18th Annual Free Screening for National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

This is the 18th year Sierra Therapy Group is offering a FREE screening to celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. Each May, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the roles of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

This year’s observance is particularly special as 2025 marks ASHA’s (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) Centennial, a rare and significant opportunity to showcase the vast impact of the professions on society—and how the work of audiologists and speech-language pathologists has evolved over a century. Visit www.asha100.org for more information.

We are excited that Silver State Hearing & Balance is volunteering again this year to conduct the hearing screenings! During May, speech-language pathologists and audiologists share about our profession and how we help individuals of all ages communicate, speak, write, understand, swallow, and hear. These services are provided in early intervention programs, schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, private practices, home visits, and through telehealth.

Do you have concerns regarding your child’s speech/language development or hearing skills? https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-quiz/ Or, are you on a waitlist for an evaluation at a private practice or the WCSD Child Find Program… This is your chance to ask questions and have certified professionals screen for possible speech, language, and hearing concerns. A screening is a “quick look” at skills to see if a full assessment/evaluation is recommended. The screening tasks include observing how well a child is producing speech sounds (e.g., articulation), how well a child is using language forms (e.g, past tense -ed in jumped), how well a child is understanding directions and wh-questions, and how well a child is hearing. These skills are compared to what children are expected to do for their ages and recommendations are made from there. If an assessment is recommended, we share resources available throughout our community!

• What: FREE screening for children ages 3-6

• When: Friday May 16th, 10 am to 2 pm

• Where: 9520 Prototype Crt, Reno, NV 89521

• How: email shawna@sierraspeech.com to reserve a spot! Or call 775.852.6323 x 100

17th Annual Free Screening for National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

This is the 17th year Sierra Therapy Group is offering a FREE screening to recognize National Speech-Language-Hearing Month (which is rebranded this year from Better Hearing & Speech Month). NSLHM is a national campaign prioritized by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (asha.org). We are excited that Silver State Hearing & Balance is joining us again this year to conduct the hearing screenings! During May, speech-language pathologists and audiologists share about our profession and how we help individuals of all ages communicate, speak, write, understand, swallow, and hear. These services are provided in early intervention programs, schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, private practices, home visits, and through telehealth (which is much more accessible and main stream following the pandemic).

Do you have concerns regarding your child’s speech/language development or hearing skills? Or, are you on a waitlist for an evaluation at a private practice or the WCSD ChildFind Program… This is your chance to ask questions and have certified professionals screen for possible speech, language, and hearing concerns. A screening is a “quick look” at skills to see if a full assessment/evaluation is recommended. The screening tasks include observing how well a child is producing speech sounds (e.g., articulation), how well a child is using language forms (e.g, past tense -ed in jumped), how well a child is understanding directions and wh-questions, and how well a child is hearing. These skills are compared to what children are expected to do for their ages and recommendations are made from there. If an assessment is recommended, we share resources available throughout our community!

• What: FREE screening for children ages 3-6

• When: Friday May 31st, 10 am to 2 pm

• Where: 9520 Prototype Crt, Reno, NV 89521

• How: email shawna@sierraspeech.com to reserve a spot! Or call 775.852.6323 x 100

16th Annual Free Screening for Better Hearing & Speech Month

Do you have concerns regarding your child’s speech/language development or hearing skills? Or, are you on a waitlist for an evaluation at a private practice or the WCSD ChildFind Program… This is your chance to ask questions and have certified professionals screen for possible speech, language, and hearing concerns. A screening is a “quick look” at skills to see if a full assessment/evaluation is recommended. The screening tasks include observing how well a child is producing speech sounds (e.g., articulation), how well a child is using language forms (e.g, past tense -ed in jumped), how well a child is understanding directions and wh-questions, and how well a child is hearing. These skills are compared to what children are expected to do for their ages and recommendations are made from there. If an assessment is recommended, we share resources available throughout our community!

