(Nashville, TN-November 3, 2005) Dr. Edward Conture professor and Graduate studies director in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt University will be awarded the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's Frank R. Kleffner Life Clinical Career Award during the 2005 Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), November 18-20 in San Diego, CA. The Frank R. Klefner Life Clinical Career Award recognizes exemplary contributions to science and practice. Dr. Conture is recognized for his lasting influence on the clinical practice of speech-language pathology, especially in the area of childhood stuttering, over more than three decades.
Dr. Conture's work has moved the discipline of stuttering research and practice from a strictly motor approach and philosophy to understanding moments of stuttering as a language-based phenomenon. His recent research has focused on the linguistic processes of children who stutter as well as on the linkage of stuttering to temperament variables such as shyness and fearfulness. A proponent of multi-disciplinary treatment, he has worked closely with clinical psychologists in order to address the various emotional aspects often associated with the disorder of stuttering. His laboratory is his clinic; he maintains a full weekly schedule of diagnostics, parent-child stuttering groups, and several individual treatment sessions, with clinical practice grounded in current theory and research. Among his colleagues, students, and families, he is recognized as a scientist, mentor, and master clinician.
Internationally, he has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on childhood stuttering, and his work is represented in hundreds of publications, media, and presentations.
The annual ASHA convention is the most comprehensive development conference for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists. It features more than 1,500 educational sessions that highlight the latest developments in research and clinical practices for professionals who provide services in schools, hospitals, health care centers, rehabilitation clinics, and other practice settings.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation is a charitable organization working to promote a better quality of life for children and adults with communication disorders. Its mission is to advance knowledge about the causes and treatment of hearing, speech, and language problems. The ASHFoundation raises funds from individuals, corporations, and organizations to support research, graduate education, and special projects that foster discovery and innovation in the field of communication sciences.
The ASHFoundation is affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 120,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
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