La Salle University
Dana Bitetti, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Bitetti’s research is focused on promoting positive academic outcomes for children with language disorders and children who are dual-language learners (DLLs). Her research interests include investigating home and school factors that support children’s oral language and literacy and investigating the narrative development of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Dr. Bitetti is a certified speech-language pathologist who has worked with preschool and school-age populations. Her clinical specialties include assessment and intervention for children with language disorders using a variety of service delivery models. Dr. Bitetti currently serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Education
Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Temple University, 2016
M.A. in Speech-Language and Hearing Science, Temple University, 2005
B.A. in Linguistics, Bryn Mawr College, 2000
Certifications
Certificate of Clinical Competence, American Speech-Language and Hearing Association
Teaching
COSD 100 Introduction to Language and Communication
COSD 203 Language Development
COSD 314 Diagnostic Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology
COSD 501 Introduction to Clinical Practicum
COSD 512 Language Disorders in Children
COSD 516 Clinical Practicum and Procedures
COSD 614 Clinical Diagnostics in Speech-Language Pathology
Publications
Bitetti, Dana, Laurel L. Byrne, Tara D. Carr-Lemke, Janet L. Fierson, Charles J. Fornaciari, Julie C. Hill, Ryan S. Husak, and Meghan E. Pierce. (alphabetical) “Building a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Community of Practice to Reinforce Lasallian Values.” AXIS: Journal of Lasallian Higher Education 14, no. 2 (Christian Brothers Conference: 2023).
Full Text: https://axisjournal.org/2023/12/22/building-a-scholarship-of-teaching-and-learning-community-of-practice-to-reinforce-lasallian-values/
Bitetti, D., Santarlas, A., & Costello, M. (2024). Clinical Supervision Post-Pandemic: Providing a Continuity of Care and Supervision using Zoom in the University Clinic Setting. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. 9(1), 162-172. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_PERSP-23-00060
Méndez, L., Bitetti, D., Holt, Y., & Perry, J. (2023). A cross-cultural perspective of narrative retells in kindergarten children. Bilingual Research Journal, 46(3-4), 275-289. https://doi.org/10.1080/15235882.2023.2258838
Bitetti, D., (2023). Accuracy of undergraduate students’ language sample analysis in online and face-to-face courses. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 8(6), 1422-1431. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_PERSP-23-00033
Kane, C., Sandilos, L., Hammer, C. S., Komaroff, E., Bitetti, D., & López, L. (2023). Teacher language quality in preschool classrooms: Examining associations with DLLs’ oral language skills. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 63, 352–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2023.01.006
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2021). English Narrative Macrostructure Development of Spanish-English Bilingual Children from Preschool to First Grade. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(3), 1100-1115. doi:10.1044/2021_AJSLP-20-00046
Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8702841/
López, L. M., Komaroff, E., Hammer, C.S., Rodriguez, B., Scarpino,S., Bitetti, D., & Goldstein, B. (2020). Are we all speaking the same language? Exploring language interactions in the homes of young Latino DLLs living in the U.S. Early Education and Development, 31(8), 1247-1263. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2020.1718473
Bitetti, D., Hammer, C., & López, L. (2020). The narrative macrostructure production of Spanish–English bilingual preschoolers: Within- and cross-language relations. Applied Psycholinguistics, 41(1), 79-106. doi:10.1017/S0142716419000419
Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7995329/
Willard, J. A., Hammer, C. S., Bitetti, D., Cycyk, L. M., & Leyendecker, B. (2019). Mothers’ depressive symptoms and their children’s Turkish heritage language vocabulary development. International Journal of Bilingualism, 23(1), 71-86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367006917709095
Hammer, C. S., Morgan, P., Farkas, G., Hillemeier, M., Bitetti, D., & Maczuga, S. (2017). Late Talkers: A Population-Based Study of Risk Factors and School Readiness Consequences. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60(3), 607-626. doi: 10.1044/2016_JSLHR-L-15-0417.
Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5962923/
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2016). The home literacy environment and the English narrative development of Spanish-English bilingual children. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 59(5), 1159-1171. doi: 10.1044/2016_JSLHR-L-15-0064.
Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5345558/
Cycyk, L. M., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C. S. (2015). Maternal depressive symptomatology, social support, and language development of bilingual preschoolers from low-income households. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 24(3), 411-425. doi: 10.1044/2015_AJSLP-14-0038.
Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4657523/
Selected Presentations
*La Salle Student Author
Bitetti, D. (2023, November 16-18). Teaching Language Sample Analysis: A Comparison of Student Accuracy in Online and Face-to-Face Courses. [Technical Session]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA.
Bitetti, D. & Méndez, L. (2023, November 16-18). The Internal Consistency of the Narrative Scoring Scheme: A Cross-Cultural Comparison [Poster presentation]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA.
Bitetti, D., Santarlas, A., & Costello, M. (2023, November 16-18). Using a Zoom Observation System for In-Person and Telepractice Supervision in the University Clinic. [Virtual Technical Session]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA.
Husak, R. & Bitetti, D. (2023, November 16-18). Do Student Research Experiences Predict Favorable Outcomes for SLP Graduate Students? A Preliminary Investigation [Technical Session presentation]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA.
Méndez, L. & Bitetti, D. (2023, November 16-18). Similarities and Differences in Narrative Retells in Kindergarteners from Two Cultures. [Technical Session]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Boston, MA.
Bitetti, D. (2023, April 12-15). Targeting Multiple Language Goals During Group Therapy for Young Children [Oral Presentation]. Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association, King of Prussia, PA
*Ball, E. & Bitetti, D. (2023, April 12-15). Graduate Students’ Time Management, Stress, and the Perceived Benefits of Undergraduate Clinical Assistants [Poster presentation]. Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association, King of Prussia, PA
*Ball, E. & Bitetti, D. (2022, November 17-19). Graduate Students’ Time Management, Stress, and the Perceived Benefits of Undergraduate Clinical Assistants [Poster presentation]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA.
*Craner, M., *Storino, B., & Bitetti, D. (2022, November 17-19). Creating a Children’s Book Checklist to Support Language Development in Infants through School-Age Children [Poster presentation]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA.
*Woodell, J. & Bitetti, D. (2022, November 17-19). Impact of E-Books on Language and Literacy Development: A Literature Review [Poster presentation]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA.
Bitetti, D. & Husak, R. (2021, November). Why Do I Need to Know This? Engaging Undergraduate Students Using Collaborative Learning. Technical clinical session presented at the Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Washington, D.C.
*Burkiewicz, D., Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C.S. (2021, November). Types, Frequencies, and Grammaticality of Code-Switches in the Narratives of Spanish-English Bilingual Preschoolers [Poster presentation]. Annual Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Washington, D.C.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C.S. (2021, July). Timing of English Exposure Influences on the Narrative Macrostructure Development of Spanish-English Bilingual Children. [Poster presentation]. 15th International Congress for the Study of Child Language, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Bitetti, D., Colborn, L., & Carr-Lemke, T. (2021, April). Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration through an Undergraduate Service-Learning Project. [Poster presentation] Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (JCIPE) Conference: Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century, Philadelphia, PA.
Bitetti, D., Hokenson, J., Tucci, A., & Hammer, C.S. (2019, November). Changes in the Amount & Type of Code-Switching in the Narratives of Spanish-English Bilingual Preschoolers. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL.
*Olivera, A., *Gallagher, S., & Bitetti, D. (2019, November). Readability Levels of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Online Patient Education Materials in English & Spanish. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL.
Méndez, L. & Bitetti, D. (2019, November). A Cross-cultural Perspective of Narrative Retells in Kindergarten Children. Technical clinical session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL.
Bitetti, D., Colborn, L., & Carr-Lemke, T. (2019, May). Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration through Service-Learning. Lecture presented at La Salle University’s Summer Institute 2019.
Bitetti, D. (2018, November). Utilizing In-Class Peer Reviews to Improve Undergraduate Students’ Clinical Writing. Technical clinical session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
Bitetti, D., Hokenson, J., Tucci, A., & Hammer, C.S. (2018, November). Accounting for Language Mixing in the Narratives of Spanish-English Bilingual Preschoolers. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
*Peca, J., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C.S. (2018, November). Language Exposure and Code Mixing Frequency of Spanish-English Dual Language Learners. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
Scarpino, S. E., Méndez, L., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C. S. (2018, November). The Influence of Vocabulary on Phonological Awareness Skills in Spanish-English Speaking Kindergarten Children. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
Bitetti D. (2018, August 6). Strategies for Targeting Multiple Language Goals During Preschool Therapy Groups [Webinar]. In SLP Summit.
