“No one says, ‘I love having a lisp,’” Dr. Sarah Lockenvitz said. A lisp is common in preschoolers and often recurs when a child loses teeth. In some cases, speech therapy can treat a lisp, but not always. Lockenvitz, assistant professor of speech-language pathology at Missouri State University, studies the life experiences of those with a persistent lisp. “Something as minor … [Read more...] about Lose the lisp with technology and training
Having a stroke or a traumatic brain injury can make you feel like a foreigner in a strange land. Your cognition may still be fully intact, but sometimes you just can’t speak the language. After a stroke, most individuals need speech therapy, which is offered free at Missouri State University’s Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic. With this therapy, clients often recoup much of … [Read more...] about Finding your voice again
Not being able to communicate effectively or understand people can be so discouraging and frustrating. It leaves you out – in the dark. Lauren Jones, director of the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic at Missouri State University, says parents usually become concerned around age 2 that their toddler isn’t talking as much as other children they know. Jones says that signs can be … [Read more...] about Clinic helps people communicate
In the Midtown neighborhood of Springfield, the Ujima literacy program is helping to improve children’s literacy. Ujima, a Swahili word that means collective work and responsibility, is an effort made possible by several organizations. They include Missouri State University, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield NAACP, Springfield-Greene County Library, Parents as Teachers … [Read more...] about Instilling in kids a love for literacy
We take so much for granted each day. One of those things is the ability to hear and effectively communicate. According to the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, May is better hearing and speech month. Jennifer Kerr, clinical assistant professor in the department of communication sciences and disorders, and Lauren Jones, director of the Speech, Language and … [Read more...] about Shedding light on communication, hearing challenges