This is the 16th year Sierra Therapy Group has offered a free screening in recognition of Better Hearing & Speech Month, which is a national campaign organized by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (asha.org/bhsm/). We are excited that Silver State Hearing & Balance is joining us again this year! During May, speech-language pathologists and audiologists share about our profession and how we help individuals of all ages communicate, speak, write, understand, swallow, and hear. Services are provided in early intervention programs, schools, hospitals, private practices, home visits, and through telehealth (which is much more accessible and main stream following the pandemic).

• What: FREE screening for children ages 3-6

• When: Friday May 5th, 10 am to 2 pm

• Where: 9520 Prototype Crt, Reno, NV 89521

• How: email shawna@sierraspeech.com to reserve a spot! Or call 775.852.6323 x 100

15th Annual Screening in Honor of Better Hearing & Speech Month

It is hard to believe that this will be the 15th May we have celebrated Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) by offering a free screening for children in our area! We even provided the screening virtually during the pandemic, so this is the 15th consecutive year!

BHSM is a national campaign organized by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (asha.org/bhsm/). During May, speech-language pathologists and audiologists share about our profession and how we help individuals of all ages communicate, speak, write, understand, swallow, and hear. Services are provided in early intervention programs, schools, hospitals, private practices, home visits, and through telehealth (which is much more accessible and main stream following the pandemic).

The clinicians at Sierra Therapy Group honor Better Hearing & Speech Month by providing free screenings for children ages 3-6. A screening is when professionals complete tasks and take a quick look at skills to see if a full assessment/evaluation is recommended. The screening tasks we do will look at how well a child is producing speech sounds (e.g., articulation), how well a child is using language forms (e.g., past tense -ed in jumped), and how well a child is understanding directions and wh-questions (e.g., put the car under the chair). These skills are compared to what children are expected to do for their ages and recommendations are made from there. If an assessment is recommended, we share resources available throughout our community!

• What: FREE screening for children ages 3-6, screening will assess speech & language skills

• When: Saturday May 21st, 10 am to 2 pm

• Where: 9520 Prototype Crt, Reno, NV 89521

• How: email shawna@sierraspeech.com to reserve a spot! Or call 775.852.6323 x 100!

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month!

In May we celebrate Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM)! BHSM is a national campaign led by The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), and it is an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members in providing life-altering treatment. For 2021, the theme is "Building Connections." ASHA members and Speech-Language Pathologists across practice settings help individuals improve communication skills which then leads to building connections. Different practice settings include schools, private practices, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities.

Sierra Therapy Group celebrates BHSM by offering a free screening. Screenings are completed to give a quick look at a child’s skills to determine if a full evaluation is recommended. This is the 14th annual screening, and this year we are back in person (with COVID precautions and a protocol in place).

• WHAT: FREE Screening for children ages 3-6

• WHEN: Saturday May 15th, 10am to 2pm

• WHERE: 9520 Prototype Crt, Reno, NV 89521

• HOW: email shawna@sierraspeech.com to reserve a spot!

We look forward to “Building Connections” with families and children at our BHSM screening!

Videos

Easing Back In To In-Person Sessions

We are so excited to be back in the office and accepting new clients! Additionally, we continue to offer telehealth services for those families who are more comfortable receiving services in this medium.  Our community has gone through many changes as of late but we continue to be committed to serving children with speech-language disorders and any other special needs. Over the past 14 years, flexibility and a team of clinicians ready to jump in and learn new things has allowed us to pivot in response to challenges.  Without missing a beat, the clinicians worked to quickly figure out how to provide telehealth services with the same quality as in-person services in order to provide continuity of care for the children and families we work with. While learning and using telehealth has been exciting and has met the needs of many of our clients, some kids do their best and make the most progress with in-person services. We have implemented policies and procedures to be able to safely provide in-person sessions!

We are also excited to announce that Liz Breckner has joined our team. As we head back to school, Liz has some after school availability, so feel free to reach out and ask questions about our programs and services. We continue to contract with multiple insurance companies and can call to find out coverage for both in-person and telehealth speech-language services.

