Health Link 2008-09
Stuttering
Original Broadcast:  Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 7:30pm ET
Repeat:  Sunday May 12, 2008 at midnight

More than 3 million American adults stutter and approximately 1 out of every 30 children is affected.  Despite the widespread nature, the general public remains very misinformed about this genetic and neurological condition.  As a result, many people who stutter find themselves isolated or limited by their condition.  On the next Health Link we will examine what causes stuttering, how it is diagnosed and the latest in treatment options

Guests:
Sr. Charleen M. Bloom, PhD, CCC-SLP
In addition to being a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Sister Charleen Bloom is also a Professor of Communication Disorders at the College of Saint Rose located in Albany New York.  Her primary professional interest is in fluency, fluency disorders and counseling.  She teaches courses in each of these areas.  A Sister of St. Joseph, Sr. Charleen holds a M.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.  She received her doctorate in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Illinois, Champaign Illinois.  She obtained her Masters in Social Work from the State University of Albany, New York.  Sr. Charleen belongs to numerous local and national professional affiliations including the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, ASHA Special Interest Division 4, New York State Speech and Hearing Association, New York State Licensure, The Capital District Council of Fluency (Founder and Moderator), and the National Association of Social Workers.  Sr. Charleen has written several publications and is a noted national presenter on the topics of stuttering therapy, fluency and auditory training.
http://www.strose.edu/Future_Students/Academics/School_of_Education/cmd_department.asp
For information regarding The College of St. Rose Fluency Council contact Dr. Joseph Klein at (518) 454-5205.

Jane Downey, CCC-SLP
Jane Downey is a speech and language pathologist who has been in practice for 30 years both in New York state and in Georgia.  She has been a speech-language pathologist in the Capital Region since 1985 and has worked in a variety of work settings including agencies treating children and adults with neurological disorders, community clinics and she has worked as a consultant to many community programs. She has worked both in direct client care and in project development for programs related to individuals with disabilities.   Jane currently owns and operates her own private practice serving adults and children with speech, language, voice, feeding and swallowing disorders throughout the capital district.  She is a member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and she is on the Board of Directors for the New York State Speech Language Hearing Association.  Jane received both her B.A. and her M.S. degree from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.  She holds an New York State license in Speech-Language Pathology, a New York State teaching certification as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped, the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association and she has completed the  Basic Course in Neurodevelopmental Treatment. 

Jane C. Downey, CCC-SLP
P.O. Box 1526
Guilderland, NY 12084
Phone/Fax: (518) 452-4239
mailto:downeyjc@nycap.rr.com

Pamela Mertz
Pamela Mertz began stuttering when she was 5 and spent most of her life trying to hide it, until May of 2006 when she lost her job of 22 years, and the secure world in which she had tried to conceal her secret crumbled.  That's when she found the courage to speak out and today Pam seeks to dispel some of the misconceptions about stuttering.  She is a member of the College of St Rose fluency council, and the National Stuttering Association (NSA), which has a local chapter that meets monthly at the college.  See resources below for more information on the support group.

Vickie Drake
Vickie is the parent of a middle school student who stutters.