<p>From the Tallahassee Democrat: <a href=“http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/FSU01/608030352/1008/FSU[/url]”>http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/FSU01/608030352/1008/FSU</a></p>
<p>Jennifer Koch’s daughter Karen Moore lost her hearing at age 3 and a half and was deaf for a year before receiving a cochlear implant in one ear.</p>
<p>In her year without sound, the little girl regressed to a 16-month-old’s language level.</p>
<p>However, with the help of auditory therapy at Florida State University’s L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic, the 8-year-old has been catching up. She will be in a regular second-grade class this fall at W.T. Moore Elementary School.</p>
<p>“I love my clinic,” Koch said.</p>
<p>The clinic on FSU’s campus received a $20,000 check Wednesday from the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida. The money will be used to increase the number of area children with speech, language and hearing disorders who are diagnosed and treated.</p>
<p>The Scottish Rite Foundation’s commitment to the FSU clinic goes beyond the one-time contribution.</p>
<p>“When we come, we come to support this forever,” said Robert Goldsmith of Jacksonville, Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida president.</p>
<p>His group will raise money for a $500,000 endowment to support the clinic’s work with children in Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla counties. With adoption of the FSU clinic, the Scottish Rite Foundation will be associated with 14 such clinics in Florida.</p>
<p>Stephen Berry of Tallahassee, who is associated with the foundation, said, “It’s a dream of ours” to support the clinic’s work with children.</p>
<p>Part of FSU’s Department of Communication Disorders, the clinic is a teaching and research tool in addition to a service for about 300 children and adults a year. About 18 faculty, 75 undergraduates and 100 master’s and Ph.D. students are in the department. The clinic also works with schools, health care facilities and private clinicians.</p>
<p>While some clients pay through their private insurance or programs like Medicaid, “We also provide services at low or no cost,” said clinic Director Juliann Woods. Thanks to the $20,000 gift, “That’s where we’re able to expand,” she said.</p>
<p>“There’s a critical link between language skills and reading and ultimately school success,” Woods said.</p>
<p>One goal of the clinic is to create summer camps for children with communication disorders.</p>
<p>“I hope to create an autism camp,” graduate student Nikki Greenwald said.</p>
<p>Florida State University’s L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic provides diagnostic and therapy services for children and adults with speech and hearing disorders. Call 850-644-2238 or see <a href=“http://speechandhearing%5B/url%5D”>http://speechandhearing</a> clinic.fsu.edu for more information. Fees are charged only to clients with the ability to pay.</p>
<p>To contribute to the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida endowment fund for the clinic, call Robert Goldsmith at (904) 378-8957.</p>