How many of us think about the ability to communicate with others through speech? The answer probably is, not many! Speech is something we take for granted. Not so, for children who have speech disorders or for their families. For them, it is a subject of much concern, something always on their minds. For them, to be able to speak and be understood would be unbelievably wonderful!

Think about not having the ability to, with a few words, let others know how you feel or what your needs are. How difficult life would be, if you had to struggle every time you wanted to let a family member or friend know something. What if it was very important to you? It would be really frustrating if you couldn't convey your message. You might even give up eventually, or get so frustrated that you wanted to bang your hand on something. This is just what the children being treated at the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders of St. Louis endure everyday.

Some of these children, and others like them, resort to crying and throwing tantrums when they can't get their thoughts across. Others withdraw and have stopped trying to talk. They tend to play alone and hide to avoid the frustration and embarrassment they feel. Their playmates make fun of their attempts at speech because they sound different. What a burden these little ones carry. But we can lift that burden!

In this world where communicating with others is more important than ever, it is critical to help these children early in life. Without the ability to communicate with words, they will continue to suffer. Their education will be delayed, and their social and family relations will not develop as they should. As many as one in 10 persons has a speech or language disorder. Ten percent of our population! This is a major problem to overcome. It takes anywhere from nine months to a year and a half to bring children with a speech or language disorder up to age-appropriate speech. At the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic in St. Louis, we are able to serve over 650 children a year through our programs. We are always trying to enlarge these figures by building new programs that allow us to reach out further. With all of our friends’ help, we will continue to do so for many years to come. Remember, speech is a gift beyond measure—and you can give it!