suburbanspeechcenter.com

Kids Under One Roof

Admin — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 18:23:52 +0000

CENTER IN SHORT HILLS OFFERS CHILDREN COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIES
Robin Friedman – Special Projects Editor

Dr. Nancy Polow turned a vision into a reality this summer. As director of the Suburban Speech Center in Short Hills, Dr. Polow invited top practitioners to open offices at her location, making 748 Morris Turnpike an “Under One Roof” Center for children.

Read the full article! (PDF Format)

Real Housewife of NJ Raises $17,000 for Autism

Admin — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 19:20:43 +0000

Courtesy of http://millburn.patch.com/articles/real-housewives-of-nj-raise-17-000-for-autism

Real Housewife of New Jersey, Jacqueline Laurita, lent her hand to raise over $17,000 for autism at her event Sparkle Speaks with Suburban Speech Center of Short Hills participating.

“I was very impressed that over 400 people attended,” the founder of the Short Hills speech center, Dr. Nancy Polow, said. ”It shows the importance of events like this to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”

The event was held at the Brownstone in Paterson on Sept. 20. Caroline Manzo, Laurita’s sister-in-law and fellow New Jersey Housewife, also attended.

The staff the Suburban Speech attended the event to raise awareness of an early diagnosis and treatment when a child is autistic.

Laurita, whose son was recently diagnosed with autism, hosted the event to raise awareness for the disorder. She spoke to the sold-out crowd about how 1 in 88 children are on the autistic spectrum, Polow said.

The Sparkle Speaks benefit raised money with $100 tickets and a tricky-tray for Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization.

“Our Center wanted to support Jacqueline and the Autism Speaks organization,” Polow said. ”Jacqueline is bringing awareness and hope to parents of children with Autism.”

The Suburban Speech Center moved to 748 Morris Turnpike in Short Hills 14 years ago to expand from its first office in South Orange. It currently has 12 licensed speech-language pathologists providing therapy to young children with autism spectrum disorder.

Nancy Kaufman visited Suburban Speech Center

Admin — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:09:59 +0000

Nancy R. Kaufman, M.A., CCC-SLP
Director, Kaufman Children’s Center

Nancy Kaufman visited the Suburban Speech Center on Thursday, November 3rd, to work with the speech-language pathologists and children at the Center. She is a world renowned apraxia specialist.

Nancy R. Kaufman, M.A., CCC-SLP is the owner and Director of the Kaufman Children’s Center for Speech, Language, Sensory-Motor, and Social Connections, Inc. (KCC), located in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Since 1979, Nancy has dedicated herself to establishing a treatment approach, the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP), to help children become effective vocal communicators. She is the author of the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children and the Kaufman Speech Praxis Treatment Kits for Children.

Chosen again in 2012 as a “Favorite Kids’ Doctor”

Admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:51:56 +0000

Suburban Speech Center, located in Short Hills, was chosen again by New Jersey Family Magazine as New Jersey “Favorite Kids Doctors”. Suburban Speech Center is a private pediatric speech-language therapy center that has received national and state wide recognition for its services. Located in South Orange for 23 years, they moved to their current location in Short Hills in 1998 in order to update their facility and expand their staff and services.

The Center has been featured on the CBS show “This Morning “as well as the National Geographic Network (The Science Times ) and commended in The Star-Ledger numerous times. We were selected by the New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association to receive its Program of the Year award as well as the President’s Award for Excellence. The Center also received the Leadership Award and the 2006 Annual Pat Wilson Award from the Scientific Learning Corporation.

Suburban Speech Helps Children Master Language

Admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:52:48 +0000

Check out our latest feature in the business section of the THE ITEM OF MILLBURN AND SHORT HILLS on NorthJersey.Com.

More than 5 million children in the United States have a speech, language or hearing disorder, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

And early diagnosis is a key factor when it comes to treating youngsters with such disorders, explained Dr. Nancy Polow, a speech-language pathologist and founder of Suburban Speech Center on Morris Turnpike. Today the center’s pathologists treat children as young as 1 year old. Children previously came to the institution at 2 1/2 or 3 years old, according to Polow.

“There is more public awareness nowadays, especially since the rise of autism and apraxia,” said Polow. “Many children that are diagnosed early will be able to attend a regular kindergarten placement.”

