A parent’s perspective on the Hanen Programme
Learning your child has a speech and language problem can be an upsetting experience. In my case, it was my first child so I had no experience of speech and language milestones or when to become concerned. But when my son hadn’t uttered a word by aged two and a half, even I knew it was time to get a professional opinion.
Thanks to the assessment carried out by ARC Speech and Language Clinic we discovered that my child had severe glue ear – his hearing was at about five per cent. I would have never, ever guessed this as he seemed to hear well – but the Therapist demonstrated how he wasn’t responding to noises coming from behind. An audiologist was able to substantiate the Therapist’s concerns.He was treated for his glue ear and we continued therapy with ARC as I found our therapist particularly supportive, with a very positive approach, and a vast knowledge and understanding of speech and language therapy. My son, who was particularly shy at the time, loved her too.
I’ll admit I was a bit apprehensive when I first heard of the Hanen programme – I felt it was my son who needed the therapy, not me. But after the first session I fully appreciated the importance of learning how to teach him. And it has worked very well. In just over three months he’s starting to say two to three word sentences. He’s grown in confidence. I’ve grown in confidence. It was the best approach we could have taken. He was far too young to sit for 30 minute to one hour sessions. Instead, I was able to see children with the same difficulties he had, as well as those with more or less severe ones, on the video clips. I brought my journal which recorded his progress and could ask any questions I felt I needed to. I was able to learn how language is absorbed and the skills needed to acquire it.
What started as a very worrying experience transformed into a fascinating journey and gave me the best gift I could have asked for – the gateway to communication with my little son.
At present, we are attending ARC with our three year old boy who has a significant speech delay. We have been attending with [ARC] for the past nine months where we have been brought through the Hanen programme which provides us as parents with what now appears as simple adjustments in the way that we play and interact with our son. In the time that we have been attending our boy has separately been diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum.
The results continue to be seen on a day to day basis. We have a long way to go but without question we continue to be armed with the necessary tools to assist our son, as best we possibly can, in an enthusiastic and compassionate environment created by [our therapist] and the ARC Team.
I am parent who could only describe himself as a rank amateur, completely at sea when I learned of our boy’s difficulties. [Our therapist] was one of the few people who from a very early stage ‘got it’ and has done so ever since. From the start she saw the person. Her work with us has made our little man’s life completely different. We will continue to attend with ARC and would have no hesitation in recommending their Practice”.
“My seven year old daughter had been experiencing communication issues with her peers, lacked confidence and was becoming withdrawn. She also suffered with some speech difficulties. She has attended [ARC] over the last year and the improvement in her has been nothing short of amazing. [Our therapist’s] personal devotion, through speech therapy, sentence construction, recitations and video recording has changed my shy, bashful little girl into a self confident, eloquent young lady. I would highly recommend ARC Speech and Language Centre; [our therapist] is an absolute credit to her profession.”
“My son has a severe speech impairment. He’s in preschool and his teachers and classmates find it very hard to understand him. He and I started seeing [our therapist] about four months ago and it has been brilliant. Firstly she was able to explain exactly where his speech was breaking down. Each week she gives us a small block of work to do. As a parent it is very reassuring to see weekly progress and to know that these blocks of progress are building towards clear speech. As for my son, he loves going to [ARC] and wonders what new games she’ll play with him each week! I’m delighted to have found [our therapist] and I feel my son is getting the best help he can get. I would recommend ARC without hesitation.”
“My daughter has been attending [ARC] for speech and language therapy for over a year now. Her language development and improvement has been huge since she started the therapy. She enjoys her sessions and looks forward to seeing [her therapist] every two weeks. Her concentration, short term memory, ability to sequence events and categorize items has very much improved. We are delighted with her progress and are particularly impressed with the attention Roisin receives. We always get ‘home work’ material to take home with us which allows Roisin to practice what she has learnt in the home setting. We would highly recommend ARC.”
“Our four year old boy Ernie wasn’t speaking very well and seemed well behind all the other children in his playgroup. We had him assessed by [ARC] and [our therapist] recommended a course of speech therapy. He made rapid progress and we found his weekly sessions interesting and informative. We are delighted with his response to [our therapist’s] teaching and would highly recommend [ARC] to other parents who have concerns about their child’s speech”
“In particular, thanks for the patience, encouragement and enthusiasm you have shown to Ben. You have made a huge difference to Ben and us”
“Many thanks for all the kindness that you have shown to John. We are delighted with the progress he has made”
“My son Oscar has been attending [ARC] for the past 7 months (he just turned 4). Although always bright and sociable, his language was delayed and even when he did start to talk, he had trouble with pronunciation and sentence structure. [Our therapist] devised a programme for Oscar to help him build up his vocabulary and then to improve his conversation. She used various aids and games to keep him interested during the sessions and gave us “homework” to do in between visits. She has a great way with Oscar – she’s warm and encouraging but also focused on what needs to be achieved. The results were obvious almost immediately and since starting with [ARC], friends and family have all noticed the marked improvement in Oscars speech and conversation.”
I can’t find words enough to thanks you for everything you did for us all since nearly four years”
“My daughter has Down Syndrome. When [our therapist] met with us she devised a plan specific to her, taking into account her disability but with respect to the progress already made. She is always prepared and au fait with previous sessions. I recommend her highly.”
“My nodules are pretty much gone! I can’t tell you how grateful I am to get your help! Thank you so much….. The staff are so impressed with how well my voice has come along. I have no problems whatsoever with my voice now. Thanks a million for all your help! I really appreciate it”.
“My son recently attended ARC Speech and Language for a six week intensive session to improve the problems he was experiencing with his speech and his lack of confidence due to these difficulties. Under [our therapist’s] supervision which included role play, voice recording, reciting poems and words and phrases, my son developed into a confident young lad who has now overcome his fear of communicating with his teachers, peers, family and friends and as a result, his self-esteem has improved immensely. [Our therapist] showed great personal care, attention and understanding to my son. I would have no hesitation in recommending ARC Speech and Language Centre to anyone experiencing issues with speech. [Out therapist] was a joy and a pleasure to work with.”