Group Classes for Children

Children learn many critical skills in their first years. Understanding what family members and friends say and talk about what he or she wants and thinks are two important skills children need to learn early in life. Some young children have difficulty acquiring these skills and need help.

When children enter school, their ability to use language in social and educational settings becomes increasingly important. The inability to use language in these settings can significantly impact their success throughout life.

The Hearing & Speech Institute offers four groups designed to build communication skills in preschool and school-aged children with speech-language delays and disorders. Each child is assigned to a group for children with similar developmental levels and communication goals.

Social Skills through Drama

These new drama therapy groups are designed to teach critical social emotional skills and foster peer interaction while having FUN! They are particularly well suited for verbal children and teens with special needs who struggle primarily with social interactions and emotional expression.

If you have any questions or would like to enroll your child in one of these programs please contact Charla Cunningham at 503-802-5302 or at

SAIL - Social Activities to Improve Language

This group is for 6-8 year old children with language delays and disorders who need help using language in structured peer interactions. Specific skills addressed include:

• Conversational skills (initiating, maintaining a topic, turn-taking)
• Oral language formulation and vocabulary expansion in a social context
• Asking and answering questions
• Making friends

PALS (Promoting Adolescent Language Skills)

This group is for children 9-12 years of age with social-communicative disorders who have established higher-level language skills but have difficulty with basic social interaction skills. Functional activities are used to practice a variety of social skills in structured peer interactions. Specific skills addressed include:

• Eye contact and turn-taking
• Non-verbal communication ("reading" body language, facial expression, etc.)
• Conversational skills (initiating, maintaining and closing topics)
• Making friends

All groups are held at the Hearing & Speech Institute's location: 1675 SW Marlow Avenue, Suite 200, Portland, OR.

Individual Treatment Sessions

Children meet individually with a speech-language pathologist to work on specific speech and language goals that address the child's communication needs. Sessions are scheduled once or twice weekly. Parent involvement is encouraged and home activities are suggested.

To Enroll.....

Groups are available year-around. For additional information or to register your child, call Janet Lambert at 503-802-5260 or email her at

"Preparing your child for a lifetime of communication."