Little Ears & Voices

06/16/2026

Have you ever gotten your child’s audiogram and thought, “What am I even looking at?” 🤔🦻🏻

As a speech-language pathologist (not an audiologist!), I work with many deaf and hard of hearing children and spend a lot of time helping families understand hearing test results.

In this reel, I’m breaking down the basics of how to read an audiogram 📊

An audiogram is one of the many tools audiologists use to gather information about a person’s hearing. It can help describe:
✨ The degree (severity) of hearing loss
✨ The shape of the hearing loss (how hearing varies across different pitches)
✨ The type of hearing loss

It’s important to remember that audiologists use a variety of tests (not just the audiogram) to come to these conclusions.

This reel is a simplified introduction designed to help you feel more confident when looking at an audiogram for the first time. 💗

Want to dive deeper? I created a step-by-step guide to reading audiograms, complete with practice pages for parents, students, and professionals. You’ll find it in my TPT store linked in my bio! 🔗

(Visual Description: A vertical Instagram reel opens with a close-up view of a laptop screen displaying an audiogram chart. The creator scrolls through and points out different parts of the audiogram while a voiceover explains how to interpret the graph. Various audiogram examples, labels, and diagrams appear on screen as concepts are discussed, including hearing thresholds, frequencies (pitch), hearing levels (loudness), symbols for the right and left ears, and examples of different hearing loss configurations. The visuals consist primarily of educational slides and audiogram graphics with text overlays highlighting key information. No people appear on screen; the focus remains on the audiogram examples and instructional materials being discussed in the voiceover.)

06/14/2026

Lake County, FL— American Sign Language Class

Hello everyone! My name is Emily Howard, I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist in the Lake County area who specializes in working with Deaf and hard of hearing children.

I’m very aware that unfortunately, there are not many resources for deaf/hard-of-hearing children and families in the area. For that reason, I’m working with a Deaf American Sign Language instructor () to organize a beginner ASL class in Lake County.

The class is for adults, and anyone who would like to learn is welcome!

If you are in the area and interested (or think you may be interested) and would like to learn more, please complete the form below.

Feel free to share as well!

Completing the form will not commit you to anything. At this stage we are simply trying to gauge interest from the community so that we can tailor the class to the community’s needs.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or message me.

Thank you so much!

Link to form:

https://forms.gle/siVcg5HRg9A31tAq9

06/14/2026

American Sign Language Class

Hello everyone! My name is Emily Howard, I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist in the Lake County area who specializes in working with Deaf and hard of hearing children.

I’m very aware that unfortunately, there are not many resources for deaf/hard-of-hearing children and families in the area. For that reason, I’m working with a Deaf American Sign Language instructor () to organize a beginner ASL class in Lake County.

The class is for adults, and anyone who would like to learn is welcome!

If you are in the area and interested (or think you may be interested) and would like to learn more, please complete the form below.

Feel free to share as well!

Completing the form will not commit you to anything. At this stage we are simply trying to gauge interest from the community so that we can tailor the class to the community’s needs.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or message me.

Thank you so much!

Link to form:

Hello Lake County! This form is to gather information from those interested in learning ASL from Courtney. She sets up ASL Classes in the Community where the group would be meeting at different locations throughout the community to receive real-life, authentic ASL education. Once the information has...

06/14/2026

Ever wonder what gestalt language processing (GLP) support can actually look like in real life? 💛✨

In this example of gestalt language therapy, I’m using a child-led approach focused on connection, rhythm, and play!

Here are a few of the language strategies you’ll see in action:

• 🎯 Reducing questions – avoiding constant questioning and instead using declarative language to model and narrate
• 🎶 Using music intentionally – modeling relevant language to familiar tunes with rich intonation supports engagement, attention, and language mapping
• 💬 Modeling flexible language – new potential gestalts and variations to help bridge from gestalts into more flexible language
• 🔁 Repetition in play routines – repeated songs, routines, and language that feel predictable and engaging for learning
• ⏳ Wait time + low pressure – giving space for processing without rushing responses
• 💗 Acknowledging and validating communication – honoring the child’s spontaneous language and repeating back productions whenever possible

It’s important to remember that language therapy can look very different depending on the child’s individual goals, strengths, and where they are in their language development journey. This is just one example of pediatric speech therapy in practice and is not representative of every child.

If you’re new to gestalt language processing (GLP), feel free to check out my older videos where I break it down more!

Let me know if you like videos like this and what you’d like to see more of!

(Visual Description: A 30-year old speech therapist sits cross-legged on the floor of a home. She is white with dark black hair, pulled into a high bun with a black crocheted headband. She is leaning forward attentively. She is wearing a dark maroon top and light wash jean pants, with her hair pulled back. A child speaks from off-screen, with a parent also present in the room. Text, captions, and information appear on screen throughout the video. Strategies are also included in the caption.)

06/12/2026

If you’re in Lake County or the Western Orlando area, come out and join us for our Calm & Connect event! Hosted by Dragonfly Therapy.

At my table, I will have resources and handouts for parents and families, a sensory bottle making activity & thematic sensory bins for the kids, and lots of opportunities for Q&A and connection! Hope to see you there 🥰

📅 July 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 The Nest Schools Winter Garden
🎟️ FREE Community Event

06/12/2026

Cannot wait to be a part of this amazing event 💗

🦋 Vendor Spotlight Friday 🦋

One of the best parts of Calm & Connect is bringing together local professionals and educators who are passionate about helping children and families thrive.

This week we're excited to introduce two amazing organizations that are making a difference in our community:

🗣️ Little Ears and Voices:
Hello! My name is Emily Howard, a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and owner of Little Ears and Voices, a mobile pediatric private practice serving children and families throughout Lake County and surrounding areas.

