Overcoming Communication Disorders Leads to Productive Adulthood
Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation Provides $25,000 for Preschool Early Language Development at the Warren Center

Bangor, Maine – The Preschool Early Language Development Program at the Warren Center for Communication & Learning has received a grant of $25,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. The program exists to help children aged birth through five who have communication disorders. The goal is to help children overcome diagnosed speech communication disorders in the critical period of their early development so that they may enter the public schools ready to learn without the need for further speech therapy.

Research has repeatedly shown that early identification and treatment of communication problems is the best way to prevent a communication disorder from interfering with a child’s later development and education. Some children with severe diagnoses, such as autism, cerebral palsy or mental retardation might never enter school ready to learn at the same momentum as their peers, but early intervention has been shown to greatly improve their level of functioning. In such cases the goal of treatment is to enable each child to develop their optimal communication functioning abilities.

The Preschool Early Language Development Program at the Warren Center is staffed by professional speech-language pathologists who have graduate degrees and are certified by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. They also must hold a clinical license issued by the State of Maine. Each child we serve is given a complete clinical evaluation and, when therapy is necessary, a remediation plan is developed and treatment is undertaken.

Treatment is provided both in individual and group therapy settings. We can also provide therapy for non-speaking children using augmentative communication devices and assistive technology. Children struggling with communication disorders are not ready to learn at the same level as their peers. Research has shown children that do not possess adequate oral vocabularies upon entering kindergarten frequently have difficulty learning to read, as they have not been exposed to as many words in sound or print. Undiagnosed or untreated communication disorders can inhibit a child’s ability to succeed not only in school but for a lifetime – communication disorders are the most often reported diagnosis in our prison and homeless populations.

Every effort is made to see children in their natural environment of preschool or daycare. The speech language pathologist works closely with the parent or guardian of each client to involve the family in carryover of goals and objectives. Families are encouraged to spend time reading and interacting with their children outside of speech language therapy.

The presence of the speech-language pathologists in the preschool and daycare settings has proven beneficial not only to the children receiving Early Language Development services, but also to the other students and staff at these HeadStart and preschool classrooms. Early language learning is added to the quality of these programs without added cost to the preschool. This program depends on the collaboration between the Warren Center and many other agencies in the greater Bangor area.

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Organization Background:

The Warren Center for Communication & Learning is Bangor’s oldest not-for-profit professional speech and hearing center. It provides evaluations, therapies and technologies in the areas of speech, language development and hearing to the children and adults of, Eastern and Central Maine. www.warrencenter.org

The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation was created in 1986 to provide support for Maine communities. A family foundation, they are interested in projects that address the underlying causes of social and environmental problems, as well as those that address the consequences. They have a strong interest in literacy, community services and the arts. As community builders, They are particularly interested in organizations and projects that will affect or serve the most members of a community. www.stkfoundation.org