About Alida Engel

Speech and hearing pathologist Alida Engel has over 35 years of experience in the public schools and now works exclusively in private practice in New Haven and Branford, Connecticut. She is a generalist with broad experience in the field. She also is a Board Recognized Fluency Specialiast, making her one of only about 300 such practitioners in the country. She works with both children and adults.

Jay Mankita was called "one of the half dozen best songwriters today" by Pete Seeger. For over 25 years, Jay has been playing guitar, composing and performing his original songs for both children and adults. To find out more about Jay and his other CDs go to www.jaymankita.com.

Awards

Alida is the recipient of fifteen Continuing Education Awards from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Publications

Advance: For Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. December 23, 1991. "High Impact Aerobics Poses Risk to Hearing and Balance."

Advance: For Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. December 23, 1991. "Preventing Vocal Injuries Among Instructors."

Presentations

Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital Parenting Support Programs of the Nurturing Families Network: "Teaching Language in the Child's Natural Environment." Fall 2004.

Yale-New Haven Hospital Bright Beginnings Mentors Program: "Language Development." Fall 2004.

Alida's Philosophy

I take a holistic and eclectic approach in helping people with their speech and language problems. I look not only at the physiological and neurological factors that might cause speech and hearing problems, I also explore the body, mind, emotional, family, and environmental factors that bear on communication.

Parents are an integral part of the therapy practice and are invited to participate in the treatment process.

I continuously keep abreast of emerging treatment approaches in order to apply the most effective treatments for my clients. The latest addition to my repertoire of treatment approaches is the Lidcombe Program for Early Stuttering, developed in Australia. I have studied speech treatment for autistic children under Marion Blank, Ph.D. I use Fast Forward to treat auditory attention difficulties and was trained by K. Veerdoilini, Ph.D., in the Lessac-Based Resonant Voice Training method.

Hamden, Connecticut area Pediatricians: "Identifying
Stuttering." Spring 2004.

Jewish Community Center Day Care Parents Lecture: "The Relationship of Literacy to Language." Winter 2001.

Wallingford, Connecticut Day Care Center Staff Training. Fall 1997.

Gesell Institute of Human Development: "Identifying Speech and Language Impaired Children." Winter 1997.

Norwalk, Connecticut Board of Education, Teachers Seminar: "Maintaining a Healthy Voice in the Classroom." Fall 1995.

Branford, Connecticut area Pediatricians: "Early Identification of Speech and Language Disorders." Fall 1994.

Yale School of Nursing: "Speech and Language Development"; 1999

Connecticut Birth-to-Three Program Staff Training: "Speech and Language Development." Summer 1985.

Affiliations

American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA); ASHA Special Interest Division 3 for Voice and Special Interest Division 4 for Stuttering; Connecticut Speech and Hearing Association, American Academy of Speech and Hearing Pathologists in Private Practice (past treasurer). Past coordinator of the New Haven Connecticut "Holistic Health Connection" (a network of professionals interested in providing holistic care).

Education, certifications, licenses

University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University; Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), Connecticut State Teacher //License; Board Certified Fluency Specialist (ASHA).

Interests

Alida loves improvesational dance, yoga, biking, fine cooking, and playing with her new grandchild.