Stephen Camarata at Vanderbuilt
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Anonymous
| I'm also intrigued by this thread. Can anyone describe what is so special about this doctor and how a one day appointment in another city can make a difference. Thanks. |
Anonymous
| Has he published anything that would let someone get to know him and his approach a little better? I am interested and am wondering the same thing as the PP. |
Anonymous
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Stephen Camarata's training and expertise make the difference. He does a differential diagnosis. This means that EVERY Dx is on the table, instead of just ruling in or out autism. He also has made a career out of studying how children obtain language, and how to help children with developmental disabilities obtain language. In addition to his research for Vanderbilt, he's also the chairman for the NIH study group on psychopathology and developmental delays. I've had my child assessed by several different groups, and the difference is just night and day. The detailed level of information he can give you about your child after just a few hours is amazing. And most importantly, the report you get afterward details how to work best with your child, information important to you and the teachers. He's a big believer in parents being key to the communication process. He doesn't recommend anything that's not scientifically tested to help children progress. He also works a great deal with autism, and is testing treatments for children with autism that produce scientifically measured results. |
Anonymous
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Here's a CNN link to a research study he's doing on language and autism : http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-01/health/autism.speech.learning_1_autism-children-lack-parents?_s=PM:HEALTH Scientists look to help children with autism find a voice AUTISM March 01, 2010|By Val Willingham, CNN |
Anonymous
| We have just booked our evaluation for my 4 year old daughter. Our daughters Neuro turned us on to Sowell & Camarata and we are excited to see him as it is not only the diagnosis but the teaching and talking about what is likely to come. We are traveling from AZ. |
Anonymous
| Sorry it is so much later than the original conversation in this thread, but I still wanted to post. I lived in Springfield VA and made the trek 4x with my son to see Stephen Camarata. Worth every moment and every penny. We flew two times and drove from DC/area two times. Pretty easy drive if you have someone to share it with. Definitely worth it! |
Anonymous
| How does one go about making an appointment with Camarata? I cannot find any scheduling contact information for him. I'd love to have my almost 5-year-old son evaluated by him. |
Anonymous
| Is he an SLP? What kind of professional is he? Just curious. |
Anonymous
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He's a scientist and researcher in speech and language. In addition to his Audiology and Speech Science degrees, he also has a degree in Special Education. He also is the chairman for the NIH study section on Developmental Disabilities and Child Psychopathology. Here's his bio: https://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=GHSS&doc=31493 Stephen Camarata received his PhD in 1984 at Purdue University with a major in Audiology & Speech Sciences and a minor in Statistical Methods. Post doctoral appointments have been held at the University of Arizona (Speech & Hearing Sciences) and at the University of California, San Diego (in Cognitive Science). Dr. Camarata held faculty positions at Penn State University and in the Autism Research Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara prior to coming to Vanderbilt in 1990. He is currently a Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences and an Associate Professor of Special Education. In addition he is an Investigator at the John F. Kennedy Center for Research on Development and Disabilities (serving as Acting Director of that Center from 1999-2002). Dr. Camarata’s area of research interest are focused on the identification and treatment of speech and language disorders in children. Populations of interest include autism, Down Syndrome, phonological disorder, and language disorder. He is currently a permanent member of the NIH study section on Developmental Disabilities and Child Psychopathology. |
Anonymous
In addition to his Vanderbilt and NIH work, he also works with a foundation of Late Talking Children. That group can be found at www.latetalkers.org |
Anonymous
| We brought our 2 year old son to see him today. I walked away feeling impowed by the information he gave me. Usually I walk away from the appointments pretty confused. He is brilliant and full of information. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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We just got back from our 5th annual visit. The level of expertise Camarata brings to testing -- and what the scores mean -- is unmatched. We found great progress with this last round of tests, but also a new challenge, as my son was now old enough to test on a couple of other issues. Knowing this weakness will make a huge difference in how the we -- and the schools -- work with our son. It also makes perfect sense and explains the troubles we were having with our son struggling to finish his work. It may sound like hyperbole, but I feel my son's future would have been ruined had I not made that first trip to Nashville. I would have made the mistake of listening to the schools on what was going on with my son, and started shoving him into all the wrong treatments and programs. Everything the Camaratas (he works with his wife, Mary) told us has unfolded as they said it would. |
Anonymous
| Does Dr. Camarata work with mild Asberger's quirky kids withe auditory processing issues? I had heard once about a center at Duke University that observes your child for several hours and then makes a DX and an educational plan? Is this still a thing? DH is 10 and really has been in a patchwork of treatment in DCPS and in private therapy. But we need something more comprehensive as we go forward into middle school. Some of the issues have resolved but many are so intractable. I'v also heard there is a clinic in NY. Does anyone know any thing about this? |
Anonymous
10:48 here....yes, Dr. Camarata works with those kinds of language issues. |