News & Updates

Hanen Training

It Takes Two to Talk program is a group language training program that provides family-focused early language intervention. Developed in Canada, it is widely used by speech-language pathologists in Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands and Australia. The program has been in existence since 1974 and is well researched. The research on the efficacy of the It Takes Two to Talk program has demonstrated that when parents receive training in how to facilitate their child's language learning, they are able to apply the skills they learn to their interactions with their child and that, as a result, the child's social and language skills improve. The It Takes Two to Talk program teaches family members how to become competent language interventionists. Hanen-trained and certified speech-language pathologists lead a series of eight evening group sessions that provide parents with necessary information about language development and the strategies that promote their children's interaction and language learning.

Therapists at Cascade Children's Therapy utilize the It Takes Two to Talk principles in speech therapy sessions and while providing families with strategies to use while promoting language development. At this time, the eight evening group sessions are not being conducted by this clinic due to complications with scheduling and funding. They may be offered at CCT in the future and are currently being offered by some local school districts and birth-to-three programs.

The Hanen More Than Words program is used to help parents promote communication and social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This Hanen program is based on the belief that children learn to communicate best through natural interactions that take place in their everyday environments with family members. This is a program with elements that include: attention, imitation, comprehension, play, social interaction with others, supportive environment / generalization and predictability / routines. Again, this program is designed to be presented to groups of parents during a number of evening meetings. At CCT, we find these strategies as a natural and meaningful way to promote communication development during therapy sessions. Parents find the strategies useful and easy to generalize to environments outside of the therapy session.