Stuttering THERAPY

Kimberly Barnes, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, of Breinigsville, was one of 15 speech-language pathologists chosen to attend an intensive workshop on stuttering therapy called “Treating Children and Adolescents Who Stutter.”

Barnes is a speech- language pathologist at Willow Lane Elementary School.

The workshop, which takes place in Philadelphia through June 17, is co-sponsored by the Stuttering Foundation, The Florida State University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“Since 1985, we have conducted intensive workshops in order to increase the pool of speech-language pathologists trained in the latest techniques for the treatment of stuttering,” Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation, said.

“Those who are selected to participate already have professional experience and have demonstrated a special interest in children who stutter,” Joe Donaher, Ph.D. of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said. “Our task is to provide a forum where they can hone their skills.”

Donaher, along with Lisa A. Scott, Ph.D., of The Florida State University and Vivian Sisskin, M.S., of the University of Maryland, are the co-leaders of the workshop.

The Foundation estimates over three million Americans stutter. While there is no universal cure, speech clinicians can help children and adults alike make significant progress toward fluent speech.

The Foundation notes the previous 172 workshop graduates have frequently created “ripple effects” in their home communities thanks to the new knowledge and techniques gained.