Maureen Niklaus, MS Ccc-Slp Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

Pandemic. And Invited Into His World. At almost 3, he arrived a few short weeks ago... had been isolated for much of his little life due to medical issues and Covid, had little communication, and cried most of the first two sessions. ... Now? He has learned to communicate with pictures and is beginning to say words. He struts around like he owns the place and his parents lovingly call it his "post-speech swag." I think it's safe to say he is finding his voice!

One of my favorite pics of the three little people who made me who I am today. Happy Mother’s Day to the most amazing, strong and loving women I have the honor to work with each and every day. I hope your day was glorious!

Best Outcomes? Identify & Treat EARLY. When I work with little ones who are not yet talking, I carefully monitor their speech/sound system as they begin to use words and phrases to communicate. ... This allows me to jump in right away and help develop their sound system (and also what we call their phonological system) if they are showing signs of difficulty, such as not using any sounds where air comes out, or dropping off the ends of all their words. Yes. Early intervention has tremendously better outcomes, both in the short and long term! Questions? Reach out any time.

Wow. On this day in 1952, Mr Potato Head became the very first toy advertised on television. Given the crazy explosion of toy ads over the years, being the very first means something if you are still around! I use this gentleman (and his wife) MULTIPLE times EVERY day! Yup. We all know a really great toy when we see one.

As my oldest graduates from college next week, he will be tremendously difficult to find in a sea of humanity that is also socially distanced. But, I am his mother. I know him. And, yes, I will find him. His walk... the way he carries himself... heck even his shoes. I will always find you. I know you. That's motherhood.

"Am I Crazy? He's In Kindergarten... But Didn't Qualify For Speech?" No, you are not crazy. ... Sometimes children who struggle with speech (and often learning to read) just don't "qualify" for speech services through school. It may not be that they don't NEED treatment, its just that, unfortunately, they haven't met the criterion set forth in your school district to qualify for services (it is absolutely NO FAULT of your school therapist I must add!) So, yes, if you are concerned or have questions, PLEASE reach out. Let's end the struggle.

When a sweet little person gives you Button Flowers this morning, they most certainly belong in my kitchen on this dreary afternoon of cancellations! They brighten the house...and me!

Trouble Listening? Please, Mom & Dad. PAUSE! Is your child slow to respond to directions, or simply non-responsive? As long as you have their undivided attention (because if you don't you need to gain that first), my biggest tip is to PAUSE after you give the direction....and quietly wait a a few seconds before you repeat yourself. Why?... Some children, whether they are struggling to learn language or not, need a little extra time to process what people are saying. Quiet time, that is, to figure out what they just heard. So give them a few extra seconds, without the "noise" and distraction of your repeating yourself over again! Not long, just a few extra seconds. It can make a world of difference. And then, if still no response, repeat yourself slowly and, then... pause again!

Tip! If your child has an articulation impairment and has worked on sounds in therapy, make sure CONVERSATIONAL speech has not been overlooked in their treatment plan! I met a lovely 11-year old this afternoon who, WHEN PROMPTED, could fix her "L" sound. As is often the case, she "knew" how to fix it, but apparently had never been challenged to try to say "L" correctly in spontaneous, conversational speech. Given that this is the ultimate goal for any child, make sure that ...your child's goals aren't "met" simply because she can say a sound at the sentence level! (I am looking forward to having fun bombarding her with "L" words as we talk about her interests in cooking, camping, school... and sharing our day with each other. )

( Just a little passion of mine... )

I really do apologize in advance.

My parents often don't get the praise, love and support they need and deserve from their community, family and well-intentioned friends. And as important as this article is for parents like mine, I think it is all the more important for parents who DON'T have a child with a communication impairment. So please. Pass it on.

Raising Your Hand... Can Be Hard For My Kiddos. But despite his fears, he did it anyway. And when I asked him how he had been feeling in the moment, the depth of his honesty blew me away. He is only TEN YEARS OLD.

Does Teaching Sign Language Prevent Speaking? I am asked this question often and the answer is NO. In fact, it does just the opposite! Children learn to communicate through gestures LONG before they are able to speak (think waving, pointing, handing toys to request help). Teaching children simple signs quickly teaches them the POWER of communication (e.g. they get what they want, can keep your engagement, or can tell you when they are all done with an activity). Additionally..., it reduces frustration for both child and parent, often preventing those dreaded "meltdowns." Having experienced successful communication, children can then turn their efforts towards trying to speak the word, too! When to start? Babies as young as 9 months (sometimes younger) can begin to learn signs, and often start using them spontaneously shortly thereafter. Most often, parents will notice that their child's first spoken words will coincide with their first signs. So get those hands moving to teach communication, increase speech and language skills, decrease frustration and prevent behavior issues!

OH MY GOSH. Yes. Please!! Playing in the snow...it rivals nothing else. And creates memories that last a life time. This storm...this year..."just be a kid!"

Stuttering & Young Children. The "Red Flags." When young children are rapidly learning language, they often go through a period of increased "disruptions" to their speech. But how do you know when to be concerned? The following graphic is a very good resource. Or please reach out to me anytime. I am more than happy to discuss your concerns.

My heart. All SLP's hearts! Right here.

My Best Toy Recommendation For Boys? A Cute Baby Doll! Boys? Absolutely YES! I use baby dolls in treatment and it is frequently the boys who really LOVE the activity, for many have never had the chance to play with a baby doll.... Think about it. Boys, like girls, watch Mom & Dad care for babies and are interested in imitating all that goes with it (feeding, burping, holding, diapering, etc.). And think of all the familiar LANGUAGE that goes along with such activities! Consider getting your little boy a baby doll this Holiday season for the language stimulation.... and so he can show you what a great Dad he is going to be!

Honest topic of discussion yesterday. How does your family say it??