UMaine Workshop on Stuttering Planned for Oct. 20
Contact: Marybeth Allen (207) 581-2403
ORONO — The UMaine Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is inviting parents, children, teens and speech-language pathologists to a workshop Oct. 20 for stuttering and the strategies for managing stuttering.
A series of discussions and youth activities scheduled throughout the day at the Memorial Union on the Orono campus will explore new therapy strategies, the current scientific findings on the causes and treatment of stuttering, and will bring together young people who stutter to share experiences.
The workshop, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is jointly sponsored by the University of Maine and its Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
“The goals for speech language pathologists will be to not just gain insight into how the newest research can inform their work with kids and teens who stutter, but to also join with the parents of these children and teens to develop a common understanding of the roles each can play in the therapy process,” says Marybeth Allen, workshop director. In addition, Allen says that “parents will learn about new research in the field and ways to partner with their child’s therapist. Children and teens will join together to work on esteem-building and speech-facilitating projects.”
Allen, a board recognized specialist in fluency disorders and a nationally certified speech-language pathologist, is a clinical educator in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, and coordinates the Stuttering Clinic in the Madelyn E. and Albert D. Conley Speech, Language and Hearing Center at UMaine. Along with Allen, the workshop is being conducted with Nancy Hall, an associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UMaine. Hall, also nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, teaches a graduate course in fluency disorders and conducts research on the onset and development of stuttering. The workshop will feature talks by Nan Bernstein Ratner, an internationally renowned stuttering expert from the University of Maryland.
“We are especially pleased to have Dr. Bernstein Ratner join us for the workshop,” says Hall. “She is a very sought after speaker who brings a wealth of knowledge regarding stuttering and tremendous compassion for children who stutter and their families. She has written numerous books and articles on stuttering and has received both national and international awards for her research. Most recently, Dr. Bernstein Ratner was a key speaker at the National Stuttering Association conference where she spoke to people who stutter and their loved ones. She brings wisdom, energy and humor to her work in stuttering.”
Research has shown that a quarter of children who stutter do not outgrow it, according to Allen, and the disorder is often misunderstood, even by some teachers, counselors and even pediatricians. Allen says speech-language pathologists often can identify children at risk for chronic stuttering at an early age and with appropriate intervention, the children can go on to become fluent communicators. Some notable people who overcame stuttering include actor James Earl Jones, newscaster John Stossel and nurse Clara Barton.
Supporting a child’s self-esteem and confidence can be a major component of therapeutic intervention, according to Allen. The Oct. 20 workshop will address that, in addition to the importance of parents’ and speech-language pathologists’ roles in therapy programs.
Parents and speech-language pathologists will have an opportunity to share information and hear speakers discuss diagnosis and intervention for stuttering, in addition to learning about area resources and other issues surrounding the raising of a child who stutters.
Children, Hall says, will be grouped by age, learning from one another about successful communication, and participating in self-affirming activities.
“This is really a wonderful opportunity for a broad spectrum of people with wide-ranging skills, education and experiences to come together and share their expertise,” Hall says.
The cost of the workshop is $10 for families and $20 for speech-language pathologists. More information is available by calling Marybeth Allen at (207) 581-2403 or by visiting the Communication Sciences and Disorders website at http://www.umaine.edu/comscidis/