BOONE—Parents typically have a few things in common: They want their children to grow up healthy, happy and lead productive lives.

Shana Dellinger holds a computerized augmentative language device that helps children with speech and language disorders to communicate. Dellinger is a graduate student in Appalachian State University’s Communication Disorders Program. By touching graphic icons, children can ask for food, tell people their name and communicate other information. Dellinger has helped 12-year-old Sam Smith (not his real name) learn to use the machine in preparation for using the machine in his elementary school this fall. (Photo by University Photographer Marie Freeman)

Play is just one method used in the pre-school class in Appalachian State University’s Communication Disorders Clinic to encourage children to communicate. Graduate student Erica Long is facilitating pretend play and communication skills with this 4-year-old boy. (Photo by University Photographer Marie Freeman)

The color red was the theme of the day in the pre-school classroom at Appalachian State University’s Communication Disorders Clinic. The clinicians provided markers, crayons and paint to support the theme and provide an opportunity to facilitate fine motor skills in addition to communication skills. Sherry Street, right, director of the clinic’s preschool classroom, responds to a comment from a 4-year-old girl about the activity. (Photo by University Photographer Marie Freeman)

Graduate student Duncan Masters works with a child in the pre-school classroom in Appalachian State University’s Communication Disorders Clinic. The child uses sign language to request “more” food during snack time. (Photo by University Photographer Marie Freeman)

Graduate clinician Megan Kilby assists a 3-year-old child with an adaptive crayon after she requested the crayon using her computerized augmentative language device. The child is enrolled in the pre-school classroom in Appalachian State University’s Communication Disorders Clinic. (Photo by University Photographer Marie Freeman)

Parents of children served by Appalachian State University’s Charles E. and Geneva S. Scott Scottish Rite Communication Disorders Clinic are no different, no matter the challenges their children face.

Ashley Thompson is the mother of 4-year-old daughter Addie who has been coming to the clinic since 2007 with language and learning disorders associated with epilepsy and autism. The services Addie receives not only benefit her, but the entire family as well.

“It was very challenging for us as a family before we started coming to the clinic,” Thompson said. “Having two older children and being in the education profession, I suspected that we weren’t where we needed to be in terms of Addie’s development. I also knew that all children develop at their own rate. It was very challenging because it was a constant worry that I hadn’t done something right along the way.”

Their family pediatrician referred the Thompsons to the clinic. At first, Addie received speech services in the home. She now attends the clinic’s Preschool Language and Communication Classroom four times a week where language skill development is incorporated into everyday children’s play.

“I definitely have seen a child who has more language ability,” Thompson said. “She has a better ability to communicate with us and let us know what she needs.”

Addie’s improvements in communication skills are also the result of her family’s involvement in her speech therapy. “Addie’s sisters have been involved in learning ways to communicate with their sister,” Thompson said. “It’s been a slow road for them. It’s hard. They want to play with her the same way they play with each other. They both work hard at trying to make those connections with her.”

The clinic moved last fall from its on-campus location to new facilities in University Hall off Blowing Rock Road in Boone. In addition to the preschool classroom, the clinic has an audiology lab, a voice lab, and six individual treatment rooms.

Established in 1968, the clinic provides a clinical learning experience to students enrolled in Appalachian’s speech-language pathology program. Students must have 400 hours of clinical work with clients to receive certification.

Clinic Director Mary Ruth Sizer estimates that more than 1,500 speech-language pathologists have received training at the clinic since it was established.

The clinic serves all age ranges from infancy to geriatrics, including adolescents with reading and learning problems, adults with traumatic brain injuries or voice problems and those who are hearing impaired. Last year, the clinic served more than 7,500 individuals.

Thompson said clinic staff work with parents to ensure their child’s needs are met.

“Together we monitor benchmarks that we establish each year through a set of goals and objectives,” Thompson said. “That is extremely helpful. It tunes you into where you have made gains and growth, and where you need to focus. Addie’s processing disorder is a challenge for me to understand. Having these benchmarks and opportunities to look at things helps me keep a handle on what is realistic for Addie and to not look at her in the shadows of her sisters.”

The “Smith” family (who requested anonymity in this article) faces a similar challenge. Their son, “Sam,” has difficulty speaking because of a stroke he suffered shortly after birth. While the 12-year-old can understand others, he has a hard time verbalizing his feelings or desires.

Sam has received speech therapy in his school since he was in pre-kindergarten, and now is learning to use a computerized augmentative language device with help from students and clinicians at the Communications Disorders Clinic. The electronic device, smaller than a laptop computer, generates speech through a variety of graphic icons selected by the user.

Sam’s family says the technology is changing their son’s life as well as their own. “It’s opening a new world for our son,” said. “There has been a big change. His frustration level is lower.”
Mrs. Smith says her son now tries harder to communicate with them and others because of the machine. “He used to get mad and quit,” she said. “Now, he is more patient and calmer at home. He doesn’t get as frustrated because he is learning he can get his point across.” Sam will begin using the device in school this fall.

Smith learned about the clinic from her mother who knew of its services. She has this advice for other parents of children with special needs. “Grasp everything you can. Keep looking, don’t quit, you never know what you’ll find,” she said. “You have to be your child’s advocate.”

Both Thompson and Smith say another benefit of the clinic is the opportunity to interact with other parents of children with special needs. “That for me is one of the biggest things about being here for me,” Thompson said. “There are other parents with similar difficulties or children with special needs so that does provide a support network.”

She urges parents whose children may need assistance to visit the clinic. “I can’t stress enough what a warm and caring environment it is. I would encourage parents to take a look,” she said. “Sometimes in rural areas, we just assume there isn’t a program to help with our special needs children. Parents would do themselves an injustice not to see if it’s something that would meet their needs.”

In addition to insurance and Medicaid, the clinic has a sliding scale fee based on income for those who meet financial eligibility guidelines. “But we don’t turn away anyone for lack of funds,” Sizer said. Support from the North Carolina Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation supports those who otherwise couldn’t afford the clinic’s services.

The clinic also provides outreach programs to Watauga Medical Center, Ashe County Schools Hearing Screening, Watauga County Schools Hearing Screening, Ashe County Headstart Hearing Screening, Western Youth Institution, Foothills Correctional Institution and Two Rivers Charter School.

The Communication Disorders Program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The professional staff includes Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists who are licensed by the state of North Carolina and certified by ASHA.

For more information call 828-262-2185 or visit http://www.cdclinic.appstate.edu/ .

###