Sensory gym provides new tools for speech and language clients

Auburn University is an everything school, as even the smallest citizens of Lee County can attest when they utilize the new sensory gym at the Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic. Although the clinic has been serving members of the community for years–including babies born prematurely–their services have now expanded thanks to 2024 Tiger Giving Day donors.

“The space has been a need for a long time,” Lindsey Piazza said. Piazza serves as an assistant clinical professor and speech language pathologist in the Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic.

Many of the patients who utilize the clinic are transitioning from speech therapy centers where they had co-treatments with occupational therapy. The new sensory gym provides clients an easy transition to speech therapy with a sensory element.

The space also ensures that patients who may need a more expressive outlet, while providing for their sensory needs, can have successful sessions.

“The sensory gym will allow for ways to get the patient’s sensory systems regulated or back to baseline so that the work can continue. Some clients improve focus and language skills while involved in a movement or task that satisfies a sensory need,” Piazza said.

While the work a child undergoes during a speech and language therapy session may feel overwhelming to them at times, the new sensory gym will provide a quiet location for children to calm down and refocus.

“The space is big enough for clients to have big movements and places to feel safe and cozy to calm down,” Piazza said. And, as an added bonus, caregivers can observe their children in the space through a one-way mirror.

While the therapy sessions are beneficial to the clients themselves, they also allow learning opportunities for Auburn students within the field of audiology and speech and language pathology. According to the team at the clinic, the field of audiology is moving toward including motor milestones and pediatric vestibular monitoring, all of which would be conducted in a sensory gym setting.

“This room in the Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic has space for sensory stimulating and soothing equipment, such as swings and balance boards to tactile and visually stimulating toys,” Piazza said. Such equipment can also help specialists monitor and track premature babies’ developmental milestones, many of which are tied to sensory regulation.

The sensory gym will have an impact on future generations of children and students alike. These future clients and students can thank donors from the 2024 Tiger Giving Day who went above and beyond in their generosity, giving 157% of the original fundraising goal for the space.

“We do not have funds to build our own clinic or building, so having funds to make our space work is life changing for our clients and students who can learn about sensory integration for clients in the future,” Piazza said.

By Lauren Winton