Mandy Longo is a speech-language pathologist who earned her bachelor's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from The University of Florida, and her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University in Washington DC. Mandy has been a Beckman Oral Motor Therapist for 15 years, and loves working with infants and toddlers who have difficulties with nursing, speech, feeding, and swallowing. Mandy also has a passion for working with parents of newly diagnosed Deaf or Hard of hearing children to help guide them on their amazing journey, provide them the education they need in order to make decisions, and to facilitate bilingual language acquisition. In 2013, Mandy co-authored her first book, Holding Stories in the Palm of Your Hand, which focuses on narrative instruction and intervention with Story Grammar Marker® for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This book provides criterion-based assessments for narrative macro- and micro-structure for both English and American Sign Language, allowing the user to assess, progress monitor, and develop targeted interventions for both languages. In 2017 Mandy co-authored her second book, Closing The Gap: The Early Interventionist's Guide to Understanding, Assessing, and Monitoring Bilingual Language Development in Children who are Deaf of Hard of Hearing - Birth to 3. This book lays the foundation for understanding Language Deprivation Syndrome, how and why it impacts Deaf children, and introduces the Diagnostic Record and Intervention Plan - Early Years (DRIP-EY), a clinicians tool for data collection and progress monitoring bilingual language development in Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Specialty Areas:
Infant/Toddler Nursing/Feeding/Swallowing
Oral Motor
Early Intervention (birth - 3)
Bilingual Language Assessment and Intervention (English & ASL) for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Language Deprivation Syndrome
Certifications:
Certified Early Steps Provider
Beckman Oral Motor Assessment & Intervention Therapist
Autism Navigator Provider
NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) Trained for Dysphagia/Swallowing
Nationally Certified VCSL (Visual Communication and Sign Language Checklist) Trainer
Fluent in American Sign Language (SLPI Rating Advanced Plus – Superior Plus Range, ASLPI 3+)
