Helen Duhon

Helen began her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist over 25 years ago in the schools in Louisiana. In 1980, she completed her Master's Degree from Vanderbilt University. Upon completion of her graduate program, she went to work for the Nashville schools and continued employment with them as she raised three children.

During her last years with Metro Nashville Schools, she served as Lead Speech-Language Pathologist, supervising the itinerant therapists and overseeing the Speech-Language Department. This experience allowed her to work with children of many different abilities and disabilities, integrating therapy with academic instruction.

Helen began her private practice in 1997, contracting her services and the services of other professionals to a variety of companies in many different educational and health care settings. In January 1998, she opened a freestanding clinic in Franklin, TN to serve a primarily pediatric population, while continuing to meet the demands of contract services in the community. In June 2003, Helen opened a second office in the Nashville area through purchasing the private practice of Martha Lynch upon Martha's retirement.

Helen provides evaluations and treatment for preschool/school aged children as well as for adolescents and young adults. Her years of experience have provided expertise in many different areas of disability. She has a special interest in dyslexia and severe reading and language disorders which impact learning.

Helen continues to be involved with local and national organizations, promoting the profession and services for children and adults. She served as President of the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (TAASLP) from 2000 to 2002. She worked with the State Department of Education to develop current standards used in identifying speech-language impaired students in the schools and assisted them in the writing of a technical manual outlining best practices and procedures. She represented Tennessee speech-language pathologists serving on an advisory council with the national organization,  the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association (ASHA) from 2006 through 2008.  Helen is currently serving as president of the Board of the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists Foundation from 2009 through 2011.

Helen is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Karen Sartin, MS, CCC-SLP

Karen has worked in medical rehabilitation settings for more than 20 years.    Her clinical experience spans all phases of the rehabilitation process, but is concentrated in outpatient services with an emphasis on academic and vocational transitioning.  She is particularly interested in the development of effective treatment models for managing post-concussive symptoms.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Karen coordinated the speech-language pathology services at the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute at Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center from 1992 – 2005.  She joined Helen Duhon and Associates at the Franklin Speech & Learning Center in 2007 where she is expanding her practice to include school age language disorders.  She is certified in Interactive Metronome training and has observed its positive effects with both neurological and developmental language and cognitive disorders.

Karen is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Kristin M. Seiler



Kristin received a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences from the University of Kentucky before obtaining her Master's from Miami University in Ohio. Kristen has been practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist since January 1998, serving children in a variety of clinical settings, outpatient pediatric clinics, school systems, and now private practice.

During her graduate studies, Kristin recognized a special desire to serve young children with severe communication deficits. She has focused her career and continuing education and training, on meeting the speech, language, and social needs of children with very limited communication abilities, children with autism, including pervasive development disorder, and children with apraxia.

Kristin has vast experience in conducting social-language groups to facilitate appropriate social and play skills with peers. She often co-treats with the Occupational Therapist in group as well as individual therapy to integrate communication with functional daily activities.

Kristin is certified in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and has considerable experience in implementing the program with a diverse group of children. She has completed many training courses on autism through the State Department of Education as well as through the TRIAD at Vanderbilt University. She shares her knowledge and experience by presenting at conferences and training courses throughout Tennessee.

Kristin is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Linda Bell



Linda joined the Franklin Speech & Learning Center in June, 1999. She has a background in education as well as speech-language pathology. After receiving a BS in Education from George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University in 1980, she taught preschool and kindergarten for four years and worked one year with students with emotional and behavioral impairments.

She returned to graduate school, and in 1987, she received her Master's of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. Since graduating, Linda has had experience evaluating and treating children and adolescents with a variety of communication disorders, in many different settings.

Her areas of interest include working with toddlers through adolescents with articulation and phonological disorders, apraxia, language delay/disorders, auditory processing difficulties, and fluency disorders. Linda draws from her educational background to integrate pre-academic and academic skills, including reading, in her therapy as she treats speech-language impaired children.

She provides a strong system of support for the children she serves by working closely with parents and school staff to assure optimal benefit of therapy. Her strong reputation for making a difference in the lives of children and their families is due to her caring concern and history of successful treatment programs.

Linda is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Diane Waterman



Diane worked in a public school setting in New York state for 18 months with mild-severe developmentally delayed children where she gained experience in working with language disorders, alternative communication systems, and developing programs for children with autism.

Relocating to Nashville with her family in 1984, Diane worked in private practice with Martha E. Lynch and Associates for 18 years and remained in the South Nashville office when Helen Duhon took over the practice following Ms. Lynch's retirement in June of 2003.

Diane has worked extensively with cleft palate, voice disorders, tongue thrust/swallowing disorders, Down Syndrome, developmental verbal dyspraxia, fluency, Asperger Syndrome, autism, auditory perceptual/processing disorders, language delay and phonological disorders. While working with Ms. Lynch, she developed personalized early reading programs to assure her clients' success in the classroom while they struggled with overcoming their speech and language difficulties. She is very enthusiastic about her long-term clients and their success academically. She enjoys working with very young children as well as older children and adults.

