Claudia Klopchin

Jacob Klopchin has made amazing progress overcoming severe speech and language impairment at the San Diego Scottish Rite Speech and Language Clinic.

Dear Scottish Rite Masons,

Thank you for all your help for Jacob!

Jacob with his speech therapist, Christy Himstreet

Jacob was about 2 1/2 years old when we started to inquire about his speech. I had read that by this age, not only should his vocabulary be somewhere between 150–200 words, but that two-word sentences should be emerging. Naturally, this news startled me since I couldn’t even claim ten words in his vocabulary. More concerning was the fact that the few words I was counting didn’t even sound like real words to anyone else. His dad and I were the only people who knew that omni really meant mommy.

We began searching for help and direction from our pediatrician. His recommendation was to give Jacob time, but suggested a hearing test just to be safe. We were happy to learn that the test showed that his hearing was within normal limits, but were frustrated that no one could really offer much more than to ask us to be patient.

By now my husband and I began our quest for knowledge and help. A teacher mentioned she had heard that the San Diego Scottish Rite offered free speech therapy as a community service and suggested I might look into it. This suggestion has been a Godsend to our family. I remember calling the clinic right away and being greeted by a very friendly, supportive, organized, and informative staff. I spoke with a therapist, and she said she would send out a packet of information to me right away. I was pleased when it arrived at our home within two days of my initial conversation with her. An appointment for evaluation came shortly afterwards.

When we got to the San Diego Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center, basic concept words such as on top or next to were not things Jacob understood. He could not identify colors, even if you held them up for him, stated them, and then asked him to pick. If you would ask him a question, he would reply in a string of nonsense sounds, or “jargon” as it is called. Jacob was unintelligible, and he even struggled to understand simple yes/no questions. Speech therapy was recommended, and we started immediately.

The progress Jacob has made is amazing. I truly thank the San Diego Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center for Jacob’s success. Not only is Jacob now able to have a conversation, but also for the first time, he actually fell within the normal limits for speech and language of children his age. The support from the Childhood Language Center has been phenomenal. Mrs. Himstreet has been a pivotal person in my son’s success. Her creative and successful approach to my son’s therapy is one of ingenuity and imagination. She could get Jacob to gleefully do just about anything, without him being aware of how hard he was actually working. We feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to receive services here and have recommended The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center to many other families.

Thank you Scottish Rite Masons for helping Jacob to interact with, and discover, the world around him!

With Heartfelt Sincerity,
Patrick and Claudia Klopchin
Jacob’s Dad and Mom

A Note from Jacob's Therapist ...

Speech and language therapists want to help every child they can. When a child benefits from our help, we want to do more. And when a child like Jacob advances through treatment, there is a satisfaction in our hearts like no other. Jacob’s story is compelling.

Jacob began therapy at our center approximately two years ago. Jacob was kind, sweet, and obviously eager to share his ideas ... we just couldn’t understand what he was saying. Even words that could be understood were so jumbled and out of order that it was difficult to make meaning out of them. Much of his speech resulted in duh-duh jargon. He was diagnosed with a severe speech and language impairment; even though it was obvious that his thinking skills were age-appropriate. Jacob had good thoughts and many things he wanted to express, but no language or articulation to do so. Jacob needed our help.

And help he received: from our center, his family, his friends, and even his big sister, Isabella. Jacob far exceeded everyone’s expectations in therapy. He made more progress than any of us thought was possible. Jake just kept learning language, making meaning with his words, and speaking clearer each day. His progress was addictive. We couldn’t wait for him to achieve one goal so we could start working on the next. Currently, he is getting ready to graduate from our program! We are so proud of Jacob, and his parents are too.

– Christy Himstreet, M.S. CCC–SLP, Clinic Coordinator