Division 4, Fluency and Fluency Disorders

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Announcements

Fluency Conference in June

Division 4, Fluency and Fluency Disorders will hold a Leadership/Clinical Conference—Promoting Learning and Change in the Assessment and Treatment of Fluency Disorders—at the Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, June 20–22. Register by May 26 to enjoy early bird rates! Access the program [PDF] and registration form [PDF] online.

Perspectives is now an Internet-only publication!

Perspectives on Fluency and Fluency Disorders is now available online only, published by ASHA with HighWire Press. Perspectives is published three times annually in March, August, and November.

Reimbursement

Concerned about reimbursement issues? Division 4, together with the Stuttering Foundation of America, has developed a document—"Obtaining Reimbursement for Stuttering Treatment"—that can help answer your questions concerning:

health plan coverage
physician referral
submitting claims
appealing denial of claims
and denial of appeals

Division 4 Web Page

Division 4 maintains a second Web page on the Stuttering Home Page. Select "Special Interest Division 4 website" in the table.

Vision and Mission

Vision

The ASHA Division on Fluency and Fluency Disorders is a nationally recognized authority providing education, research, and support to help speech-language pathologists achieve excellence in treating people who stutter.

Mission

To provide speech-language pathologists with resources and education that (a) facilitate understanding of fluency disorders and (b) promote effective treatment of people with fluency disorders.
To support new and ongoing research on the nature, diagnosis, and treatment of fluency disorders.
To improve the quality of life for people with fluency disorders through advocacy and public education.

Study and Professional Issues

Study Issues

Definition, identification, and measurement
Nature of disorders
Status of research and clinical information and implications for evaluation and treatment
Issues related to treatment approaches
Prevention and early intervention (preschool)
Management of elementary school-aged children
Therapy for upper school age and adults
Special topics such as counseling, transfer, follow-up, and measurement of progress
Innovations in school therapy programs
Directions of and designs for basic and applied research
The multidimensionality of fluency disorders
Ethnic variables and treatment goals and practices

Professional Issues

Ways of improving the education and training of researchers and clinicians
Clinical certification standards related to professional training
The recognition of specialists
Sponsoring the discussion of controversial issues
Instrumentation in treatment
Promoting the publication of a broad range of information needed by various segments of professionals (school clinicians, laboratory researchers, university professors, etc.)
Multidisciplinary interaction
The role of self-help and consumer groups
Funding of clinical developments and research
Participation in international activities

Help shape future developments in these and other areas of activity! The ultimate objectives of the division will be determined by its affiliates.

Affiliate Benefits

Newsletters

The Division 4 Newsletter–Perspectives on Fluency and Fluency Disorders–features:

News of division activities
Articles on research and clinical topics
Articles on professional and practice issues
Updates on specialty recognition board activities

Indexes for all issues [PDF] of the Division 4 Newsletter are available online.

Continuing Education

Division 4–through ASHA-approved CE providers–sponsors an annual leadership conference and other CE events. The division also offers a Short Course at the annual ASHA Convention.

Annual Leadership Conference: Participants in the annual leadership conference can earn continuing education credits.
Short Course: Division affiliates are eligible for a 50% discount on a Short Course at ASHA Convention.

E-Mail List

Affiliates have the opportunity to join the exclusive (for Division 4 affiliates only) Division 4 E-mail List.

Networking

Affiliates have the opportunity to identify others with interest in fluency and fluency disorders by means of affiliate membership meetings and e-mail list participation.

Representation Within ASHA

The Division 4 Coordinator represents the Fluency Special Interest Division within the ASHA Board of Division Coordinators.
The Steering Committee responds to ASHA requests for input regarding policy, guidelines, committees, and other issues.
Affiliates have the opportunity to provide input to the division leadership and ASHA.

Steering Committee

Division Coordinator: Vivian Sisskin, Department of Hearing and Speech Science, University of Maryland, College Park
Associate Coordinator: Sheryl Gottwald, University of New Hampshire
Shelley Brundage, George Washington University
Nan Bernstein Ratner, University of Maryland, College Park
Glen Tellis, Misericordia College
Perspectives Editor: Charles A. Osborne, University of Wisconsin - Steven Point
Associate Editor: Rodney Gabel, Bowling Green State University
CE Administrator: Lynne W. Shields, Forbonne University

Ex Officios: Brian B. Shulman, Monitoring Vice President for Professional Practices in Speech-Language Pathology
Gwendolyn D. Wilson, Monitoring Vice President for Professional Practices in Audiology
Leigh Deussing, Associate Director, Special Interest Division Programs