Southern Miss Professors Organize Speech Language Conference

Audiologists and speech language pathologists from across the state gathered for the Mississippi Speech Language Hearing Association Annual Continuing Education Conference in Jackson March 30 through April 1.

Amy Rosonet and Kimberly Ward, professors in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department at The University of Southern Mississippi, served as chairs for the conference.

The conference provides professionals quality continuing education units (CEU) approved by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). According to Rosonet, the conference offered top-notch speakers with current research and updates in the field.

Rosonet said organizing the conference took a lot of work, but providing quality learning opportunities made the long hours worth it.

“We both believe strongly in volunteerism, devotion and commitment to our profession,” Rosonet said. “We care about the quality of CEU's offered to our colleagues through MSHA. We wanted to offer our enthusiasm, passion, innovative ideas, organization and expertise to our state association. Kim and I have been co teaching a course together for three years and work very well together so we knew we would be a great team.”

The conference broke the record for most attendees, with 598 participating, and the most CEUs offered. Approximately 52 speakers and 24 exhibitors were present, spanning three days of sessions.

The presentations covered a plethora of topics including swallow management, professional issues, dyslexia, augmentative communication, aphasia, literacy, tinnitus management, otoacoustic emissions, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder updates and early intervention.

For more information about the conference visit http://www.mshausa.org/continuing-education/conference/.