New to Motherhood? Read along, and get along...

This is for all the young Moms and Dads out there, stay-at-home or hard-working, whose main goal in life is to do everything in their power to make their child happy and healthy.
We praise you.

Raising a child can be difficult, confusing, sometimes frustrating, but never less than a dream come true. I know a lot of young mothers whose lives changed the moment they laid eyes on their newborn. What else in the world is more gratifying than creating life?

It all starts with expectations. Maybe he'll be a doctor! Maybe she'll be a dancer! Maybe he'll be a straight-A student! What if she becomes famous?!

These grand expectations seem to diminish as your child ages, learns to communicate, learns to make others smile, and you realize that your child, no matter where they end up, is the most important part of your life. And that's all that matters. You look into their eyes and you see yourself. You realize your child is a fragment of you, multiplying as the years pass, becoming more and more like you. They laugh like you, smile like you, argue like you...just when you thought the mind boggling was over. Nope. Each and every day, your child continues to amaze you.

At first, it's your job to keep your child out of the harsh reality that this world can sometimes prove to be. You try your hardest to shelter them, wanting nothing more than to simply keep them safe. Then, you realize, the only way to foster them is to reel them out into the world (but you keep a tight rope). The best way to diminish this worry is to make sure your child knows that YOU are their confidant. If they do something wrong, don't simply punish them. A depth of psychological research highly suggests that punishment has a weak affect on children in comparison to reward. Only extreme circumstances should call for punishment. The more you punish your child, the more they will look to you as their authoritative figure as opposed to their confidant. Think about it. What will happen when they grow up, and the world throws them into treacherous waters over their head. Wouldn't you want them to come to you for advice, as opposed to fearing your response?

So, reward your young cherub. And when they are disobedient, it's probably because they're learning not to be (unless it's a recurring act, in which case, perhaps take away a "reward" of theirs). Tell them exactly why you shun their disobedience. It's best to establish a healthy rapport with your child, at an early age, that displays you as both a confidant and an authoritative figure. Your child will need your guidance throughout life. They'll graduate college and still need your seasoned advice (sorry for dropping the C word). So, you want them to be able to come to you, so YOU can protect them, even when you've lost grip of that tight rope.

Take your life experience, and apply it to theirs. They will experience similar emotional rollercoasters throughout life. Just remember the way you took on your youth. Were you successful? Evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses, and slowly but surely, learn to highlight your child's strengths and minimize their weaknesses. And remember, raising children, although the most rewarding feeling in the world, can be extremely difficult. There is no shame in asking others for help. There is also no shame whatsoever in seeking professional help in raising your little one. You want the best for them, right?

So, what's the motif for this particular post. Be your child's friend, not just their parent. You'll find that later in their lives, they turn to you for guidance, and that's exactly what you'll want. Be the mother you want to be, and don't let them or your stressful dayjob stray you in any other way.

Suffolk Speech applauds all the young mothers and fathers out there. You've got the hardest, most rewarding job in the world, and it will always be that way. You're molding the future, and that's a hefty job.

Written by: Tim Strampfer

Early Detection of Language Disorders: Pay Attention To These Signs

Approximately 1 out of 20 children display symptoms of a Language Disorder. We at Suffolk Center for Speech believe it's important for parents to know these symptoms, to detect them as early as possible and, if need be, bring them to a Speech Pathologist for an evaluation.

Children with a receptive language disorder find difficulty in understanding others. These are some of the symptoms of a child with a receptive language disorder:

• Difficulty comprehending what others say to them
• Difficulty following directions given to them
• Difficulty organizing thoughts

Children with an expressive language disorder experience difficulty in expressing their needs or thoughts. Here are some symptoms of a child with an expressive language disorder:

• Difficulty organizing thoughts and translating them into sensible sentences
• Difficulty finding the correct word, often using placeholders such as "um" or "uh"
• A weak vocabulary relative to others their age
• Leaving words out of sentences
• Using certain phrases over and over again
• Difficulty using tenses (past, present, future) properly (in comparison to others his/her age

But when should you contact a professional? Some children are only behind in their language skills, while others can truly benefit from seeing a speech therapist. It's hard to know, especially for new parents, if it is necassary to bring a child of a particularly low age for an evaluation. The NY Times, in an informative article regarding receptive and expressive language disorders, explains when it is a good time to seek evaluation:

"Call your child's health care provider if you see the following signs that your child does not understand language well:

• At 15 months, does not look or point at 5 to 10 people or objects when they are named by a parent or caregiver
• At 18 months, does not follow simple directions, such as "get your coat"
• At 24 months, is not able to point to a picture or a part of the body when it is named
• At 30 months, does not respond out loud or by nodding or shaking the head and asking questions
• At 36 months, does not follow 2-step directions, and does not understand action words

Also call if you notice these signs that your child does not use or express language well:

• At 15 months, is not using three words
• At 18 months, is not saying, "Mama," "Dada," or other names
• At 24 months, is not using at least 25 words
• At 30 months, is not using two-word phrases, including phrases that include both a noun and a verb
• At 36 months, does not have at least a 200-word vocabulary, is not asking for items by name, exactly repeats questions spoken by others, language has regressed (become worse), or is not using complete sentences
• At 48 months, often uses words incorrectly or uses a similar or related word instead of the correct word"

We hope this helps new parents in detecting potential language disorders. It's imperative that parents stay informed, pay attention, and if need be, seek professional evaluation. It's not difficult, especially at the Suffolk Center for Speech. We take most major health insurance policies, and our staff of therapists are highly trained in the evaluation and treatment of language disorders. Our platform engages children and motivates them to succeed in therapy. Therapy for language disorders is known for becoming more and more difficult as children age without intervention. For your child's sake, we're devoted to keeping Long Island parents informed. So...read, share, like, and know.

Written by: Tim Strampfer

Introduction

At the Long Island Center for Speech, our highly trained therapists specialize in the diagnosis, evalutation and treatment of Language Disorders, Memory & Auditory Processing Difficulties, Fluency, Voice Disorders, Motor Planning Disorders, Deviate Swallowing which Contributes to Orthodontic, Pedodontic and Periodontic Problems, Tongue Thrust, Feeding & Swallowing Problems / Aversions, Thumb & Finger Sucking, Articulation Disorders, & Oral Facial Muscle Weakness.

We treat both children and adults. Our focus is on children mainly because a lot of these disorders can worsten as we age. For example, the Tongue Thrust disorder can cause other physical ailments if not treated at an early age. The same goes for Language Disorders, Memory & Auditory Processing Difficulties, Fluency, & Voice Disorders. If left untreated, these disorders can worsten and become more difficult to treat. Furthermore, they can cause your child problems with socializing and communicating, subsequent depression & anxiety, as well as potential academic difficulty. It is imperative that parents with children even seldomly displaying symptoms of these disorders bring them in for an evaluation. Our therapist are highly trained in the evaluation and diagnoses of these disorders, and our establishment takes most every type of insurance. Call to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions at all regarding our services at (631) 689-6858.

Don't be stigmatic about it. A large percentage of children have these disorders; many are misdiagnosed. Troubles with speech as well as eating is not uncommon whatsoever in childen. Place your child in the hands of qualified, personable therapists who ensure a fun, motivating treatment, at Long Island Center for Speech.

Written by: Tim Strampfer