Biggest #BHSM2020 Take Away Points

Phew, what a May, actually March-April-and May, it has been. I have seen fairy gardens and magic tricks, have been introduced to siblings/pets/favorite stuffies, have worked in blanket forts, and have gone for car rides all while sitting at my desk. I am grateful for technology and flexibility and being able to not miss a beat (and insurance is covering, and we are making just as much progress!). I am also grateful for my network of colleagues that I have been able to rally with and gain knowledge from and share resources with (special thanks to Holly Cook, Kim Reddig, Melissa Urbani, Nancy Kuhles,Rachael Walden). Right when I was settling in and learning how this new work feels and flows, it is time to shift energy to figuring out what transitioning back to the office is going to look like…with that is coming another learning curve and trying to figure out best safety practices for everyone. Teletherapy is working well for many of the clients (and can continue for those families it is best for), but there is nothing like in-person, face-to-face therapy that some kids just need. My fingers are crossed that the in-person high fives and chatter in the waiting room will return sooner than later. The biggest take away points for me this Better Hearing & Speech Month is that I was reminded how resilient and generous we are as a field (from free resources to free live trainings to countless answers to questions). I was also reminded of how resilient the kids and families we work with are in trying and adapting to new things even though they face struggles different from those people without disabilities. Last, my mind was opened to the value of teletherapy and how it can be utilized as a service delivery option in the future, maybe helping to better serve families who live in our rural areas....

Work From Home Spring 2020

13th Annual Free BHSM Screening

Who would have thought that when we set the date for the 13th annual Better Hearing & Speech Month #BSHM2020 Screening that we would be under a stay at home order in response to a pandemic that is impacting the entire world. We, along with speech-language pathologists (SLPs) everywhere and in every practice setting (private practices, schools, early intervention, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and more), have had to dramatically shift our service delivery models in the blink of an eye to continue to meet the needs of the clients and families we help. I’m proud to say that the clinicians at STG didn’t miss a beat, feverishly learning virtual platforms and how best to provide services ethically while also trying to navigate billing and insurance coverage for these services. After personally being closed minded and a skeptic of teletherapy for working with children in a private practice setting, I have been pleasantly surprised with how well virtual face-to-face services are going. I dearly miss seeing the kids, families, and my co-workers in person, but I feel oh-so-fortunate for families’ willingness and technology to be able to continue to do what I love doing during this time. I also see the long-term potential for teletherapy to help meet the needs of children with communication disorders who live in the rural areas of Nevada as these children have not had the same access to care as families who live in more populated areas.

We have weathered a huge learning curve in a short amount of time, but we are already proficient in using virtual services to provide the services we are trained to do (licensed SLPs have to hold a master’s degree). Not only has the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) stepped up and provided valuable resources and support, but SLPs everywhere have supported each other through live webinars, resource/idea sharing, and emotional support/encouragement. I have never been prouder to be a speech-language pathologist and certified member of ASHA and NSHA!

We have offered the free screening to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month and spread the word about the great profession of speech pathology for the past 12 years…and instead of postponing the 13th Annual BHSM Screening, the screening will go on virtually on May 16th, 2020! Families with children between the ages of 3 and 6 can email shawna@sierraspeech.com or shannon@sierraspeech.com to reserve virtual screening slots (directions and more information will be shared after the screening slots are confirmed). Again, I am thankful for technology and a willingness on the part of the clinicians and the families to be able to make the 13th annual screening a reality! We hope to ‘see’ you on May 16th!

http://www.sierratherapygroup.com/videos (watch to see what a screening looks like)

12th Annual BHSM FREE Screening

What is the difference between a screening and an assessment/evaluation? A screening is a quick look at skills that is then used to make recommendations which could include a full assessment/evaluation. An assessment is a more in-depth experience that delves deeper in to a child’s strengths and weaknesses to make more specific recommendations and create a plan of care if necessary.

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM), and for the past 12 years, STG has celebrated by offering a FREE screening. Licensed speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and an audiologist are teaming up on Saturday, May 4th to offer this screening again. If you have a child age 3 to 6 and are concerned about his/her speech-language skills, fine-motor/sensory skills, or hearing, please email shawna@sierraspeech.com to reserve your slot (slots do fill up, so don’t wait to sign up!).