Recently, Diane has worked as an adjunct instructor at Middle Tennessee State University with college students entering the field of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Diane holds a license from the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Kathryn Wyatt



Kathryn has been practicing at the Franklin Speech and Learning Center since August, 2005.  She received both her Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology degrees from The University of Memphis.  After receiving her B.S.Ed. in Special Education, Kathryn earned her teacher certification in grades Kindergarten through 12^th grade.  Upon graduating with her Masters degree in August, 2005, she began her career at The Franklin Speech and Learning Center.

Kathryn’s career has focused on helping children with a variety of developmental, medical and communication disorders.  Kathryn currently sees children with varying mild, moderate and profound disorders and/or disabilities.  She incorporates her background in Special Education into her therapy to address the childs areas of difficulty.  Kathryn has experience in working with children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Feeding Disorders, Tubular sclerosis, Down Syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Learning Disabled in Reading, Cleft Palate, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Mental Retardation, Articulation Delays, Language Impairment, and other disorders that may affect the child’s ability to communicate with his/her family and peers.

Kathryn has received specialized training in Feeding Disorders and is currently one of the Feeding Specialists at the Franklin office.   Related treatment is often incorporated into the child’s speech or language therapy.  Kathryn often conducts feeding groups with peer models to aid in generalization of skills into larger group settings.                

Kathryn also has significant experience in conducting social-language groups to facilitate appropriate pragmatic language, social behaviors, and play skills of children. Kathryn, along with Kristin Seiler, conduct the Building Blocks to Friendship Program in order to teach and facilitate age appropriate social skills in a natural setting.  Children of all ages attending the groups have shown significant progress in their social settings.

Kathryn is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Amy Parham CCC-SLP



Amy began her career in the field of speech-language pathology in 1995, after completing her master’s degree at Western Kentucky State University.  She has been affiliated with Helen Duhon for over 10 years.  Amy provides services in both the Nashville and Franklin offices.  Amy also serves severely impaired students in private school settings.  Although she is well experienced in all areas of communication disorders, her special interests are language impairments and reading disorders.  She also enjoys working with students who have social language difficulties and children with attention deficit disorders (ADHD).

Amy teaches our Summer Scholars program.  Each summer, students are eager to learn academics through fun, motivational activities. Amy spends a significant amount of time planning and adapting lessons to meet each individual’s needs.   

Amy is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).

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Sally Meacham



Sally has been with Helen Duhon and Associates since 2004. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Psychology from Western Kentucky University and her Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology from Vanderbilt University.

Sally has worked with the age range of 2 years to the geriatric population. Her area of concentration is pre kindergarten through school age children and the speech and language disorders most commonly identified with that age group. She works in private schools, charter schools, and at the Franklin Speech and Learning Center.

Sally is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.

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Sylvia Bishop-Driggins

Sylvia holds a masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Tennessee State University where she currently serves as an Adjunct Clinical Supervisor.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing therapy from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.  She has over 20 years experience as a Speech Clinician and has practiced in North Dakota, Montana, Ohio, Texas and Tennessee. 

Sylvia began her career in the Glasgow Public Schools in Glasgow, Montana.  During her employment, she helped to establish the first Speech and Hearing services for the Glasgow Public Schools. 

In her 20 years of practicing in public schools, Sylvia has had a considerable amount of experience working with hearing impaired children and children with impaired language skills. 

During her practice as an Educational SLP here in Tennessee, she has served on two State Task Forces, which introduced the new Tennessee State licensure for Professional School Service Personnel; and the new service delivery method for school based SLPs.

She has presented at the Tennessee Special Education Annual convention and the annual Tennessee Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists convention.  As the Chair of TAASLP’s Public School Committee, she has developed professional brochures for distribution to school based SLPs and paraprofessionals throughout the state, as well as established the SLP forum for school-based SLPs held bi-annually.

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Occupational Therapists
 

Marnique Riley OTR/L



A native of Charleston, SC, Marnique graduated from Tennessee State University in 2006, with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. Since graduating, she has had the privilege of working in the skilled nursing, home health, and school settings. Marnique enjoys attending continuing education courses in a variety of areas, and aspires to become a certified pediatric Aquatic Therapist.

Marnique joined the Franklin Speech & Learning Center in February 2009, and strives to use knowledge acquired from her educational, clinical, and interpersonal experiences to maximize her clients' potential for holistic success.

She is registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and licensed to practice in the State of Tennessee.

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Office Managers
Laurie Holmes



Laurie is our office manager.  She has been with Franklin Speech and Learning Center for 9 years, and has watched us grow from a two person staff to 10 - 15 therapists!  She loves learning about speech and occupational therapy issues and is happy to answer your questions when you call.  If she doesn't know the answer to your questions, she will find out!  Laurie handles all our new patient referrals, communicates with our therapists, manages our day to day accounting, and has a working knowledge of just about all the activity that transpires at our office.  Laurie and her husband Michael have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.

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Dee Cochran



Dee currently works part-time in our South Nashville location.  She worked at the South Nashville location as office manager when Helen opened that location in 2003, and moved to the Franklin office to assist with insurance filing and coordination in 2005. She is currently attending school part-time when not working for Helen.  She lives in Franklin and has two school aged children.

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Billing Specialist
 

Shari Oman 



Shari works in our office and handles the insurance.  She has a degree in Office Administration and enjoys all aspects of office work.  She joined our staff in June 2008 and enjoys working with the therapists and parents.  Shari and her husband have five children and five granddaughters.

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