Hammer, C.S., Willard, J., & Bitetti, D. (2017, July). Language and Literacy Trajectories of Spanish-English Bilingual Children Growing Up in the United States. Poster session presented at the 14th International Congress for the Study of Child Language, Lyon, France.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2017, April). The School Readiness of Three Groups of Preschool-Age DLLs in English-Instruction Classrooms. In M. C. Limlingan (chair), Contexts for Communication: Understanding Latino Preschool DLLs’ Language Skills, Home and Classroom Language Environment. A paper symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Austin, TX.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2016, November). Language Dominance and the School Readiness of Spanish-English Dual-Language Learners. Technical research session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2016, November). Within- and Across- Language Contributions to the Narrative Macrostructure of Spanish-English Bilingual Preschoolers. Technical research session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Bitetti, D & Hammer, C. S., (2015, November). Language ability groups of DLL preschoolers and the differential impact on narrative performance. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Denver, CO.
Willard, J., A., Bitetti, D., Cycyk, L. M., Hammer, C. S., & Leyendecker, B. (2015, June). Mothers’ depressive symptoms and Turkish school-age immigrant children’s home language vocabulary. Poster presented at the 17th European Conference of Developmental Psychology 2015 in Braga, Portugal, 11-09-2015.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2015, March). Narrative development of Spanish-English bilingual children and the role of the home literacy environment. Poster session presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Bitetti, D., Hammer, C. S., & López, L. M., (2015, March). Preschool oral language predictors of school-age reading comprehension for children who are learning Spanish and English. Poster session presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Hammer, C. S., Morgan, P., Farkas, G., Maczuga, S., Hillemeier, M., & Bitetti, D. (2015, March). A population-based study of late talkers’ development during the preschool years. Poster session presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Hammer, C. S., Blair, C., López, L. M., Cycyk, L., & Bitetti, D., (2014, November) Tools of the mind: Results of an efficacy study focused on dual language learners. Technical research session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL.
Méndez, L., Scarpino, S. E., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C. S., (2014, November) The impact of vocabulary on phonological awareness across languages in kindergarten Latino children. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL.
Scarpino, S. E., Méndez, L., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C. S., (2014, November) Preschool phonological awareness in Spanish-English dual language learners. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2013, November). The effect of the home literacy environment on the narrative development of Spanish-English bilingual children. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
Cycyk, L., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C. S. (2013, November). Maternal beliefs and school-aged children’s language outcomes in English and Spanish. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
Bitetti, D. & Hammer, C. S. (2012, November). The home literacy environment of bilingual children: A longitudinal study. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Bitetti, D., Sawyer, B., Hammer, C. S., Rodriguez, B., Goldstein, B., & López, L. M. (2012, November). Maternal concerns as critical information about bilingual preschool children’s speech and language development. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Cycyk, L., Bitetti, D., & Hammer, C. S. (2012, November). Maternal depression, social support, and language outcomes for bilingual children. Poster session presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA.
López, L. M., Rodriguez, B., Scarpino, S., Hammer, C. S., Bitetti, D., Goldstein, B., & Komaroff, E. (2012, June). Exploring language interactions in the homes of young Latino dual language learners. In C. S. Hammer (chair), Critical examination of language exposure and use with Spanish-speaking DLL children. A paper symposium presented at the Head Start 11th National Research Conference, Washington, D.C.
Sawyer, B., Bitetti, D., Komaroff, E., Hammer, C. S., López, L. M., Rodriguez, B., & Scarpino, S. (2012, June). Relation between maternal concerns and speech and language abilities of young bilingual children. In C. S. Hammer (chair), Critical examination of language exposure and use with Spanish-speaking DLL children. A paper symposium presented at the Head Start 11th National Research Conference, Washington, D.C.
Honors and Awards
Meritorious Poster Presentation, Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, King of Prussia, PA, 2023
Graduate Students’ Time Management, Stress, and the Perceived Benefits of Undergraduate Clinical Assistants
Meritorious Poster Presentation, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, 2022
Impact of E-Books on Language and Literacy Development: A Literature Review
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fellow from Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders (TLCSD) journal, June 2022-June 2023
ASHA ACE Award for Continuing Education, April 2022, November 2023
2019 ASHA Faculty Development Institute participant
Pre-doctoral Summer Research Opportunity Grant, Summer Semester 2015, Graduate School, Temple University
University Fellowship, Spring Semester, 2015, Graduate School, Temple University
Meritorious Poster Presentation, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL, 2014
Adele Gerber Award, 2005, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Temple University