Options and community resources will be shared if a full assessment/evaluation is recommended based on results from the screening. For 2019, the screening is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th from 10am until 2pm. Again, if you have questions or concerns in regard to your child's skills, this is your chance to come meet the professionals who have years of experience and knowledge in this area!  Visit asha.org for more information about BHSM and our professions!   #BHSM2019

Holiday Toy Ideas!

At Sierra Therapy Group, we use play on a daily basis to engage our young clients.  We know that there are better toys than others that can help children develop physically, mentally, and socially.  We would like to share our ideas on which toys and games would make great holiday gifts for the children in your lives.  **See the bottom of the blog for lists of toys by age**

The ideal toys are multipurpose and versatile.  Also, keep in mind that good toys will encourage communication, imagination, and coordination.  Finally, look for toys that are safe and inexpensive.

Multipurpose and versatile toys can be used in more than one way and in more than one setting.  For example, colorful nesting cups can be stacked into a tower or submerged in the bathtub.  A nesting cup might be a bowl in your child’s play kitchen.  They can even be taken to the beach for making sandcastles.  Playing with nesting cups helps develop motor planning skills.  This toy is also great for learning the concepts of size, color, and spatial relationships (e.g., in, on, under, behind).  You can model simple language during these tasks as well (e.g., if in the bathtub you can say “pour out” or “water in”; if stacking you can say “put on” or “fall down”).

Another example of a multipurpose toy is a dress-up box.  Trying on different costumes develops pretend play.  This is a great way to have your child practice buttons, ties, snaps, and zippers.  Describing the characteristics of the clothing or the character that the child is playing develops language skills.  Some children like to put on fantasy costumes like their favorite superhero or animal.  Other children like to pretend they are a real person like their teacher, doctor, mom, or dad.  Old purses, hats, and glasses with the lenses popped out make great additions to a dress-up box!

For young children pretend play sets are great.  A farm set is a wonderful toy to develop language and imagination.  A farm set can teach basic concepts like the names of animals, what sounds the animals make, and where the animals live.  A few other sets that we love at STG are the veterinarian set and Mr. Potato Head because they provide opportunities for both language and motor skills development.

Simple, inexpensive toys are often the best.  Children can use their imagination to play with objects found around the house.  Flashlights are a good example of an ordinary object providing hours of fun.  Turning the flashlight on and off or making shadow puppets develops fine motor skills.  This game also provides an opportunity to practice language like “on” and “off.”

If you feel that the child in your life has too many toys, a great holiday gift is an Experience.  Experience gifts may be a pass to a local museum or water park (even if it can’t be used until summer!).  You can make vouchers for the movies, a trip to the ice cream shop, or arcade.  Lessons for swimming, dance, or karate also make great gifts that last long after the holidays.

Recommended toys for children birth to 12 months:

• Soft books, play gyms, rattles

Recommended toys for children 12 to 24 months:

• Squirting bath toys, wagon, pull toys, blocks, nesting cups

Recommended toys for children 2 to 3 years:

• Dolls, cars, basic shape sorters, musical instruments (drums, piano), imaginary play sets (Little People)

Recommended toys for children 3 to 5 years:

• Hippity Hop ball, Crocodile Dentist game, shape puzzles, art supplies (paintbrushes, scissors, crayons, glitter, glue), Trio Blocks

Recommended toys for children 5 to 6 years:

• Playdough, ZOOBs, jigsaw puzzles, rubber stamp set, Zingo games, Pop Up Pirate game

Recommended toys for children 7 to 8 years:

• Tracing paper and learn to draw cartoon books, jewelry making kits, scooter, eye spy books, activity books with mazes and hidden pictures

Recommended toys for children 9 to 10 years:

• Checkers, dominoes, Uno, dart ball game, Rush Hour game, rainbow loom, Legos

Recommended toys for children 11 years and up:

• Origami kits, Qwirkle game, science kits, horseshoes, bean bag toss, croquet, Jenga