JS Therapies, a leading provider of speech-language therapy services on St. Croix and St. Thomas, is excited to announce its participation in Better Hearing and Speech Month this May. To celebrate this important awareness campaign, JS Therapies is offering free speech-language screenings for children aged 0-5 years old.
The free speech-language screenings are available by appointment only and can be scheduled online at www.tinyurl.com/jst-speech by calling 473-5924 or emailing speech@jstherapies.com. The screenings will be conducted by licensed speech-language pathologists, who will do a brief assessment of a child’s communication skills, including language development, articulation and fluency, followed by recommendations for additional evaluation and treatment if indicated.
JS Therapies hopes that these screenings will help identify any potential hearing, speech or language impairments that may be affecting a child’s ability to communicate effectively. Early intervention is critical for the successful treatment of these impairments, and the team at JS Therapies is committed to providing the necessary support and resources to families.
Other early intervention services offered at JS Therapies include pediatric occupational therapy, physical therapy, lactation support, infant massage classes and aquatic therapy.
In addition to speech-language screenings, parents are encouraged to take advantage of hearing screenings that are available at the Maternal Child Health (MCH) clinics on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Hearing screenings can help detect hearing loss in infants and young children, which can have a significant impact on their speech and language development.
On St. Thomas: Dawn Petersen at 777-8804 ext. 2716. On St. Croix: Ana Browne at 718-1311 ext. 3769.
Parents are encouraged to be aware of the behavioral indicators of hearing impairment in babies and toddlers, which may include:
– Lack of response to loud sounds
– Failure to turn toward the source of a sound
– Delayed or absent babbling
– Limited or no response to their name being called
– Difficulty understanding simple commands
– Frequent ear infections
If a child is exhibiting any of these behaviors, it is important to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare provider. Additionally, children may need speech-language therapy if they are experiencing difficulty with
– Expressing themselves clearly and effectively
– Understanding language and following directions
– Forming sounds and words correctly
– Developing appropriate social skills and interactions
JS Therapies informs daycare centers that are interested in having on-site screenings for their children that they can contact JS Therapies to coordinate these screenings. This is an excellent opportunity for daycare centers to ensure the children in their care are meeting important developmental milestones and receiving the support they need.
Please contact JS Therapies at 473-5924 or email speech@jstherapies.com to schedule on-site screenings for a daycare center.
By offering free speech-language screenings and promoting hearing screenings, JS Therapies hopes to raise awareness about the importance of early intervention for hearing and speech impairments in young children.
For more information about JS Therapies and its services, visit www.jstherapies.com.
************************************************
JS Therapies, founded by Julie Sommer, has been providing pediatric occupational therapy services in St. Croix since 2011. Initially, in collaboration with Island Therapy Solutions in St. Croix and Dr. Penn at Partners4Kids in St. Thomas, the program expanded to include speech-language therapy and physical therapy on both islands. The JS Therapies team now includes 18 therapists experienced in treating a wide range of developmental and communication delays, who work with children from birth through high school at their clinics in Gallows Bay in St. Croix and the Medical Foundation Building in St. Thomas. JS Therapies accepts most private insurance and MAP.
