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About Us

Meet the Speech Matters Team

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Linda Bejoian
MS, CCC-SLP

Linda Bejoian has over thirty years of professional experience as a certified speech pathologist.


Through her private practice on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, she has gained expertise in treating a variety of speech and language disorders. 

 

Education:

  • Master of Science at Rutgers, The State University

  • Bachelor of Arts at The State University at New York Buffalo

  • Central School of Speech and Drama  London, England

 

Credentials:

  • Externship supervisor for graduate speech pathology program at Hunter College

  • Bejoian, L., Gordon, B., Juska, J., O'Grady, J., Pullara, O., & Thorne, J. (2005). Achieving Speech Production in a Nonverbal Adolescent with Autism. Department of Neurology, Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology, John Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD. 

  • Founder and Developer: The Language Garden School 

  • Programs use a thematic approach specialized for 3-5 year-olds 

  • Former Adjunct Clinical Instructor: Tufts University School of Pediatric Dentistry 

  • Workshop Presenter for Dentists and Speech Pathologists: Columbia, Harvard, and Boston University 

  • Awarded Scholarship at the Rusk Insititute of Rehabilitation Medicine

  • Creator of "Mr. Wizard's Thumbs Out", Educational video designed to help 3-8 year olds stop thumb sucking.                                                                                  

    • "The video was very well done and the message was very clear. There is no doubt that it would be useful in assisting children with this particular problem." - Anthi Tsamtsouris, D.M.D.M.S. Assistant Chairwoman, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tufts University 

  • Prompt Certified 

  • Expertise in treating children with oral motor problems, as well as PDD

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Shelby Benedicto

Shelby is a licensed speech-language pathologist based in Manhattan. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) as a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a licensed Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD). After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland, Shelby later received her Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from CUNY Hunter College. 

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Throughout her career, Shelby has gained invaluable clinical practice in both academic and healthcare settings and has experience working with children and adult populations. Specifically, Shelby is knowledgeable in treating a variety of disabilities/disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, speech sound disorders, phonological disorders, stuttering, learning disabilities, and neurogenic communication disorders. Shelby also currently works at a non-profit special education school in Manhattan, serving students ages 5-14 who present with expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language challenges. 

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Shelby is a neurodiversity-affirming therapist. She has received specialty training in working with children who communicate using delayed echolalia, or scripting. Shelby enjoys taking continuing education courses to gain additional certifications in evidence-based therapeutic approaches and to further her knowledge on speech sound disorders, myofunctional disorders, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), executive functioning, and sensory integration. Shelby keeps speech fun and engaging by using play-based therapy in order to learn about her clients’ interests and preferences, and builds meaningful connections with both clients and their families to ensure skills

MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
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Beatrice Nudelman
MS, CCC-SLP

Beatrice is a Speech Language Pathologist with ten years of experience specializing in adult and geriatric population status post neuro, cardiac, and pulmonary disorders/diseases.

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Her clinical areas of expertise include: Dementia Specialist, Cognitive Assessment and Remediation, Asphasia, Executive Function Training 

Dysphagia Management, Certified Lee Silverman Voice Treatment,

Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBSS), Passy Muir Valve Assessment/Management, Fiberoptic  Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES), Trach/Ventilator Management, and Voice Disorders.

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Licenses:

  • American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA)- 10/2011- present

  • New York State Speech Pathology License- 11/2018- present 

  • New Jersey State Speech Pathology License- 10/2018-present

  • Massachusetts State Speech Pathology License- 10/2011- present

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Education:

Fall 2008- September 2011: Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

  • Degree: Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology 

Fall 2004-Spring 2008: Brooklyn College, City University of New York 

  • Degree: Bachelors of Arts in Speech-Language and Hearing Pathology

Minor: Health and Nutrition Sciences

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Shahnaz Terzi

Shahnaz is a speech-language pathology Clinical Fellow. Shahnaz holds a Certificate in Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities with a Bilingual Extension in Arabic. 

 

Education:

  • Master of Science from Teachers College, Columbia University

  • Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh 

 

Shahnaz has worked in an acute care setting with adult patients who have speech, language and swallowing impairments related to stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological disorders. Shahnaz has experience treating a variety of communication disorders in adult populations, such as aphasia, dysarthria, voice disorders, cognitive disorders and stuttering. Shahnaz is LSVT certified (Lee Silverman Voice Therapy); a program designed for patients with Parkinson’s Disease. 