I provide individualized speech and language therapy in the comfort of your home and within other community settings. While I specialize in working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, early intervention and late talkers, and speech sound disorders, I support children with a wide range of communication needs and differences.

I am so excited to be part of this event! At our booth, families will find handouts filled with speech and language strategies, communication-building activities, and information about local resources available in the community. I will also be available to answer questions and offer free consultations. My goal is for every parent to leave with helpful information, practical ideas, and resources they can use to support their child’s communication development right away!

For the kids, we’ll be offering a free Make-Your-Own Sensory Bottle activity, as well as themed sensory bins for children of various ages to explore and enjoy. It’s going to be so much fun!

I look forward to meeting you and hope to see you there!

Emily Howard, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

📚 Elevated Purpose Learning Community:
Hello Everyone,
I'm Lauren Wood, CEO and Founding Director of Elevated Purpose Learning Community. We are a PreK-12th grade microschool serving homeschoolers in South Seminole/North Orange, Lake Nona, Hunter's Creek, and surrounding communities as well as online (in-person, hybrid, and online programs). Our table will have mini sensory activities for parents and kids, and we will have an application fee waiver drawing as well as a complimentary experience pass. Excited to meet everyone and to be a part of this event! 💜💛🖤✨️🫶🏽

About Us: Elevated Purpose Learning Community is a diverse multigrade microschool for homeschoolers. Play & project-based learning. Leadership, creativity, academics. Enrolling PreK-12th grade.

page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CVgUQPEov/

These incredible organizations are helping families access resources, education, support, and opportunities right here in our community.

📅 July 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 The Nest Schools Winter Garden
🎟️ FREE Community Event

Join us as we connect families, support women, and strengthen our community together. 💙🦋

06/11/2026

Have you noticed your child making speech errors and wondered how you can help at home?

While a comprehensive speech-language evaluation is the best way to determine whether your child would benefit from speech therapy and to identify their specific areas of need, there are also general strategies that many families can start using right away to support speech development.

In this reel, I’m sharing a few simple tips you can incorporate into everyday interactions at home. These strategies are not a substitute for an evaluation or individualized therapy when needed, but they can be a great place to start while you seek answers and support. 💗

(Visual Description: A 30-year-old white woman with dark hair pulled back in a black headband sits in a parked car and speaks directly to the camera. She is wearing gold hoop earrings and a burgundy top. On-screen closed captions appear throughout the video. The video is presented in a talking-head format with educational speech therapy tips for parents.)

06/09/2026

Many families are surprised to learn that school-based speech therapy and private speech therapy use different criteria to determine who qualifies for services.

In schools, speech therapy is provided when a communication difficulty significantly impacts a student’s educational performance. In a medical or private practice setting, therapy can address speech and language challenges that affect communication in everyday life, even if a child does not qualify through the school system.

So if you’ve been told your child doesn’t qualify for speech therapy at school, it doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a need for speech therapy at all.

A child may still have speech sound errors, language weaknesses, or communication challenges that could benefit from support.

If you’re still concerned about your child’s communication skills, private speech therapy may be another option worth exploring!

Have questions about the differences between school-based and private speech therapy? Drop them below! 👇🏼

06/05/2026

At Little Ears & Voices, we believe communication begins with feeling safe, seen, accepted, and valued.

Every day, families invite me into their homes, their routines, their challenges, and their celebrations.

As speech-language pathologists, we have the privilege of supporting people with communication differences and disabilities across the lifespan. That work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves access to connection, self-expression, opportunity, and belonging.

Communication is a fundamental human right. It allows us to share who we are, advocate for our needs, build relationships, and participate fully in our communities.

While acceptance is an important first step, true inclusion means ensuring everyone feels welcomed, embraced, respected, supported, represented, and celebrated so that every voice can be lifted higher, amplified louder, and heard farther.

Our profession is inseparable from the values of inclusion, equity, accessibility, and respect for human diversity. That is why I believe every child, every adult, and every family deserves to be celebrated for exactly who they are and to have equitable access to the supports they need to thrive.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and reaffirm our commitment to creating spaces where ALL people feel welcomed, affirmed, and empowered to communicate authentically. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

(Image Description: A Pride Month graphic from Little Ears & Voices featuring soft rainbow colors flowing across the top and bottom corners of the image. The Little Ears & Voices logo appears in the center near the top. The text reads: "Every child and family is celebrated & embraced for exactly who they are." Below, the graphic states, "Communication starts with feeling: SAFE, SEEN, ACCEPTED," with each word highlighted in a different pastel color. Sparkling star accents are scattered throughout the design, and the image concludes with the words "Happy Pride Month!" displayed over a rainbow at the bottom.)

06/01/2026

🎵 One of my favorite language strategies? Making up songs in the moment!

Research suggests that music and rhythm can support language learning and memory, helping new words and phrases become more meaningful and easier to recall. By taking a familiar tune and changing the words to match what you or your child are doing, you can create fun, engaging opportunities for language models and learning throughout the day.

The best part? You can use this during play, mealtimes, bath time, transitions, or any other routine your child already knows and enjoys. You can even use it during play routines like building with blocks, pushing cars, playing with dolls, or taking turns in a favorite game by singing about the actions as they happen. Embedding language into familiar routines gives children repeated opportunities to hear and practice meaningful words and phrases.

And don’t overthink it, you don’t need to be a good singer, make it rhyme, or worry about doing it the “right” way. The goal is simply to make language intentional, engaging, and connection-based.

The more you practice, the easier it becomes! 🎶

(Visual description in comments)