About Sharon

I have always believed that the most important ability we have is the ability to communicate. When I was 12 years old I had a dear friend named Lisa who was deaf and could not communicate effectively. One day Lisa hurt herself and I took her home to her parents for care of her injury. My career passion was borne that day as I talked to her parents about the therapies Lisa was receiving to improve her life and her communication.

Years later I had the opportunity to attend State University College at Buffalo, one of the few affordable leading Universities at that time in Speech & Language Pathology. My professors and their eclectic backgrounds were a gift and I enthusiastically returned there for graduate school as well. My training in early and special education gave me a cornerstone on language-learning and the impact it had on reading and academics. In 1973 Public Law 94-132 became a pilot program in the Buffalo school system and I was a pioneering Speech/Language Itinerant in that program. Special day classes were then called "Learning Disabled" and children with a wide variety of communication and language-learning disorders were placed in them. It was there that I learned and expanded my role as a support and expert for the classroom teacher.

A demographic shift in 1977 placed me in Beverly Hills, California servicing and learning medical neurological speech/language pathology. I stayed constant with developmental speech/language disorders and expanded to geriatric neurological rehabilitation in acute hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and clinics/agencies.  I found that the knowledge and clinical experience in these areas fit well with the communication disorders of stroke, apraxia, aphasia, motor planning, autism and dysphagia (swallowing) and added new dimensions to my understanding of functional intervention. With a large team of experienced and committed speech/language pathologists, our practice worked passionately to improve communication for the 0-100 age population.

A family move in 1994 placed me in Israel and gave me a first-hand understanding of a communication handicap. With limited Hebrew I worked in the national theatre with actors for accent transfer, consulted to clinicians and clinics, presented workshops for optimizing communication, and, worked in a day care for head injured soldiers.

Return to Calabasas, California in 1997 changed my professional direction again as I revisited my own clinical skills and moved through all levels of care until settling in to the present office and practice I have. I have returned home. My clients range from a 90 year old stroke patient, to a 2.5 year old child diagnosed with Autism. My constant is the commitment to stay focused on developing functional and optimal communication skills, as indicated and necessary, for every one of my clients. My role is that as facilitator for the family and the team in the areas of communication and, when indicated, language-learning. I believe the parent, the family, and, the clients are the experts and that my role is to find the path to uncover the key to their growth. Our partnership helps me sleep very well at night.

I presently evaluate and treat all types and degrees of communication delays and disorders. I specialize in early speech/language development, voice and diction, swallowing, rhythm disorders, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, limited/non-verbal communication and oral motor planning disorders. My approach is eclectic and whole, integrating the individuals' life into the therapeutic regime. I enjoy presenting at conferences, workshops, case reviews, school observations and treatment plan development. Most importantly perhaps is that I enjoy and continue to learn new ideas that will help grow me professionally.

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Professional Commitment

• To improve the quality of life of those living with any type and degree of Communication Disorders.
• To assist the family and/or significant other to manage and optimize communication issues affecting the family unit.
• To support, and advocate for, those living with communication limitations.
• To interact as an intra-disciplinary team member to promote communication progress.

Professional Experience

1997/present	Private Practice, ages 1-100, servicing (not limited to) individuals with ASD, early childhood speech & language disorders, Apraxia, Dysarthria, Dysphagia, Aphasia, Stroke, TBI, Communication Training for Executives, language-learning disorders, Voice Disorders, Stuttering, Voice & Diction.
1994-1997	Part Owner: ProRehab (purchased by Don Wortley, RPT). Private Practice in Israel with scope servicing Special needs children in Ra'anana, speech services at the American School, private clients in the National Theatre, National Accent Transfer & Swallowing Therapy, on the board and consultant to the Israeli Speech/Language Association, communication seminars to the executives in the Israeli Security Department, Speech/Language Pathologist in Head Trauma Day Care Center for Head Injured Soldiers.
1978-1994	Sharon Hensel-Cohen, MSCCC/SLP & Associates Camden Drive,  Beverly Hills California Owner, Clinical Supervisor & Private Therapist Diversified private practice with 17 full time and 21 part-time therapists servicing the scope of: private schools; clinics; acute hospitals; skilled nursing facilities; home health agencies.  I serviced private clients in the Beverly Hills Office (speech/language disorders, accent transfer, voice and diction, neurological communication disorders, etc.)
1977-1978	Irwin Lehrhoff & Associates: Clinician, Geriatric Neurological Intervention, Dysphagia Training, degenerative neurological diseases.
1975-1977	Pilot program PL#94-142 (Basis for special services) SLP Sweetholme School District, Buffalo New York- Itinerant
1974	Teaching Assistant Dr. Joseph DeRose, Stuttering Clinic Supervision
1974	National Language Camp Organizer/Participant-SUC, Buffalo
1970-1973	Clinical hours in Speech/Hearing Clinic, State University College/Buffalo

Clinical Internships
Aural/Oral Rehabilitation-Children's Hospital Buffalo New York
Buffalo School District, Speech/Language Itinerant
Geriatric Neurological CFY, Beverly Hills Ca.

Clinical Expertise
Includes, but is not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Early Childhood Language Disorders; developmental speech delays; Stroke; Head Trauma; Apraxia; Aphasia; Dysphagia; Limited/non-verbal communication intervention; AACA evaluations; Language/Learning disorders; Language-based reading problems; voice and rhythm disorders.

Academic Degrees
Bachelor of Science, Special Education & Speech/Language Pathology 1973-State U. College at Buffalo
Master of Science, Speech/Language Pathology 1974- State U. College at Buffalo

Professional Attainment
Speech/Language Pathologist, Licensed in California
Regular/Special Education Teacher k-12  (New York, California)

Professional Expertise
Language-Based Reading Disorders            Dysphagia            Autism                        Voice & Diction
Limited/non-verbal Communication Disorders            Aphasia                        TBI              Apraxia
Medical Neurological Communication Disorders            Language-Learning            Stuttering

Research
Early Childhood Language & Rhythm Disorders, Stuttering
Graduate Assistant SUCB 1974-1975

Associations
American Speech/Language Hearing Association
Israeli Speech/Language & Hearing Association

Professional Activities
Board Member, Family Focus Empowerment Center,  CSUN
Board Member, TAP-The Autism Perspective Magazine
Emmy Recipient, 'Autism: The Hidden Epidemic Piece' 2006, NBC
Professional Consultant to Families
Stroke Group Facilitator, Reseda California
Blog Q&A, Natural Learning Concepts
Quarterly Articles, The Autism Perspective Magazine

Recent Conference Presentations
*Whole Language Approach for Developing Communication in Limited/non-verbal children with ASD
*All You Need to Know about Speech & Language Skills in order to Help Your Child
*Moving From Symbols to Speech and/or Written Communication
*Understanding the Speech/Language Variance of Individuals Diagnosed with High Level Autism or Aspergers Syndrome in Order to Create Positive Change
*Language as Behavior: Daily Opportunities to Develop Verbal Communication Skills
Publications
*Optimizing Phone Communication with Physicians for Nurses and Allied Medical Personnel
*Optimal Communication: Using and Developing Your Skills
*Social Communication: Semantics or Pragmatics?
*Voice & Diction: Your Hidden Tool

Workshops
Jewish Federation, Teaching to the communicatively Impacted Child
Los Angeles Unified School District: Optimizing Language in the Classroom
Family Focus Empowerment Center, CSUN

 

Other Conference Presentations available

References Available Upon Request

• Contact Sharon