Evans Family Speech & Hearing

Weekend Language Activity

2012-03-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

Great Speech Practice Games

Did you know that games are an excellent way to work on speech, auditory directions, and processing with your child? Below is a list of age appropriate games and a few examples that you can use while having a fun time with your child.

Ages 3 and up

Bed Bugs by Milton Bradley

Play-doh Activity Sets

Chutes and Ladders by Milton Bradley

Hi Ho Cherry-O by Parker Brothers

Cootie by Milton Bradley

Elefun by Milton Bradley

Cariboo by Cranium

Ages 4 and up

Happy Hippo by Milton Bradley

Hands Down by Milton Bradley

Mr. Mouth by Milton Bradley

Outburst Junior by Parker Brothers

Guess Who by Milton Bradley

Ages 7 and up

Headbanz by Spin Master

Bumparena by Caranium

Boggle by Hasboro

Ages 10 and up

Apples to Apples Junior by Mattel

In a Pickle by Gamewright

Scattergories Junior by Milton Bradley

Scrabble by Hasboro

Weekend Language Activity - Fruity Snack Mix

2012-02-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you Carrie Larson, our wonderful intern, for this week's language activity!

Weekend Language Activity

Fruity Snack Mix

Materials:

- 4 cups crispy corn cereal squares (such as Chex)

- 1 cup dried mixed fruit, chopped

- ¼ cup yogurt covered raisins

- ½ cup chopped mixed nuts (optional)

- 1 cup banana chips

- Bowl

- Spoon

- Measuring cup

Vocabulary Targets:

Nouns: recipe, ingredients, cereal, fruit, raisins, nuts, chips, bowl, spoon, cup

Verbs: pour, add, stir, mix, measure, eat

Adjectives: sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, many, few

Language Concepts: following directions to a recipe, sequencing (e.g. first, next, last), taste and texture (e.g. sweet, chewy, crunchy).

Directions:

1. Print recipe and pictures of ingredients (optional)

2. Talk about the recipe, following directions (e.g. sequencing steps) and the ingredients (e.g. taste, texture and measuring the correct amount).

3. Measure and combine ingredients in order. Practice measuring and sequencing (e.g. first, measure and add 4 cups of cereal; next, pour 1 cup of dried fruit in the bowl; last, stir all the ingredients).

4. Enjoy!

5. Discuss activity using pictures of ingredients (or yourself making the recipe) later for more practice.

Website: http://www.healthy-kids-snacks.com/recipes/fruity-snack-mix

Check out this very informative article about language and cognitive skills.

2012-02-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

http://investigatingchoicetime.com/

2012-01-27T09:17:00.001-08:00

Weekend Language Activity

Making a Family Calendar
Materials

Calendar for the month of January (Don’t have a calendar, click here)

Crayons
Stickers (optional)

Vocabulary/Target Words
Nouns: calendar, birthday, day, week, month, year
Verbs: to be (is), look, find, think
Adjectives: soon, excited, nervous, cold

Language Concepts
Yesterday/today/tomorrow
‘When’ questions
Morning/afternoon/night
Days of the week
Prediction (‘What will…’)

Directions
Print out a calendar for the month of January and talk about the new year
Predict what the weather will be like in January
What will the temperature be outside?
What clothes will you wear?
What games could you play?
Talk about the days of the week (when your child goes to school, playgroup, grandma’s, etc.)
Practice asking and answering questions relating to the days of the week:
What day is today?
What will tomorrow be?
What day was yesterday?
What will we do today/tomorrow, etc.?
Mark any important events, birthdays, or activities on the calendar and talk about them
Use stickers, markers, etc. to mark the dates
Ask ‘when’ questions about events on your calendar
Explore the letters in the word ‘January’ and think about other words with the same sounds

Here’s a song to help your child learn the months of the year.
Here’s a song to help review the days of the week.

2012-01-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

What’s New for EFSH in 2012?

Happy New Year! 2012 looks to be an exciting year for us here at EFSH. The blog will be getting a big update soon, and will now include a weekly article or story posted on each Tuesday, and a new activity posted each Friday.

