VSU Lecture Focuses on Assessing and Treating Dementia

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will host its second annual Dr. Robert A. Hull Jr. Memorial Lecture Series on Friday, Sept. 23, in the University Center Magnolia Room. Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m., and the day will conclude with a 3 p.m. question-and-answer session.

Dr. Lollie Vaughan from the University of Mississippi will present the lecture, “Dos, Don’ts and Developments for Assessing and Treating Dementia.” She holds an undergraduate degree in speech and hearing sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Texas Christian University, and a doctorate in hearing, speech, and language sciences from Ohio University. Her research has focused on treatment approaches for apraxia of speech and concomitant balance and hearing disorders in the elderly with cognitive defects.

Open to professionals and VSU students, the lecture will “familiarize professionals with recent findings to facilitate accurate differential diagnosis of various forms of dementia.” It “will also review effective treatment techniques for patients with dementia and their caregivers.” Participants will have the opportunity to practice techniques learned. The lecture will be interactive and will utilize small group problem-solving and case-based assessments.

Registration is $75 for professionals and $15 for students and includes lunch. Continuing education units will be awarded. Space is limited to 150 people. The deadline to register is noon on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Checks and money orders will be accepted and should be made payable to the VSU Foundation. Proceeds benefit the Dr. Robert A. Hull Jr. Scholarship Fund, which benefits a new graduate student pursuing a master’s degree within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree from the department and be a member of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a student member of the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Members of the Dewar College of Education Scholarship Committee make the final selection.

“The department and Dr. Hull’s family initiated the scholarship in his memory and asked for donations in lieu of flowers to be made to the VSU Foundation for the Dr. Robert A. Hull Jr. Scholarship Fund,” said Dr. Ruth H. Stonestreet, professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. “Dr. Hull was an advocate of scholarships for students entering the master’s program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. He had served for many years on the Scholarship Committee for the Dewar College of Education. Many students in the program at VSU benefitted from his knowledge of the field, curriculum, and advising abilities.”

Dr. Robert A. Hull Jr. died suddenly in April 2009, one day after returning from the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s convention where he was awarded the Honors of the Association in recognition of his outstanding performance in clinical service, academic teaching, service to the association, and service to local, regional and national organizations. He developed many of the courses taught at VSU in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. He was a professor, an advisor, a clinical supervisor, and more to faculty, students and the community.

For more information, contact Susan Miller in VSU’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at (229) 219-1305 or sumiller@valdosta.edu.