This is Speech and Hearing awareness month and Firefly in the Kenora and Rainy River districts is trying to raise its profile.
The agency provides service to youth up to the age of 18.
Firefly is sharing information about the importance of helping kids communicate through its website and social media.
Speech and Language Pathologist Carrie Hall says “Sometimes you see us at schools and daycare’s. We might be working with kids who are using a device to communicate, like an iPad. We might just be working on speech sounds or just general language development.”
Hall notes communication is a very important tool.
“Helping children learn how to communicate really helps them to be active participants in the world around them. There’s also a lot of research behind how delayed communication skills can affect later academic development.”
This is also Mental Health Week.
Hall says “If communication skills are keeping you from connecting with the world, it can definitely impact your mental health and well-being in general.”
