Work at the top rung

Noy is almost 5. His intelligible words include "ee-a" for Eema, "o" for l'hitra-ot. That is to say, Noy is not yet a talker. We could spend all our time on eliciting bilabial sounds, so "ee-a" can become "eema" and "o" can become "bo" (come!)". But let me tell you something else about Noy. He knows all of the musical instruments. If you call a saxophone a trumpet he will yell at you, and tell you it's an "o". That's how he says saxophone. Noy, who sits for 3 minutes max. for our little speech games, will spend hours, as many hours as you offer him, looking at my encyclopaedia of realistic pictures. He will study the musical instruments, learn them well, study their aerodynamics and the mystical physics of air transforming into music. Aha. The very concept he hasn't grasped with the bilabials. Close off the airstream with your lips, and the sound tells a story. Or calls a person to come close. Noy, you are the musical instrument. Play, Noy, play.
The key here is that so many of these little "delayed" children cultivate an area of expertise. We need to nurture their growth in their areas of strength.
A small orange seed
sprouts and blossoms.
I will not uproot it,
because I had in mind
a cherry tree

Autism Spectrum Disorders

My approach with children on the Autism Spectrum is playful, and respectful of the child's own perception of this world.

Effective Speaking and Accent Reduction

For professionals in Israel, speaking excellent English is a key to success. I help individuals tune up their English pronunciation, and coach them for success in conversation with English speakers. I help people to compose and deliver sales presentations that are dynamic, credible, and grammatically correct. I provide Effective Speaking and Accent Reduction instruction for individuals and also for groups.

Website

Words and Wonder פלה פה
About Nomi Kaston
Language has enchanted me all my life. I graduated with a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from McGill University in 1975. Since then, every child, teen or adult I have worked with has been a source of wonder for me. I am now living in Netanya, a beach town just north of Tel Aviv in Israel, and have opened an office and a bright playroom filled with toys and games. I also travel to the homes of my clients, to work in the very locations where they need to communicate. I have had the wonderful privilege to work with the staff of Meir Autism, Israel's branch of the SonRise program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I provide therapy in the areas of articulation, apraxia, language delay, autism spectrum disorders, stuttering, learning disabilities, auditory processing disorders, voice disorders, accent reduction, and public speaking skills. I use sign language, augmentative and alternative communication systems, and visual picture symbols to supplement speech. Music and play are a major part of my program, and I keep in mind always that growth happens when we are having fun, and love what we are doing.

The Ladder

In Speech Therapy, we look at a wondrous, seemingly impossible goal, such as, "He will talk". And then we build a hierarchy of steps, a ladder of tiny, possible, realistic goals. And then, one by one, we celebrate the minutest of miracles.

Miracles

Miracles are possible,
but you have to work very hard for them.
Clear the way!
Miracle coming!
Don't block its path!!