Emily Cihon and her family which includes her husband Mitch, daughter Sophie, and their two dogs, Chase and Dash.
As a child, Emily Cihon always thought teaching would be her professional calling.
“I always wanted to be a teacher or work with kids, I even got an overhead projector as a birthday gift as a preteen so I could pretend to teach in my basement,” she says. “However, I also wanted to work in the medical field, but nursing didn’t seem like a good fit.”
After abusing her voice as the captain of her high school Color Guard team and in show choir, she was diagnosed with vocal nodules during her freshman year of college at Ohio University.
“I participated in speech therapy sessions at the graduate student clinic which introduced me to the field of speech language pathology,” she says. “I discovered that pediatric speech language pathology was a possible career, and thought this was a great blend of teaching, working with children and being in a medical field.”
After being diagnosed with vocal cord nodules in college, Emily participated in speech therapy sessions which introduced her to the field of speech language pathology.
Emily joined Akron Children’s in 2015, as a speech-language pathologist. Her daily duties primarily include evaluating and providing treatment for children with speech and/or language disorders.
“I enjoy working with toddlers with language delays and coaching their parents and caregivers so they can improve their child’s language at home,” she says.
Her expertise extends to assisting patients with severe speech or language problems in finding alternative modes of communication.
“Children with severe speech or language problems may need other ways to communicate besides verbally speaking – this is called Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC),” Emily explains.
AAC can include anything from gestures, to writing, to pointing to photos, to more high-tech options like using an app on an iPad or a designated communication device.
During her time off from work, Emily enjoys going for walks with her family and two dogs.
Emily says the best part of her job is finding things that her patients enjoy.
“Parents of kiddos with delays or disorders often think about what is ‘wrong’ with their child,” she says. “I’m passionate about finding what a child can do and highlighting their strengths and progress over time, no matter how small or slow it may seem.”
Outside of work Emily enjoys reading, walking her 2 dogs, going to local craft fairs and markets, vacations at Disney World, and being purposeful about planning time off so she can “unplug.”
“Work/life balance is extremely important to me,” she says. “I recently transitioned to a part-time schedule to be able to spend more time at home with my daughter, who will be 1 this month.”
Becoming a parent has influenced how Emily communicates with her patients’ families.
“I try not to shy away from hard conversations,” she says. “No parent wants to hear their child has a speech or language disorder, but I have the unique opportunity to support them through this difficult time and see their child’s strengths (not just the weaknesses).”
Some of her happiest moments on the job come from the ‘firsts’ she has witnessed.
Sophie’s first trip to Disney in Dec. 2023.
“I’ve watched a mother tear up when her child signed ‘more’ for the first time, or the look of shock/surprise when I hear a child blurt out a word I haven’t heard them say before,” she says. “I get goosebumps when a parent tells me what their child has been expressing or understanding for the first time at home.”
What initially drew Emily to Akron Children’s was its exceptional care and supportive environment. However, it’s the sense of community, collaboration among colleagues, and the impact she makes that keeps her rooted here.
“I work alongside other speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists every day,” she says. “I wouldn’t be able to provide the care I do without them. We support, educate and encourage each other daily. We all want what’s best for our patients and work together to make it happen.”
Akron Children’s isn’t just a workplace for Emily; it’s a place where she feels she can truly make a difference.
“I’ve met so many wonderful patients and families, and I carry their stories and memories with me. The connections I’ve made are why I became a speech language pathologist,” she says. “It’s more than a job – it’s a fundamental part of who I am. I get to make a difference every day, and Akron Children’s gives me the tools to do so.”
Interested in working here? Visit careers.akronchildrens.org.
