Easterseals Celebrates National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

New Castle, DE

He may not know every word to “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John but five-year-old Harrison Hamblin, of Bridgeville, does not let that stop him from belting out the song like he is a star on stage. He is a star to his family and therapists from Easterseals because they know that Harrison was not speaking at all three years ago.

“If we did not have the guidance of Easterseals therapists, things would be very different for Harrison and our family. I am glad therapies are there to help,” Harrison’s mom, Elizabeth, says. “Sounds were rewarded at Easterseals. Just because he wasn’t speaking words doesn’t mean he wasn’t communicating.”

Harrison’s first words were uttered through a speech program on his tablet, mostly about his needs. Now he can say over 200 words and speak in short sentences, including singing his favorite songs. He is working on describing things around him.

“Start intervention as early as possible and listen to the therapists. If something does not feel right, listen to your gut. Early intervention is a positive thing,” Elizabeth says. “Easterseals not only taught him, but they also taught us how to help him. We asked for homework, and they always gave it to us.”

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. Although more than 5 million children in the United States have a speech, language or hearing disorder, parents are often unsure about what to do when they suspect their child may be affected. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 1 in 12 (7.7%) U.S. children ages 3-17 has had a disorder related to voice, speech, language, or swallowing in the past 12 months.

“Easterseals Speech Therapy is giving him a voice,” Elizabeth says. “Easterseals is making sure he has his own voice for the future.”

Families with concerns about their child’s speech or feeding development should contact Easterseals for information on acquiring a full evaluation. Easterseals has a team of master’s level, certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologists who are available to provide services to children of all ages in our locations in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern shore.

A trusted provider of children’s therapy services, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore specializes in treating children ages birth through eighteen years with a variety of challenges, including developmental delay, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, speech, and language delay, feeding and swallowing difficulties and others.

To learn more about Easterseals, call 1-800-677-3800 or visit www.eastersealsDeMd.com.

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