Running for a cause!

Get your sneakers out (or checkbook) and support Dr. Lawrence as she runs a half-marathon each weekend in one month for a total of four-half marathons! She is running in the Four Corners area to raise awareness and money for upcoming summer 2011 trips to Mexico, Nicaragua, and Honduras. As in past trips, The Speech, Hearing and Balance Institute, Inc. will provide training, support, and instruction. Teachers and parents will learn how to assist their children who are hearing impaired and/or have reduced language skills. Through generous donations, eligible children will be fitted with hearing aids and be given that most wonderful gift of hearing. Think of the joy of a family as their child hears the birds chirping or car horns beeping for the first time! A child's world will become clearer. Please spread the word and your generosity and support Dr. Lawrence in this fundraising event. You can donate a set denomination or as little as 5c per mile (only $6.55 each race!). It's up to you. All donations are appreciated. You can check the status of the specific race each week or to learn more, click on the SHBII website: speechhearingandbalance.org  Keep following and spread the word!

more Granada, Nicaragua pics

You can see the flights of stairs I took on the way down. Sorry, they are a little blurry.

Pics from Granada, Nicaragua

Beautiful City! The first pic is Dr. Bleile (Professor in Iowa) and his daughter Judy looking at pottery. The other pics are of the gorgeous city. It is quaint and small, but it has a lot of character. A couple of us went to the cathedral...all the way up to the bell Tower. It was about 12 flights of steep stairs to reach the top.

another hearing screen!

Kevin, Moses, and staffing

The two children you see are Kevin and Moses. Both have Autism. The other pics are me working/educating the teachers and parents.

Conducting a hearing screening in Leon, Nicaragua

Nicaragua is great. I am staying at an employee of the US embassy's home. The employee lives close to the Hondurian Embassy. We even saw the Hondurian President right outside our front door on his way back to his country! Crazy, huh? There were police and cameras everywhere...No other crowd...just the people I am staying with, police, and camera crews!

There were about 28 speech and social work students and two professors from Iowa who came on this Nicaragua trip. Everyone was super genuine and really easy to work with. In the end, we identified 3 people with hearing loss (not related to a cold or cerumen) who will need hearing aids. The other kids with temporary hearing loss due to ear infections and wax were referred to their local hospital for follow-up. I tested about 64 people all together. There is an audiologist in Durango, CO, Dr. Chandace Jeep, who will donate hearing aids. She also lent us her OAE machine to take on the trip. Thanks, Chandace!!!

The children I worked with in March who have autism have made great strides. The teachers really took everything we said to heart, and they have implemented new programs for more "Floortime-play" type activities.