ABOUT US

Diane  Hansen,  MA, SLP-CCC

Diane received her Masters from Washington State University in Speech Language Pathology in 1984. She received her Bachelors from the University of Washington in Seattle. She completed her Clinical Fellowship Year in Alaska. Diane is a member of the American and Arizona Speech and Hearing Associations. Until 1988, Diane Practiced in Seattle and Alaska, working with children and adults in hospitals, schools, and child development clinics. She has also served as Communication and Speech Pathology adjunct faculty at the University of Alaska, Washington State University and University of Arizona. Prior to establishing the Speech Center of Southern Arizona, She worked with University of Arizona Medical Center providing inpatient and outpatient care for infants, children and adults. Diane is recognized for her exceptional skills in working with young children and with the family as a whole. In 1992, Diane and Sherril Howard (M.S. CCC-SLP) published "Facilitating Early Language" a guide for parents. Diane worked closely with Ear Nose and Throat physicians and voice therapist Sherril Howard, SLP, for 22 years, giving her expertise in treating pediatric voice disorders and Vocal Cord Dysfunction. Diane's most recent continuing education has been in the areas of Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Voice disorders. She was recently certified through Apraxia Kid's as a SLP qualified to treat Apraxia.

In 2008 Diane completed consultant training, qualifying her to implement customized wellness programs in health practitioners offices.

Christine Butalla,  MS, CCC-SLP

Christine has been at Speech Center since 2012. She graduated from the University of Arizona with her Masters of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in 2011. She completed her Clinical Fellowship year with Panacea Therapeutics, providing services for individuals across the lifespan. Christine has a breadth of experience in the Speech and Language discipline. In addition to practicing as one of our associates, she also works with adults providing speech, language and swallowing rehabilitation. While obtaining her degree in speech-language pathology, Christine completed her clinical research thesis in Childhood Apraxia of Speech, informing our team of the most current and up to date techniques involved in treating this challenging speech disorder. Prior to completing her degree she was a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant and worked with Special Education students within the public school system, where she gained valuable experience in the field and background in therapy procedures, treatments and interventions for school age children. Christine's willingness to go the distance for each patient and work with parents are some of the many reasons we love having her at Speech Center.

Whitney de Haseth,  MS, CCC-SLP

Whitney received her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Eastern Illinois University in 2008. In Illinois she served children for seven years with a wide range of developmental abilities in a variety of settings. She then spent four years in England working in a clinic setting. She has skills in the development, training and use of augmentative alternative communication devices (AAC) as well as creating therapy programs for children with language, cognitive and physical disabilities. Whitney is interested in building functional communication skills for children with complex communication disorders and ADHD. In addition to working with development of early language skills and speech articulation disorders, she works with children with autism and other medical diagnoses, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Down Syndrome.  She brings a well-rounded approach to treatment informed by diverse clinical experiences. A mother of two small children, Whitney brings compassion and insight when counseling parents and children. We appreciate the intelligent and informed approach Whitney brings to Speech Center. In 2024 Whitney became a clinical consultant at Speech Center, helping us build support for our other therapists. 

Kelci Frisby, MS, CCC-SLP

Kelci completed her Master's degree at the University of Arizona's Speech and Hearing program in 2020. She then worked in Tucson Unified School district has an SLP, giving her a very wide range of experience across ages and diagnoses. Most recently, Kelci has worked in charter schools in Tucson providing speech treatment and evaluations. She has a particular interest in working with AAC decides, working with children own the Autism spectrum and has a good working knowledge of American Sign Language. We love that Kelci has worked with such a variety of children and continues to build her skills and experience alongside the SLPs at Speech Center! 

Picture coming soon! 

Nichole Romeo, MS, CCC-SLP

More information coming soon!