Childhood Trauma and Speech Delay
Zayd Salemeh is a third-grade student at Al Abrar School in Tripoli and the youngest of 7 children in his family. Zayd has suffered childhood trauma caused by war and ongoing fear. These traumas have led to academic and speech delays, low self-esteem, and trauma-related psychological symptoms.
In
addition, he was bullied at school, which instigated feelings of insecurity,
and other social and emotional problems. Considering the struggle that Zayd had
to face at a young age, FISTA was the right place for Zayd.
Zayd
began going to FISTA in September 2021 in a UNICEF program funded by KSrelief.
Zayd started speech therapy, special education, and psychotherapy, where an
Individualized Educational Program (IEP) was specifically tailored to fit his
needs.
Through
FISTA’s holistic services, Zayd was taught to be positive even in the darkest
moments. Zayd's self-confidence, communication skills, self-image, and ability
to control his emotions and manage his anger have improved.
Zayd’s
speech, which was initially characterized by articulation errors, is now clear
and comprehensible. Furthermore, his trauma symptoms have subsided. Zayd’s
relationships with his parents and his peers have notably improved. He has also
established excellent learning outcomes, which have allowed him to become
better integrated at school. This is the path that Zayd has chosen to take. His
family felt relief after a long struggle. "I now realize that nothing is
impossible. As a parent, there is no greater honor than watching your son’s
accomplishments," said Zayd’s mother. This program is funded by King
Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in partnership with
UNICEF.