 

 

Shahnaz also has experience working with the pediatric and early intervention population in schools and an outpatient hospital setting. Shahnaz has treated communication disorders related to speech and language delays, literacy development, Autism Spectrum Disorder, articulation and phonological disorders, stuttering and social language. Shahnaz also has experience using a variety of alternative and augmentative communication systems (communication boards, keyboards, iPads, Lingraphica, etc.).

MS, CCC-SLP
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Erin Boyle
MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Erin is a speech-language pathologist based in New York City. She has experience evaluating and treating a diverse population of children and adults in private, special education schools and private clinics. She treats all developmental and acquired receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language disorders, as well as articulation and phonological disorders, in both children and adults.
 
Erin has training in various oral motor therapy approaches, such as Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) and PROMPT, that are aimed at improving articulation and oral motor skills. She is also trained in the Social Thinking curriculum, which targets improved social emotional skills (e.g., self-regulation, conversation, play skills, emotion recognition, problem solving, group work, etc.). She believes that the key to effective therapy is a team approach that encourages collaboration with parents, teachers, and other related therapeutic providers.

 

Erin received her Bachelor of Science degree from Adelphi University and her Master of Science degree from CUNY Hunter College. She is a licensed Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) and holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence through The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
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Amanda Catone
Amanda is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo State’s Speech Language Pathology program. She began her career in early intervention and preschool speech and language therapy, treating children from birth to five years old.
 
Amanda then transitioned to a school setting, working with middle school students, and is currently working with elementary and middle school students with brain injuries and brain-based disorders. She has experience in the areas of pediatric feeding and swallowing, articulation and phonology, receptive and expressive language, and augmentative and alternative communication.
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Rachel Golub
Rachel is a medical speech-language pathologist with experience aligning goals with clients and caregivers, and implementing evidence-based practice. She is especially interested in providing gender affirmation voice therapy. She has attended relevant presentations and continues to stay involved with coursework and independent research to best service the LGBTQIA+ community. Rachel’s interests also include treating adults who have had a traumatic brain injury. She has had years of experience working to foster independence and functionality for those with dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria, voice disorders and cognitive-linguistic impairment.

Special training includes:
● Acoustic Assumptions to target vocal resonance for voice feminization/masculinization
● SPEAK OUT!® for people with Parkinson’s disease
● Modified Barium Swallow Study Profile to analyze disordered swallowing
● Passy Muir Valve Assessment/ Management for people with tracheostomies
● Augmentative & Alternative Communication to increase communicative outlets for
people with aphasia
M.S., CCC, SLP
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Gaida Hinnawi
MS, CCC, SLP

Gaida Hinnawi earned her BA in biological science and music from Wayne State University.  She went on to earn her MS in speech-language pathology from Columbia University.  Gaida holds a license of speech language-pathology and a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).  She has experience working as a voice rehabilitation specialist and voice coach with a wide variety of clients.  Gaida is also an accomplished vocalist and songwriter specializing in classical Arabic, microtonal and contemporary folk & jazz fusion. 

 

Related Training Certificates: 

  • Vocology Certification, The National Center for Voice and Speech, the University of Iowa & the University of Utah

  • Certified provider of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), NY, NY

  • Laryngeal Imaging and Voice Therapy Workshop - Emory Voice Center, Atlanta, GA

  • Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) - Baltimore Medical Center, MD

  • Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES/sEMG Guardian Way)

  • PROMPT 1&2- Prompt Institute

  • Active participant in the ELR meetings curated by NYC Voice Center

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Heather Moss

Heather Moss is ASHA (American Speech-Language Hearing Association) certified and New York State licensed, holds a permanent certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) and is Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) Trained.

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Heather has a wealth of experience and has practiced in the United States and Australia for over 15 years. Heather has also studied and participated in education programs in France, Prague, Poland, Israel and China - working with children of all ages and across diverse backgrounds. She has an infectious enthusiasm for client improvement and has an energetic and creative personality conducive to working with children and their caregivers.

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Heather has a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Speech and Hearing from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Speech Language Pathologist
Rachel
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