Hanen students show above-average gains

The Family Place, a program of Easter Seals, delivered a 12-session language intervention program to parents, family members and child care providers representing 10 typically developing and speech-and-language-delayed children. Parents brought in pictures, information, stories and tapes about their children which were used to build strong understandings of course content and parent-to-parent relationships. The speech/language therapists produced sets of videotapes enabling parents to see first hand what they were doing and how they could improve their speech and language interactions with their young children.

The findings show that the youngsters made greater-than-predicted speech and language gains that could be causally linked to participation in the parent education program. With the exception of the older child with significant disabilities, the average gain of all students (N = 9) averaged 5.2 months in the 12 week program. Parents reported high ratings on their children’s improved language acquisition; increased skills in facilitating language development; the ability to continue to support child’s language development as a result of program; and the ability to assist other family or caregivers in facilitating my child’s language development.


The Hanen Literacy and Language Development Programs

You Make the Difference WorkshopYou Make the Difference

You Make The Difference is designed to support parents of typically-developing children, birth to 5 years who would like to learn more about fostering and enriching their child’s early language, social and literacy development during positive everyday interactions. It can also provide support to vulnerable families whose children’s learning may be at risk due to environmental and/or societal challenges. For< those parents who have limited communication skills or who may feel isolated and have limited social networks, You Make the Difference helps parents connect with other families and resources in their community.

The YMTD program usually takes the form of a 10-session intensive workshop where groups of up to 10 parents
are taught early language and literacy skills while interacting with their children in the workshop
environment. Parent-child interactions are videotaped and shown at subsequent sessions for
reinforcement.

PIRC has trained over 40 professionals utilize Hanen in their communities around the state of NH. If you are interested in participating in this 9-week workshop, please call us to be placed on a list, or check our calendar to see when the next one is being offered.

It Takes Two to Talk WorkshopIt Takes Two to Talk

The 'It Takes Two to Talk' Hanen Program for Parents is a well-known model of family-focused early language intervention for young children with expressive and/or receptive language delays. The goal of It Takes Two to Talk is to enable parents to become their child’s primary language facilitator, thereby maximizing the child’s opportunities for communication development in everyday situations. It Takes Two to Talk is designed for toddlers and preschool-age children with specific language impairment, as well as to children with cognitive and developmental delays under age five.

The It Takes Two to Talk program has three objectives: parent education; early language intervention and social support.

For more information about Hanen Programs, call us or visit the Hanen Centre.