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Fort HealthCare Offers Speech Kids Summer Enrichment Program

Health, Wellness & You
Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Fort HealthCare is offering Speech Kids again this summer for children ages 3-9 who may benefit from the program during part of the summertime. The program will take place twice a week for four weeks. The cost is $120 for the entire program. Registration closes on June 7, 2019. Sessions will run from July 8 to August 1. No referrals or previous speech and language services required.

Further details pertaining to scheduling will be determined by enrollment, and families will be notified via email with their child’s final schedule. Class size will be limited to a maximum of five students, thus ensuring an individualized experience for each child. Children are placed in classes based on age and level of need.

Speech Kids is a speech, language, and social skills summer enrichment program offered through Fort HealthCare, led by certified Fort HealthCare Speech-Language Pathologists and assisted by speech-language pathology undergraduate students. Sessions are 45 minutes long and take place at the Fort HealthCare Therapy & Sport Center, 1504 Madison Avenue in Fort Atkinson.

Each week will feature a variety of activities designed to help build speech and language skills, connected by a book’s theme. Sessions will include crafts, gross motor activities, songs, and more.

Fort HealthCare speech language pathologist, Annie Loof, states, “We are thrilled to be able to offer Speech Kids again for the third year in a row! Each child who signs up will receive eight, 45-minute long sessions led by certified speech-language pathologists and assisted by undergraduate students studying to become speech-language pathologists. We look forward to a fun, language-enriched summer at Fort HealthCare Therapy & Sport Center! We hope to see you at Speech Kids!”

Language Disorders in Children

Most infants or toddler can understand what you’re saying well before they can clearly talk. As they mature and their communication skills develop, most children learn how to put their feelings into words. But a child with a language disorder may have trouble understanding words that they hear and read. This is called receptive language disorder. They may have trouble speaking with others and expressing thoughts and feelings. This is called expressive language disorder. A child will often have both disorders at the same time.

A language disorder can be frustrating, not only for parents and teachers, but also for the child. Without diagnosis and treatment, children with a receptive-expressive language disorder may experience poor performance in school. They may also misbehave because of their frustration over not being able to communicate. But language disorders are a common problem in children, and can be treated.

Registration

If you are interested in having your child, age 3-9, participate in the Speech Kids group, you may learn more and register online at FortHealthCare.com/SpeechKids and will also need to download the required student health emergency form to fill out. The program cost is $120 per child. After you register, Fort HealthCare staff will call to schedule a screening to help determine goals for your child and what session schedule best fits your child’s needs.

Individual speech therapy sessions are also available for those who qualify. Email questions to annie.loof@forthc.com or call 920-568-6528.

Fort HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of our communities, with a vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, it is our goal to reach as many members of the community as possible with health and wellness messages, providing tools and resources to help individuals improve their health and quality of life, while collaborating with several partners to positively improve the population’s health overall on a long term basis. For more information, visit FortHealthCare.com.