Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Jeddah Institute for Speech and Hearing (JISH) on Saturday began two-day training workshops for their clinical team at the Center for Autism Research in Riyadh. Dr. Nahla Dashash, consultant speech language pathologist, and director of Clinical Services at JISH, provided the workshops inputs on using speech and language assessments that the clinical research unit of JISH has especially developed in Arabic language. JISH has developed standardized Arabic tests to assess speech and articulation problems in children, and an assessment tool for child's communicative development. Workshops will also train specialists on a school readiness test to determine a child's speech and language skills required for enrolling in school. It also shows any possible communication difficulties that could affect child's academic performance. "Since its inception in 1991, JISH has provided assessment and treatment services to both children and adults, who suffer from a variety of communication disorders, by adopting the latest clinical protocols and standards, set by ASHA," Dr. Dashash told Saudi Gazette. She holds a PhD degree in communication disorders from Harvard University and has been certified as speech language pathology by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). She added that their speech language therapists are certified or supervised by ASHA certified clinical supervisors. They hold undergraduate, masters and PhD degrees in speech language pathology from renowned universities in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the US. To ensure that their speech-language pathologists are updated with the latest in clinical techniques and research, JISH provides on-going intensive continuing education through courses, workshops and internships at accredited university programs and clinics in the United States of America and the UK. In addition, JISH continues to grant scholarships to its staff for graduate and doctorate degrees in the fields of speech language pathology and applied behavior analysis. JISH is the first facility of its kind in the Kingdom and is credited to have set the highest standards for speech, language and hearing services. JISH is a dynamic and progressive center with modern technology, high quality professionals, and commitment to excellence.
