In this episode of 'Hear Me Out,' hosts Niki Lampi and Tamara Pogin from the Masonic Children's Clinic for Communication Disorders discuss the clinic's mission and efforts to support children with communication disorders. They interview Markus Mueller, the Regional Director of Northern Minnesota for Masonic Charities, who shares his experiences and insights on fundraising and community support for the clinic. Markus highlights the importance of raising awareness and securing donations, both big and small, to keep the clinic's services free for families. The episode also touches on various programs like the sensory room, audiology services, and autism assessment initiatives. The segment concludes with practical tips from Tamara on how parents can encourage communication in their children by slowing down and respecting all forms of their child's communication.

In this episode of the Hear Me Out podcast, our guests, Sean and Shannon Walsh, share their journey of raising their autistic son Kyler. They recount their experiences with early interventions, struggles for diagnosis, and the support they've received from the Masonic Children's Clinic. The podcast highlights their involvement in various programs and the importance of parental advocacy. Additionally, Tamara provides practical communication tips based on the OWL method—Observe, Wait, and Listen.

In this episode of Hear Me Out, hosts Niki Lampi and Tamara Pogin from the Masonic Children's Clinic for Communication Disorders discuss with Sorina Larson, a specialist in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), about her non-traditional journey into speech therapy, her advanced training in the field, and her involvement in significant research studies regarding the optimal dosage for CAS therapy. Sorina shares detailed explanations on diagnosing and treating CAS, particularly through the Dynamic Temporal Tactile Cueing (DTTC) approach, her experiences from a research study, and the impact of advanced training. The episode also highlights the importance of community involvement and the clinic’s effort to support students and families affected by communication disorders.

In this episode of 'Hear Me Out,' a Masonic Children's Clinic podcast, hosts Niki Lampi and Tamara Pogin discuss the history and ongoing mission of the clinic with Jim Proctor, a long-time contributor and former board president. Jim shares his journey from his initial involvement in the 1990s, categorizing donations, to becoming the board president for 19 years. The conversation delves into the challenges of fundraising, the commitment of volunteers, and the clinic's evolution. Jim highlights the importance of the clinic's mission to provide free speech, language, and hearing services to children and families. The episode concludes with reflections on the personal impact of the clinic's work and a fun trivia segment related to speech and language development.

Theo's Journey: The Power of Communication and Hope

In this episode of Hear Me Out, hosts Niki Lampi and Tamara Pogin from the Masonic Children's Clinic welcome John, Joelle, and their son Theo Bodin. The Bodin family shares their inspiring journey from Theo's challenging birth to his remarkable progress with the use of an eye gaze communication device. They discuss the importance of hope, perseverance, and the support provided by the clinic. Theo, who has cerebral palsy, became a strong communicator thanks to the clinic's augmentative and alternative communication specialist, Jillian. The family highlights the clinic's invaluable services, which remain free thanks to donations and grants, and underscore the significance of advocating for children with special needs.

In this episode of Hear Me Out, hosts Tamara and Nikki are joined by Jillian Little, a speech-language pathologist specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Jillian shares insights from her 15 years of experience in the field, explaining what AAC is and its importance for individuals with speech difficulties. The discussion covers various AAC methods, including both unaided forms like gestures and high-tech aided tools such as speech-generating devices. Jillian talks about her career journey, the development of a consultative program at the Masonic Children’s Clinic, and the significance of early AAC intervention. She emphasizes the importance of modeling, accessibility, and multimodal communication. The episode concludes with Jillian sharing her favorite therapy toys and activities, and information on how parents and professionals can reach out for AAC consultations.