Speech Services

Speech Services

Comprehensive evaluations are performed by speech and language pathologists to assess communication, cognitive, swallowing and feeding concerns. Therapy programs are then implemented to address the following diagnoses:

-Aphasia         -Apraxia         -Articulation Delay         -Cognitive Impairment         

-Dysphagia      -Dysarthria     -Language Delay           -Myofunctional Disorders 

-Stuttering      -Voice Disorders          -Feeding Impairment in Infants & Children

-Velopharyngeal Incompetence                                     
 
 
 
                                                   

The Center staff includes speech and language pathologists specializing in the areas of:

-Augmentative Communication             -Bilingual Spanish/English Therapy Services  

-Cognitive Rehabilitation                     -Laryngectomee Services         

-Videofluoroscopic Study of the Swallow in Infants, Children & Adults

The Center hosts peer groups to encourage the development of appropriate language and feeding skills:

Language Enhancement Group (LEG): LEG is a hands-on interactive language learning group for toddlers and their families. The goal of LEG is to teach language facilitation techniques that can be incorporated into family routines and activities. This group meets for one hour, once per week, for the duration of eight weeks.

Peer Assisted Language (PAL): PAL is designed to encourage age appropriate language interactions between preschool age children. The goal of PAL is to teach pragmatic and social language skills.

Snack Pals: Snack pals provides toddlers and preschool age children, along with their families, the opportunity to practice developmental feeding skills, overcome food related sensory challenges, and reinforce positive mealtime behaviors. 

Speech Staff         

Dottie Berndt MA CCC-SLP: 25 years experience. Expertise with voice disorders, vocal cord dysfunction and cleft palate.  Member of the Central Washington Cleft Palate Review Board.  dottieb@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Heather Cole BS SLP-A: 4 yrs experience. Specializing in the treatment of pediatric communication disorders.                                                                      heatherc@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Nancy Frame BA: 53 years experience. Teacher of the deaf specializing in parent-infant/toddler instruction. Expertise with early intervention and habilitation of deaf children who have received cochlear implants.

Chelsea Hach MS CCC-SLP: 2 years experience. Specializing in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric speech, language and feeding impairment and adult disorders of cognition, communication, and swallowing.                                                                     chelsea@hearingandspeechcenter.com

JoAnne Hanses MS CCC-SLP: 10 years experience. Expertise with cognitive rehabilitation and augmentative and alternative communication.                         joanne@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Kat Hisey MEd SLP-A: 16 years experience. Teacher of the deaf specializing in parent-infant/toddler instruction and treatment of pediatric communication disorders.    kath@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Janet Krieger, M.S. CCC-SLP: Clinical Supervisor. 32 years experience. Expertise with pediatric feeding impairment and adult disorders of cognition, communication, and swallowing. janetk@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Lyn Lewis BA SLP-A: 5 years experience. Specializing in the treatment of pediatric communication disorders.                                                                            lynl@hearingandspeechcenter.com 

Elizabeth Mendenhall BS SLP-A: 1 year experience. Specializing in the treatment of pediatric communication disorders.                                               elizabethm@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Suzanne Rettig MA CCC-SLP: 14 years experience. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric speech and language disorders, including hearing impairment. Expertise with adult disorders of communication, cognition and swallowing.                        suzanner@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Kristi Shanks, MS CCC-SLP: 12 years experience. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric communication disorders and deaf and hard of hearing populations. kristis@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Barb Simms, MA CCC-SLP: 35 years experience.  Expertise with dysphagia and communication disorders in the developmentally disabled population.                 barbs@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Kelley Strange MS CCC-SLP: 27 years experience. Bilingual English-Spanish. Expertise with the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric communication disorders and autism. kelley@hearingandspeechcenter.com

Lisa Woolcock BA SLP-A: 8 years experience. Specializing in the treatment of pediatric              communication disorders. Expertise with media resources including Center website, newsletter, advertising, workshop organization and parent literature. lisaw@hearingandspeechcenter.com  

Melissa Wright, MA CCC-SLP: 7 Years experience. Expertise with the evaluation and treatment of pediatric through geriatric speech and language disorders, adult swallowing disorders and           myofunctional therapy.                                                     melissaw@hearingandspeechcenter.com