30 / 44
30
Speak Out
August 2013
Speech Pathology Australia
Dyslexia study
urgently
needs your help!
Do you have clients with dyslexia or with a family
history of dyslexia, who are:
• 6-12 years old with diagnosis of dyslexia
• Parents of 0-6 month old infants?
• Expecting a baby?
The UWS MARCS BabyLab is examining the
development of speech, language and cognitive
abilities of 120 infants from six months through to
5 years of age. The study investigates possible
acoustic, speech, and cognitive precursors of later
reading ability, and what methods might be used
for detecting such reading disabilities as
dyslexia.
We are NOW recruiting 6-12 year old children
with
a diagnosis of dyslexia to investigate how the brain
tracks changes in sound passively.
Participants will receive BabyLab degrees
for their child, a small gift and $30 for
each visit to cover travel expenses.
For more information or to refer your
client to our study please contact
Rachel Lee on
9772 6313
or
They also expressed improved understanding of and
confidence in what they might be able to do when
working with children with SLCDs. We discussed how
participants might gain more knowledge in the area and
further develop skills and strategies for working with
children with SLCDs.
Sustainability is important to ensure the long-term impact of
the bringingwordshome project. As I continue to volunteer
my time, skills and expertise, course participants have also
committed to further develop their knowledge and skills
in the area. Apart from more targeted training, which will
be delivered in Zimbabwe later this year, the project has
already established another program – telehealth sessions
have started, bridging the distance and time zones between
Zimbabwe and Australia. ‘Talking Telehealth’ provides
ongoing support to teachers/professionals who have already
attended the introductory course to develop their skills
in working with children with SLCDs and also works with
children and their parents directly. It may be that the project
will seek aid to set up a resource base and possibly bring
‘talking’ resources to schools in the Mashonaland East
area, north-east of Harare, where Shamva and the Madziwa
Teachers College are located. By continuing to work with
key partners and course participants, the possibilities are
limitless, but at all times plans will be shared and agreed
before the project proceeds further.
It is not only words that can be brought home! As
bringingwordshome develops it may be appropriate to
establish an organisation that enables others to bring ‘it’
home. ‘Bringingithome’ could potentially bring sustainable
skills and benefit to Zimbabwe, and other countries, in other
areas of expertise.
What do you think?
From left: The lecture rooms at Madziwa Teachers College in Shamva, Zimbabwe; strategies for developing speech, language and communication skills in the classroom
are discussed.