ROCK SPRINGS – Encana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc. awarded the Sweetwater County Child Developmental Center (SCCDC) a grant for $3,000 to assist in purchasing new hearing equipment.

The SCCDC serves 431children, birth through age five, and every child had their hearing screened during the free developmental screenings.

“The current equipment was purchased more than 20 years ago, and it’s getting more expensive to fix and replace parts,” explained Elise Haapala, SCCDC Marketing and Development Manager.

“The SCCDC helps improve the quality of life for children by providing the necessary services to help them grow and develop their full potential,” said Bridget Ford, Encana community relations advisor. “Early detection and treatment supports their goal to understand what each child needs to succeed.”

Of the 431 children served, 65 % have a speech or language delay. The SCCDC aims to detect and treat these delays so they can be successful in learning to communicate as they transition into kindergarten.

“Hearing is a critical part of a child’s social/emotional and cognitive development, so the best time to detect a delay is early in life,” said Haapala. “A hearing delay can affect how a child learns to speak and understand. If it’s caught early, hearing problems can be treated.”

Nancy Parker, SCCDC Speech Language Pathologist researched what hearing equipment was needed. “Hearing loss can have a significant negative impact on a child’s ability to learn language and interact with peers. Early screening and identification of hearing loss or middle ear disorders is crucial in terms of a young child’s development.”

The Center is the only organization in Sweetwater County that provides therapy and educational services to young children with disabilities. The non-profit also helps children improve developmental skills, including gross motor, fine motor, speech and language, cognitive, social and self-help to get them ready for Kindergarten.

“We are thankful to Encana’s past and current support,” Haapala said.