communication Support: Providing alternative communication methods such as picture communication systems, sign language, or assistive technology to help the child express their needs and preferences.

2. Educator Training: Providing training and support for teachers and school staff on autism awareness, inclusive practices, and strategies for supporting nonverbal autistic children in the classroom.

3. Positive Reinforcement: Using positive reinforcement strategies to encourage and reward the child's progress, communication attempts, and social interactions within the inclusive setting.

For more information on the online parent workshop, visit https://www.christiespeechtherapy.com/workshopsandprograms/

11/04/2024

𝙲𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙳𝚢𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚊 𝚒𝚗 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜

𝘾𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨: This means having difficulty separating words like "cowboy" into "cow" and "boy" or phonemes (dog to /d/ /o/ /g/)

𝙊𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨: This refers to not being able to connect letters to their sounds. For example, "b" wouldn't be associated with the "b" sound in "big."

𝙈𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨: This means reading words with sounds that don't match the letters, like reading "pig" as "goats."

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨: Difficulty sounding out basic CVC words like "big," "dog," and "cat" can be a sign of an underlying issue.

𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩: Frequent complaints about the difficulty of reading can point to a deeper problem.

𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮: Having parents or siblings with reading difficulties can increase the chances of experiencing similar challenges.

To book a formal assessment, please contact your speech therapist https://www.christiespeechtherapy.com/contact/

10/04/2024

5 myths stopping parents from seeking professional help to support their children presenting with speech and language delays:

1. Wait and See approach
2. They'll catch up without therapy
3. Boys are lazy
4. Pandemic
5. Bilingualism

If you have any concerns, regarding your child's language development, seek professional help from a speech therapist who will determine if your child needs therapy. Remember that the longer you wait to seek professional help for your child's speech and language delays, the bigger the gap between him and his peers, and the more time he'll have to spend in therapy to close the gap.

Early intervention is key to your child's overall academic success and social well-being!

For more information, visit www.christiespeechtherapy.com

10/04/2024

For more information on literacy development, visit www.christiespeechtherapy.com

09/04/2024

For more information on literacy development, please visit www.christiespeechtherapy.com

08/04/2024

𝙋𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 is a sign that a baby has developed certain social and communication skills.

It shows us that the baby can get someone's attention, send a message, and attempt to influence someone's actions or reactions to whatever it is he is pointing to.

The expected range for pointing to develop is between 8-15 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨. It often develops in the steps of 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙭 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.

Here are 4 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 to foster the skill of pointing:

1. 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙡 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. You can point during activities such as going for a walk, playing, and daily routines. Use simple language when you point, narrate what is happening or what you can see.

2. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 that encourage interaction. Books can include flaps, pushing items, and touching items.

3. 𝘼𝙘𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 your child's attempts to communicate and connect with you- respond, join in, and share interest.

4. 𝘽𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨! Blow bubbles, catch them on the bubble wand, and show your child how to pop them.

For more information regarding your child's language development, visit my website 𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺.𝘤𝘰𝘮