To HearTo Speak
To Understand
To Hear
To Speak
To Understand
These are the basic steps of language development in the young
mind. Yet, there are otherwise normal, healthy children, rich
and poor alike, who are shut off from communication, even with
their own parents!
These children's hearing, speech, language, or learning problems
could arise from a variety of reasons. Research continues on
the causes of poor speech and language development, as well as
associated learning disabilities in children. In Tennessee,
Scottish Rite Masons support a Research Institute for these communication
disorders. Because there is a wide age range for
children to begin talking, parents may not at first recognize
these communication disorders. As they wait expectantly for the
first
intelligible word uttered by their child, they may gradually become
concerned that something is amiss. Speech-language
disorders affect approximately six million children in the United
States. However, many of these childhood problems do not
mean mental deficiency or emotional disturbance. Often, these
children have at least average or even superior intelligence.
What
they lack is the ability to exercise this intelligence through
normal speech and language channels. Today, at Scottish Rite clinics,
centers, and programs in every Orient (state) of the Southern
Jurisdiction, many children with communication disorders can be
helped to hear, to speak, to understand.
The Miracle of the Scottish Rite Clinics, Centers, and Programs for Childhood Language Disorders
In the early 1950s in Colorado, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States initiated a
program to help children with speech and language disorders. The
results obtained from this program led to the establishment of
Scottish Rite clinics to provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment
of speech and language disorders, as well as learning
disabilities.
Today there are 150 Scottish Rite clinics, centers, and special
programs for children and therapists located throughout the
United States. Each facility is staffed by speech-language pathologists
or other trained personnel. Through the support of
Scottish Rite members, these clinics, centers, and programs continue
to increase. The value of this philanthropy has long been
apparent. Tens of thousands of youngsters across the United States
have been helped significantly. With the good work of
dedicated clinicians and parents, the Scottish Rite has achieved
successes that could only be imagined a few years
back.Children who might have remained educationally handicapped
for a lifetime can now talk, read, and lead useful lives.
Results That Touch the Heart
A child so frustrated that he was hyperactive became a productive learner.
A child who was alienated and depressed because of a language
impairment and who was devastating his house-hold became
friendly and responded in a happy manner to gentle, sustained
treatment.
A little girl who was thought retarded reached out and spoke the names of her parents.
A boy who had a seemingly hopeless speech problem is today a successful lawyer.
How to Identify Speech and Language Disorders and Associated Learning Disabilities
Children who have these problems are sometimes hard to detect.
As noted before, there is a wide age range for children to
begin talking. Parents may become concerned later than desirable,
may not recognize, or may misinterpret the symptoms.
These children are often slow in developing a vocabulary or are
difficult to understand, using incomplete or incorrect sentences
or gibberish.
They may have difficulties with attention, memory, or word
retrieval. They may be slow in processing auditory information.
There are many technical diagnostic terms for these problems,
and some of them can sound terrifying to parents. However,
parents must remember that many of these dysfunctions do not mean
mental deficiency or emotional disturbance.
The Importance of Early Evaluation and Treatment
In the past few years, there has been increasing recognition
of the importance of evaluating and treating childhood problems
at
the earliest possible stage. The chances of a child with a communication
disorder attaining his or her peer group level are much
greater if the child receives help at an early age.
What to Do if a Parent Suspects a Child Needs Help
A parent with concerns about a child's language or learning
ability should call a Scottish Rite Clinic or Center for Childhood
Language Disorders for guidance or contact appropriate municipal
or state organizations. The first step is a complete evaluation
of the child's condition by professionals. In most instances,
a child identified as having a communication disorder can be helped
by the Scottish Rite. However, a child who demonstrates overall
developmental delays or severe handicapping conditions may
require other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy or
a full-time special education program. Any of the trained
speech-language pathologists at the Scottish Rite clinics and
centers can recommend programs specializing in advanced
treatment. These facilities generally are located in or adjacent
to a Scottish Rite Temple, and the clinics may be associated with
major hospitals or universities in the area. All are clearly identified
in the telephone book and are known to health-care and
education professionals in the areas in which they are located.
The main thing parents should remember is to seek help as soon
as possible if there s any indication that the child has a problem.
Program Eligibility
As a rule, the Scottish Rite Clinics for Childhood Language Disorders accept preschool children who have difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word or school-age children who have difficulty learning to read. Some centers also offer literacy training for adults.
Inquiries on age groups and program offerings in specific areas should be addressed to the director of the local Scottish Rite facility. Equally important, all services are available regardless of race, creed, or the family's inability to pay.
Parental Involvement
The cooperation of each child's parents is essential. The whole
family, as well as the child, is trained by skilled clinicians
so that,
in addition to treatment, parents are able to continue at home
the clinic's recommended therapy.
Community Involvement
The influence of the Scottish Rite program goes far beyond
the walls of the clinics and centers. In many instances, it is
not
unusual for staff members to go into the community and visit schools
or other institutions. In some instances, the Scottish Rite
trains young people interested in the field of speech pathology.
Membership Involvement
There is a contribution in human terms in solving these problems
for the well-being and happiness of children and their parents.
There is also a very significant contribution to the economic
health of our country by providing the means for these children
to
become productive adults, able to contribute to their own lives
and to the betterment of society.
Education and concern for children have always been among the fundamental tenets of the Masonic Fraternity. Helping children with speech and language disorders and learning disabilities is a particular mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA.
Each and every member will want to help to fulfill this mission.
At some clinics and centers, fellow Masons, their wives, and
teenagers can participate in activities as volunteer assistants.
They can help the children, assemble arts and crafts materials,
and perform secretarial or maintenance tasks. In some cases,
they also provide transportation to children and parents who would
otherwise be unable to participate.
How You Can Help Eliminate Language and Learning Problems in Children
Thanks to the generosity of Scottish Rite members through their
national and local foundations, which
provide financial support for our Childhood Language Disorders
Clinics, Centers, and Programs, thousands
of children have been evaluated and successfully treated in a
nurturing environment. Miracles can happen,
and with skillful evaluation and treatment, miracles are happening
in Scottish Rite facilities all over America.
However, more clinics, centers, and programs are needed to help
all of the children with these problems.
Also, Scottish Rite clinics already in existence continue to need
donations for additional therapists,
instructional materials, special equipment, and improved facilities.
In addition to our membership support, the Scottish Rite encourages
all concerned citizens to assist in this worthy humanitarian
effort. One way to assist is through estate planning. A bequest
to either the local Scottish Rite foundation or the national
foundation can be designated for support of our children's charity.
Gifts, of course, are tax deductible as provided by law.
Children are tomorrow's citizens and the hope for our world.
To help America's children overcome their challenges is a major
contribution to our future.