The Suburban Speech Center is located on Morris Turnpike. Before then, it was in South Orange. The institution has provided help to children for 35 years. Recently, the institution held an event to celebrate its 35th year in business and its 14th year in Millburn.

The Suburban Speech Center treats children with severe speech and/or language disorders, apraxia, autism, articulation disorders and auditory processing disorders. The 12 therapists on staff work with these youngsters on an individualized basis. Parents and caregivers also learn how to work with their children on overcoming their language and/or speech impediments.

Polow said the Suburban Speech Center uses a “total approach” when working with their customers in which learning consultants and physical, occupational and behavioral therapists regularly meet with each other regarding a child’s disorder.

And with the help of modern-day technology, children can practice what they learn at home. Suburban Speech staff members give parents and caregivers a list of speech- and language-related games for the youngsters to play on an iPad. Children may also watch interactive DVDs and home videos which are provided to them by the speech center in their spare time.

One of these DVDs, “Babies and Boomers,” is designed so children can sing and dance to music with their grandparents.

“We’re noticing more and more grandparents bringing their grandchildren in for therapy,” noted Polow.

According to Polow, the center is also known for inviting experts in from around the nation to work with the staff and children. Nancy Kaufman, an apraxia expert from Michigan and Lois Heyman, an auditory processing disorder specialist who has worked with television personality Rosie O’Donnell’s son, are among some of these visitors.

To raise public awareness about language and speech disorders, the Suburban Speech Center offers free screenings at more than 250 local nursery schools.

“Parents want to be reassured,” said Polow. “We can give them suggestions about ways to work with their children at the time of the screening.”

Suburban Speech Center Celebrated 35 Years!

Admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:10:51 +0000

Suburban Speech Center, one of the most respected speech-language facilities for young children, rang in its 35^th year in practice with an open house for parents and children. The event was held on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Center located at 748 Morris Turnpike in Short Hills. The many children that attended, enjoyed all the activities and the celebration. The afternoon of fun featured a magic show, face painting, tattooing, balloon artistry, a caricaturist and children’s yoga.

The Center is noted for its outstanding staff, its use of state-of-the-art methods, its individualized creative materials and its work with world-renowned consultants. Suburban Speech has received national and statewide recognition for its programs and staff. The Speech-language pathologists were on hand to greet parents and answer questions.

Kim earns 1st place trophy at Apraxia 5k Race

Admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:06:07 +0000

Kim Minero collects her trophy for placing first place for the women, for a run/walk to raise awareness and funds for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Minero, a speech-language pathologist at Suburban Speech Center in Short Hills hit the track at Jack’s 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, October 2nd at 10:00 a.m. at Duke Island Park, Old York Road, in Bridgewater. Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a neurological disorder that interferes with a child’s ability to produce sounds and words in the absence of neuromuscular deficits, and requires years of therapy. The run/walk was sponsored by the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA), the only nation-wide, non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, education and research for CAS. Suburban Speech Center is a pediatric speech-language therapy center that has received national and state-wide recognition for its services. To date, the event has raised more than $40,000.

CD and DVD developed at our Center for grandparents and parents

Admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:50:02 +0000

A LYRICAL APPROACH TO BOOSTING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
Developed by speech-language pathologist Dr. Nancy Polow, Babies & Boomers provides grandparents and grandchildren with interactive opportunities to practice important skills while singing, dancing and having fun! Although no props are required, it is always fun to add bubbles, microphones, musical instruments and costumes. You can also take photos or videos to create your own book, photo album or DVD. So put your own “spin” on it and enjoy!

babiesandboomers.com

Stimulate your baby’s speech and language development.
The first three years have been proven to be critical years for your child’s speech and language development. These skills remain at the forefront of later reading and general learning abilities. Designed to assist babies and toddlers, Talking Time™ will help stimulate your baby’s speech and language development in everyday settings using fun and engaging activities.

talkingtime.net

Should You Worry If Your Toddler Has Too Few Words?

Admin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 04:09:28 +0000

FROM THE CONNECTION, WARREN-WATCHUNG EDITION , FEBRUARY 2011

There are lots of reasons a toddler won’t talk—some not serious. But if your 14-month-old isn’t speaking—saying words such as mama, dada, up and more—and isn’t following simple directions, it may be time to ask whether your child has a more serious problem.

