Deanna (more commonly known as Deanie) has more than 36 years in the field of speech-language pathology. After graduating from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education (primary) and a Bachelor of Special Education, she completed her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida in 1986. She spent the next 30 years working with Central Health as a speech-language pathologist, in addition to being the Director of Speech and Audiology and then the Director of Rehabilitative Services.
Deanie’s enthusiasm for her profession has not diminished over the years and she loves being part of a team, providing treatment and support to families and clients of all ages experiencing communication/swallowing challenges. She has experience working in the areas of articulation/phonological disorders, motor speech disorders including dysarthria, language delays, voice disorders, dysfluency, and adult neurological disorders including stroke, dysphagia, and dementia. She has worked with children diagnosed with Autism and children with cochlear implants and hearing loss. While she cannot identify a specific clinical interest (she loves them all), she does have additional training in the following programs: language delays (It Takes two to Talk), motor speech ( PROMPT), fluency (Lidcombe), and Autism (Reference and Regulate) in addition to significant professional development in stroke and stroke care, aphasia, dysphagia, dysarthria, treatment for individuals experiencing progressive neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s, MS), auditory verbal therapy and Autism.
Over the years, Deanie has been an advocate for her field both as a volunteer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Speech-language Pathologists and Audiologists (NLASLPA) and in her management positions with a focus on expanding speech-language services and other rehabilitative professions to rural Newfoundland.
In her personal time, Deanie enjoys spending time with her husband and family. Her 3 daughters live across Canada- in BC, Ontario, and NL. She and her husband like to ballroom dance when they get the chance.