Our weekly articles will cover everything from tips for helping your child learn to listen and talk, to advice from siblings, to current research in the field of hearing and speech, to stories from other parents. We have been so fortunate to work with such wonderful families over the years, and we look forward to using our blog this year to highlight their unique stories. We already have a couple of great stories on the way, but would love a few more volunteers! If you would like to send us your story, please contact Kimberly Hassenger at Kimberly@hearinghouse.com.

Evans Family Speech & Hearing Annual Holiday Party 2011

2012-01-18T09:09:00.000-08:00

A beautiful night celebrating the holiday season with our wonderful families.

Evans Family Speech & Hearing Annual Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-11-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

Check out our little Goblins!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150498458148452.467460.314360513451&type=1&l=613579beee

Sumner Camps @ Hearing House

2011-02-14T06:09:00.000-08:00

2011 Summer Camps

We are ready for a summer of fun with a variety of camps for children with hearing loss who are learning to listen and talk. Normal hearing peers are also welcome to join us for the fun! We are now taking registration forms to reserve slots for camp. Registration will be open until all slots are filled.

The “Art of Listening” Camp:
Dates: July 25-29
Time: 9:00-1:00
Location: Hearing House Clinic
Cost: $275
Description: Children ages 4-8 are welcome to join us for a 5 day listening adventure filled with arts and drama. Enrollment is limited to 6 children ages 4-5 and 6 children ages 6-8.

Preschool/Toddler Day Camp:
Dates: Thursday June 30, July 7, 14, and 21
Time: 9-11:30
Location: Hearing House Clinic
Cost: $200 for all 5 days (can purchase individual days for $40 a day)
Description: Children ages 2-3 welcome to join us for weekly themed language adventures. Campers will leave each week with activities and strategies for carry over into the home environment. Parents are welcome to participate in camp activities with their child. Enrollment is limited to 6 slots.

All supplies and materials are included in the enrollment fee.

2011-02-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

Happenings in the House

Friday Afterschool Jam Sessions – join us at 4:30 pm every Friday. Have your school age child bring their pre-teaching notes or homework to work on during this Jam Session. We will help them with their homework while infusing the sessions with lots and lots of language. A Jam Session would not be a true Jam Session without fun and games. We will have planned games as well as freestyle.

Sound Saturdays are back!!!!! – Join us for our first “Roundtable Discussion” on March 5th @ 4 pm (location will follow). We are very excited to have a host of cochlear implant users whom would like to sit down with our families and share their stories. The ages range from teens to the golden years. This will be a great time to ask questions and obtain a wealth of information for the years to come.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?
We want to find out what “your family” would like to see at Hearing House. Below is a list of topics for our upcoming Sound Saturdays. Please take a little time to review them and let us know what you think. If you have a particular topic in mind please let us know.

• FM Systems – What they can do for you
• Pre-teaching – This is not cheating
• Experience Book Share – Fitting it all in
• Siblings – What about me?
• Self –Advocacy - I’m Determined

2011-01-05T08:53:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to all of our family and friends!!!!!

We are looking forward to a very exciting 2011 filled

with new events and programs.

Do you have an idea for a great event.......?

We want to hear from you. How can we best serve your family this year?

EFSH/Hearing House Holiday Party 2010

2011-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

EFSH/Hearing House Holiday Party 2010

Santa and his elf made a special appearance to hand out stockings

full of goodies!!!!!

Closed December 16, 2010

2010-12-16T05:28:00.001-08:00

Due to the inclement weather, our Charlottesville Clinic will be closed today December 16, 2010. For the latest updates on closings and delays continue to check our blog and Facebook page.

Evans Family Speech & Hearing - Hearing House First Annual Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

You're invited to

Evans Family Speech & Hearing - Hearing House's

First Annual Pumpkin Patch

Saturday October 23rd from 3 to 5 pm

Bring your little gobblins to pick out a pumpkin from our pumpkin patch, play frightfully fun games, network with other families, and enjoy a boo-fet of snacks and treats.

Costumes are optional.

Siblings and friends are welcome!

1403 Pemberton Road, Richmond, VA 23238

In Memoriam

2010-09-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Patrick and his family in the loss of his great grandmother, Minerva Savage. We sincerely appreciate all the generous gifts that have been given in Ms. Savage's honor. Our Hearing House families will receive therapy scholarships with funding from these generous gifts.

