PEEPs in the Park-Decatur

Our next PEEPs in the Park will be Aug. 14 from 10-12 in Decatur at Adventure Park. Click here for more info about the park.

We will serve refershments as usual and hope many of our Central and North Alabama families can come. Many of our new families would love to see you there so even if you came to the last park event try to make plans to visit this large and exciting park also!

Please email (click here) to RSVP by Aug. 11 and we look forward to seeing you all there. In the event of undesirable weather, this event will be rescheduled.

PEEP This! Magazines

Parent tested and approved! Before you throw out your discarded reading materials, such as magazines, think about how much at-home therapy you could squeeze out of them. From hunting to fashion magazines you could drain these items for lots of vocabulary. Then get creative. If age appropriate, ask your child to point to or cut out pics of things that begin (or end) with the /s/ sound. Ask for things that belong in the kitchen or items that keep us warm. The possibilities are endless!

These therapy tips may or may not have come directly from a speech-language pathologist or auditory verbal therapist, nor is it meant to replace any current therapy. Should you have questions, ask your child's therapist!

Girls Just Gotta Have Funds

(all info posted directly from a Children's HEAR Center email alert)
Come shop with us at Inverness Corners (on the corner of Valleydale Road and Hwy 280)

Early Bird Sale: Thursday, July 15 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Admission $5.00)

Friday, July 16: 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 3:00 - 7:00 pm

Saturday, July 17: 7:00 am-1:00 pm

(All merchandise 1/2 price after 12:00 pm on Saturday)

Adult clothing, furniture, household items, kitchen appliances, baby and children's toys and clothing, holiday décor, and more!!

Brought to you by The Charity League
All proceeds from the annual Girls Just Gotta Have Funds Garage Sale go to Charity League benefactors, including the Children's HEAR Center. Did you know the Charity League gave over $61,200 in 2010 to the Hearing and Speech Department at CHS? These funds include scholarships for HEAR Center families with financial need purchase hearing aids or cochlear implant equipment. Another scholarship provides a set of hearing aids at no cost to children who have hearing loss as a result of cancer treatment. They also provide initial earmolds for every HEAR Center patient and care kits for those fit with loaner hearing aids. Every family at the HEAR Center has benefitted from TCL's generosity to some degree!
 

PEEP This! Social Security/Hearing Loss

ASHA posted this info on Facebook and it could affect many Alabamians in regards to pediatric hearing loss (families and professionals). Read what took place during their amendments to determining if a child is disabled. Click here.

PEEP This! Let the music play

Parent tested and approved. When listening to music, point to your ear to acknowledge that a sound is present, then begin to dance around. Encourage your child to do the same. Then, secretly turn it off and freeze. The idea is to acknowledge not only sound, but the absence of it as well. This could help a small child bring attention to a hearing device when batteries run down or other disruptions occur in their accessing sound. Repeat this activity daily or weekly, making sure the child doesn't visibly see you turn it off or may not get a true auditory-only response.




These therapy tips may or may not have come directly from a speech-language pathologist or auditory verbal therapist, nor is it meant to replace any current therapy. Should you have questions, ask your child's therapist!

PEEP This! Hide & Seek

Parent tested and approved! Did you know, playing hide-and-go-seek with children, in doors or out, can be a fun listening game and build language. We don't recommend the old fashioned silent game of hide and seek anymore. Instead, ask your child to count while you go hide. Give your child verbal cues to come find you. You can make noises of varying pitches and volumes, or you can shout hints to build language. "I'm inside something green" or "I'm near something you can wear." You can change up your hints to compliment your therapy as well from rooms of the house, to things found outside. You'll be helping your hearing impaired child build language, localize sounds, and verbalize instruction as well so be sure you take turns!

These therapy tips may or may not have come directly from a speech-language pathologist or auditory verbal therapist, nor is it meant to replace any current therapy. Should you have questions, ask your child's therapist!

PEEP This! Fast Fact on CRS & EI

Did you know, children under the age of three who qualify for early intervention (EI) services can receive therapies such as (OT) Occupational Therapy, (PT) Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy (just to name a few), or even a combination of therapies, from their natural environments such as home, daycare, etc.?
Click here to find out more

Did you know, CRS (Children's Rehab Services) can serve any Alabama child younger than 21 who has special health care needs? According to their booklet,

"Families participate in the cost of services for their child based on a sliding fee schedule and by using any Medicaid or insurance coverage."

Some families, according to their household income, may not be required to pay any portion of certain medical care when provided through CRS. To find out more click here.