Now a Speech Pathologist Specializing in Helping Children
Lori Melnitsky-Fradkin, a graduate of Plainview Old Bethpage JFK High School, overcame a severe stuttering disorder and dealt with many obstacles when she was younger. Rather than letting her disability take over her life – she took over the disability.
Melnitsky-Fradkin is a speech pathologist who specializes in stuttering therapy and has a private practice in Plainview called All Island Speech Therapy and Rehabilitation. She started the business eight years ago to educate people that there is help available for someone who stutters.
“Early intervention is vital,” said Melnitsky-Fradkin. “As early as age two-and-a-half, some kids will start exhibiting signs of stuttering. As soon as that is noticed, a speech pathologist should be seen.”
According to Melnitsky-Fradkin, sometimes just changing the child’s environment and doing smaller things like slowing down the family’s rate of speech can help rectify the problem.
Stuttering, according to Melnitsky-Fradkin, affects more boys than girls in a 4-to-1 ratio.
Melnitsky-Fradkin didn’t get help with her stutter until she was in her twenties. She offers help to teenagers and adults as well and knows how hard it is to live with a stuttering problem. “I wanted to help others,” she said. “There is help available and help that can inspire you to do whatever you want.”
For Melnitsky-Fradkin, she knows how important the support of family can be. She credits her husband Hugh and daughters Samantha and Leah for her success. “Parents feel like they have done something wrong and they haven’t,” said Melnitsky-Fradkin.
To make an appointment and for a free consultation, e-mail Lori@allislandspeech.com, call 776-0184 or visit www.allislandspeech.com for more information.