2010-09-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

" Listen in the Kitchen II" Cooking Camp

Pre-K Camp

"Thursdays In July" Toddler Camp

2010-09-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

Teddy Bear Day

Thursdays in July - Toddler Camp 2010

2010-09-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Vote for us!

2010-09-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

Last year we were humbled by being voted "Best Speech & Language Program" by Albemarle Family Magazine. Albemarle Family is now hosting their annual Family Favorites again and we'd be honored if you voted for us as your favorite Speech & Language Program.

The link to vote is www.albemarlefamily.com

The link to the survey is on the right hand side of the page. We are under "educational programs" and since the survey is free text you'll need to type our name "Evans Family Speech & Hearing" in the box labeled "Speech & Language Program."

Thanks for all of the support you give us year round!

Back to School!

2010-09-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled about the start of the new school year! We of course are excited about new backpacks, new teachers, new school supplies, and all of the new adventures that are to come. In addition to the typical back to school preparation there are a number of things we consider in preparing our clients with speech, language or hearing impairments for the new school year. Below is a list of a few of the things we consider.

1. An experience book about the first day of school: Who will your child meet on the first day? Will they ride the bus? What will they say to a new friend? Will they be going to the cafeteria for the first time? If your child is still mastering social skills or the language for interacting with peers this is a great way to preteach language, and set your child up for success for the first day. Make a story together in a composition notebook and review it with your child before the first day of school. If you have pictures of the school this would be a great place to include them.

2. Teacher training and education: Since many of our clients are in a full inclusion setting, they may have teachers who have never taught a child with a cochlear implant or hearing aid. Consider meeting with the teachers a few days before school to orient them to the device and basic troubleshooting. Many of our parents have created a "cheat sheet" reference card for teachers about their child's device. Even if your child does not wear amplification, a meeting before the start of school can also help orient the teacher to strategies and techniques you use to help facilitate your child's speech and language. If your child is on an IEP in the public school your team can help with this process.

3. A visit with your child to the classroom before school starts: If this is your child's first school year it may be worth a quick visit to the empty classroom to help your child experience all they will see in the classroom. This will allow the child to get acclimated to the new environment, and will allow you to review the language and vocabulary associated with the classroom.

4. Creating a resume: All of our clients are unique in in their own way, and we know that their hearing impairment or speech/language impairment is just a small part of who they are. Help your child's teacher get to know them better by creating a "resume" about them. Let your child tell about their favorite books, activities, and and games. This could be done on a sheet of paper, or even as an electronic document like a PowerPoint presentation. If your child is older you could include a video of them telling their teacher what helps them learn best.

5. Setting up a communication system: We believe that parents are a child's first and primary teachers of language. For this reason it is essential that a good communication system between home and school is established before the start of school. Consider who will send notes home about the day or any speech/language services your child may have had. It may also be necessary to create a plan for how you will be informed if your child's device malfunctions during the school day. Our families have used everything from email, to sticky notes as a way to keep in touch with schools. Since every school's policies are different, this will be something that is typically done on a school by school basis.

We are looking forward to a great school year, and welcome any suggestions you may have about preparing your child for school. Feel free to post below and share them. Should you need any assistance with preparing your child for school, we are happy to help.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-06-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

What a great year! July will mark the 2nd anniversary of the opening of Evans Family Speech & Hearing, LLC, and the first anniversary of our Hearing House Clinic.

It has been an honor to serve each of our families, and we look forward to many more years of first words, first sounds, and triumphs.

With all of our exciting events and activities this summer, we have started this blog to keep our families up to date, and informed. We will also be using this blog to share current research and articles related to listening and talking. You can also look forward to stories and videos from some of our families, other professionals in the field, and monthly posts from Will Hassenger older sibling to 9 year old with bilateral cochlear implants.

If you have any suggestions in regards to content send us an email: info@evansspeechandhearing.com

Be sure to click the "follow our blog link" so you are always sure to be in the loop!

Thanks for all your support!

Christine Evans, Owner/Speech Language Pathologist