Stories of Impact: Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center

By Susan Adams

One of our 2023 nonprofit partners, Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center (CSHC), received $70,000 to maximize the reach of their community programs and serve more patients. CSHC helps ensure access to high-quality speech-language therapy services for individuals, families, and schools. Hearing is critical for children to learn to read and stay up to grade level. CSHC served 521 children, of whom over 70% demonstrated significant delays. After the program, 84% of the children met or exceeded outcomes.

One young toddler in The Learning Collaborative classroom failed the Developmental Assessment of Young Children (DAYC) screening at the beginning of the school year. He was using aggressive behavior and outbursts of crying to get his needs met. He could not say many words and mainly uttered frustrated sounds. CSHC began intensive speech and language therapy services twice per week, including the Sound Beginnings program in his classroom weekly. After seeing her son’s success, his mother was eager to learn new strategies to help him better communicate at home. The staff then helped his mother complete the Sound Beginnings Parent Training Program. The child now uses entire phrases and words to express his desires with a dramatic decline in physical behavior and crying outbursts. The whole family has benefited from this intensive intervention and therapy. 

On March 23, 2024, Charlotte Speech and Hearing is hosting a Communication Matters 5k Walk/ Race Event. This family-friendly event will raise critical funds to provide access to superior speech-language and hearing services that empower and transform lives. A special thank you, to Karen Gunther for captaining a Women’s Impact Fund team.  We would love to have you join the team! Sign up here.