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| Michelle Eppley |
When we began our work together, Piyush Mittal had
transitioned from a consulting position in information
technology to Vice President of Sales for information
technology services. Most of his job consists of
making presentations to clients and to internal sales
people in his company.
Just one year before coming to The Sound Center, he was uncomfortable making presentations. He provided too much detail, was stiff and stilted, and spoke with a monotonic voice. He certainly was not having the impact he desired. Piyush is from India, and initial sessions focused on accent modification. He was able to make changes quickly that enhanced his intelligibility. However, he also realized that even if he were to produce the American English sound like a native-born speaker, his confidence and presentation effectiveness would not automatically improve.
When his training also addressed presentation in
addition to accent, he experienced these changes:
The effect on his work was extremely positive--his communication improved significantly, he was better able to connect with his customers, and as a result his sales went up! His boss took notice and complimented him on his presentations. While it was important for Piyush to learn how to more clearly pronounce American English sounds that had been difficult, the work on his presentations helped him put it all together for a more dramatic, powerful result. The Sound Center is holding two courses in accent modification beginning in October. For more information, read on or visit our website at www.thesoundcenter.com/events. |
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| Ellen Uhlir |
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome and Apraxia
As a full-time student in speech-language pathology
and the Community Outreach Intern at The Sound
Center, I am deeply committed to the growth and
development of children. I think it is very important
for children to have confidence in this world. For
some it begins with the ability to speak in a manner
in which is acceptable to their peers. I am
fascinated by how communication touches each one
of us. There are many syndromes and disabilities
that hinder children, but speech-language
pathologists help children become successful
communicators.
One of the individuals who is helping children is Dr. Majorie Goodban, a speech-language pathologist and the Department Head of the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Elmhurst College. While working with a 27-month old child who had Cornelia de Lange syndrome and apraxia, she was the first to discover that this syndrome responded to speech- language services. Ok, I know what you are thinking; What is Cornelia de Lange syndrome? What is apraxia? My thoughts exactly. Let’s begin with the word syndrome. A syndrome is a medical term for a condition in which there are collection of signs, symptoms, and observable body changes. All of the signs do not have to be present in order for the child to be diagnosed with the syndrome. The signs of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome or (CDLS) are:
Apraxia is defined as absence of oral and fine motor skills. More specifically, a child with apraxia may be able to smile reflexively, but if you asked this same child to imitate smiling, he or she would not be able to do this. In speech, the child may be able to utter real words and phrases, but often cannot imitate them when asked to do so later. Other symptoms of apraxia include:
A wealth of information about this syndrome exists. For more information about Cornelia de Lange, click here . For more information about apraxia in children, click here. The Sound Center has excellent speech-language pathologists who provide individual therapy sessions for children. For more information, visit our website at www.thesoundcenter.com. |
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Courses in Accent Modification
Accents, just like other aspects of speech, voice,
and presentation, can be modified. Many clients
have benefited from learning new ways to pronounce
difficult sounds of American English. If you have an
accent and would like to have more choice about the
way you speak, we have two options for accent
modification courses beginning next month.
Starting in October: Courses in Accent Modification Class 1: Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30 pm Class 2: Saturday mornings, 9-11 am Improve speech communication skills essential to your career and in social relationships. Students will improve listening skills and be able to recognize and improve problematic sounds. For more information about these courses, visit our website: www.thesoundcenter.com/events 3 Secrets to Prevent & Reverse Burnout Calling all working moms! The Sound Center would like to recommend a valuable teleclass being offered by Enerpace, Inc. "3 Secrets to Prevent & Reverse Burnout" is a 4 week teleclass which helps Working Moms increase their energy, achieve bigger goals and find more time to do what THEY really want to do! Two sessions begin Wednesday 10/11: 10:30-11:30 a.m. or 7:30 -8 p.m. Save 20% when you register by 9/30 at a cost of just $60 $75 after 9/30. See www.Enerpace.com for more information. To register, call #847-875-7888 or email Victoria@Enerpace.com |
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