When Mary L. and her 18-month-old daughter Dani first appeared at the office of speech-language pathologist Nancy Polow, Ph.D., CCC, the toddler couldn’t even muster up sounds, let alone simple words. In fact, she was able to produce only a clicking noise when she was asked a question. But by the end of the first session, Mary watched in amazement as her daughter triumphantly produced her first muh sound—a small but significant first step to forming the word mama. “At that moment,” says Dr. Polow, “I knew we could teach Dani to speak. By age five, Dani’s speech was age-appropriate—thanks to intensive speech/language therapy and a very strong home carry-over program.”

When a non-verbal toddler walks into Suburban Speech Center, Dr. Polow’s practice in Short Hills, NJ, the speech-language pathologist knows she may be facing a problem more complicated than a child who is simply a late talker.

According to Dr. Polow, a speech delay may be an indicator of a serious concern, such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)—Dani’s diagnosis. The American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) defines CAS as a “neurological pediatric speech sound disorder in which the precision and consistency of speech movements are impaired, in the absence of neuromuscular deficits.” The degree of impairment can range from mild to severe. By age one, children with CAS may fail to babble, may be unable to point and gesture, and may be unable to use single words or point to body parts. By age two, a child with CAS may be unable to produce two-word phrases or follow directions.

Getting the right therapy and starting treatment early are key to a favorable prognosis. In Dani’s case, a team including a developmental pediatrician, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist and a speech-language pathologist coordinated services to address all of her needs. Children with CAS usually require more intensive therapy and more frequent therapy than children with many other speech disorders. According to Marilyn C. Agin, M.D., a developmental pediatrician in New York City, therapy itself is not a quick fix; children with CAS may need many years of intensive treatment.

When Dr. Polow opened her practice 35 years ago, she rarely saw children exhibiting signs of apraxia. Today, she says, she and her staff of 14 speech-language pathologists find that children with CAS make up almost 15 percent of their patients.

Therapy at Suburban Speech may begin when a child is as young as 14 months. According to Dr. Polow, “Parents come to us upset—and with frustrated children. I assure them that success is very possible.” Highly effective treatment programs used at Suburban Speech include the Kaufman Speech Praxis, PROMPT, PECS, and oral-motor therapy. “With appropriate therapy that is individualized, it is possible over time that a child may be able to function effectively in a classroom and social situations, and will no longer require services,” says Dr.Polow. Nationally-known speech/language pathologist Nancy Kaufman, M.A, CCC/SLP of West Bloomfield, MI, agrees that initiating therapy as soon as a problem is noticed is of utmost importance.

For more information on Childhood Apraxia of Speech, or other speech disorders, contact Dr. Nancy Polow, director of Suburban Speech Center, 748 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, NJ (973-921-1400).

(Shown above left) at age three-and-a-half, Dani L. and speech-language pathologist Jane Goldberg, M.S., CCC/SLP, worked on skills several times a week at Suburban Speech Center.

Lois Heymann Presents Workshop to Suburban Speech Center

Admin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:58:52 +0000

World renowned specialist on Auditory Processing Disorder gave a workshop to speech-language pathologists from Suburban Speech Center of Short Hills, NJ. Lois Heymann presented a workshop to the staff of Suburban Speech Center on January 21, 2011. Lois Heymann, M.A, CCC-SLP is the Director of the Auditory Processing Center in Manhattan.

She is known for her work with entertainer Rosie O’Donnell’s son, Blake, who has an auditory processing disorder. O’Donnell was so enthusiastic with the results with her son, she encouraged Lois to write a book – which she did – called The Sound of Hope: Recognizing, Coping With and Treating Your Child’s Auditory Processing Disorder.
According to Heymann Auditory Processing Disorder, APD is often characterized by a confusing ability to hear well but not listen well; a limited vocabulary; and frustration in communication. This chronically underdiagnosed problem affects an estimated 1.5 million children in the United States. For children with undiagnosed APD, words are jumbled and distorted, they have a hard time following directions, and become frustrated in trying to make themselves understood, which can lead to unruly behavior, poor school performance, social isolation, and low self-esteem.

The speech-language pathologists at Suburban Speech Center in Short Hills have been working with children exhibiting Auditory Processing Disorders for many years. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Nancy Polow, Director, at 973-921-1400.