Working With Selective Mutism: A Combined Communication Approach from Evaluation to Treatment
May 19, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Working With Selective Mutism: A Combined Communication Approach from Evaluation to Treatment
Friday, May 19, 2023
Registration 8:30am Program 9am to 12pm
Presented By: Evelyn R. Klein, Ph.D., Cesar E. Ruiz, SLPD, Louis R. Chesney, BSc
Location: Online Workshop
3 CE Credits
Act 48 available
Why would a child present with a consistent failure to speak in specific social situations where there is an expectation for speaking, despite speaking in other situations? If left untreated, SM has been known to negatively impact social communication, mental health and quality of life (Pereira, et al., 2021). This workshop provides an overview of the diagnostic criteria, current research trends, and selected methods to evaluate and treat children with selective mutism.
A validated assessment method and innovative treatment approaches will be reviewed and demonstrated from a combined speech-language pathology and psychology perspective.
Objectives:
- Define and describe diagnostic criteria of selective mutism.
- Identify current trends in research about selective mutism
- Describe the association of selective mutism and speech, language, and voice impairments.
- Explain a validated evaluation method and steps to assess selective mutism.
- Describe treatment techniques to facilitate vocalization and verbalization for communication in children with selective mutism.
Evelyn R. Klein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL is a Full Professor at La Salle University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders where she teaches, supervises, and advises students pursuing degrees in speech-language pathology. She holds professional licensures as a speech-language pathologist and psychologist. Bridging the two disciplines, her post-doctoral training is in clinical neuropsychology from Drexel University. Dr. Klein holds Supervisory Certification in Special Education from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Board-Certification as a Specialist in Child Language from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) where she became an ASHA Fellow in 2009. In 2012 she was awarded the state Clinical Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Klein is a recipient of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Faculty Scholarship Award from La Salle University.
As a practicing clinician, Dr. Klein continues to assess and treat children, teens, and adults in private practice with Klein & Ruiz Speech-Language Pathology, LLC. Her areas of specialization include selective mutism, autism spectrum disorders, language-learning disabilities, acquired language disorders, stuttering, and counseling for communicative disorders. At La Salle University, she has been instrumental in co-developing the CASTLE Center (Comprehensive Assessments with Speech Technology for Language Expansion). Dr. Klein is published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and has co-authored textbooks and treatment manuals including EXPRESS (Expanding Receptive and Expressive Skills through Stories): Language Formulation for Children with Selective Mutism and Other Communication Needs; More Than Fluency: The Social, Emotional, & Cognitive Dimensions of Stuttering; and Acquired Language Disorders: A Case-Based Approach (3rd edition). Her most recent treatment manual is ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation, by Plural Publishing. She is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the national Selective Mutism Association.
Cesar E. Ruiz, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Full Professor at La Salle University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders where he has taught for 20 years. Dr. Ruiz is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. He holds Board Certification in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and is a Voice Clinical Specialist. Dr. Ruiz received the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015. He is engaged in private practice and teaches, supervises, and advises students pursuing degrees in speech-language pathology. His areas of specialization include selective mutism, dysphagia, voice disorders, and bilingualism. Dr. Ruiz co directs the CASTLE Center at La Salle University in Philadelphia. The CASTLE Center is a specialized comprehensive assessment center where children with selective mutism are evaluated. Dr. Ruiz has pioneered the use of vocal control to help children with selective mutism. He co-owns Klein & Ruiz Speech-Language Pathology, LLC, a private practice for specialized communication & swallowing disorders. He has presented on the topic locally and nationally. Dr. Ruiz has published in peer-reviewed journals and is a co-author of ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation, by Plural Publishing.
Louis R. Chesney, BSc, is the Product Manager of Neurodiversity & Inclusion for RethinkCare, overseeing the expansion of RethinkCare’s inclusion experts, course content, and training approach. He is an expert in providing employer support to drive workplace inclusion and strengthen interpersonal skills. Louis championed and led a hiring program for adults with autism at a global technology company and is a co-author of “ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation,” a Plural Publishing book designed to help children in need of social communication support. Louis continually aims to make a positive impact on those who are underserved. As someone who experienced selective mutism first-hand, Louis inspires and actively contributes to the current work. As part of his efforts, he has served as a Disability: IN committee member and Selective Mutism Association board member.
PSCP: The Psychology Network is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PSCP: The Psychology network maintains responsibility for this program and its content.