Speech-Language Hearing Clinic - We Offer...

To register for speech clinic please see the 'Clinic Registration' tab.

* If you would like any of the below services, please call our clinic today at (309) 298-1955 *

SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY

Fall 2023 Registration is closed. but if you would like to be added to our wait list please call our office at (309) 298-1955 or email JJ-Howard3@wiu.edu.

Thank you!

SPEECH & LANGUAGE EVALUATIONS

Our clinic provides clinical services to adults, children, and their families. Our clinic is one component of a teaching institution servicing to educate future speech-language pathologists and audiologists. In our speech and language clinic we evaluate individuals across the lifespan, from birth to geriatric ages. All evaluations are provided individually and/or in a group setting by a student clinician. Each student clinician is supervised by an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. Initial evaluations are completed to determine strengths, areas of concern, and any recommendations for services.

All evaluations include a full assessment of speech sounds, language, swallowing/feeding, vocabulary, voice, oral motor skills, social skills and the need for augmentative and/or alternative communication.

Clinic Note

If you would like to schedule a free diagnoistic evaluation please email JL-Pline@wiu.edu or call (309) 298-1957.

SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY

We offer individual on-campus and teletherapy services. All therapy is individualized to each client's specific communication needs. Therapy is provided by a student clinician who is supervised by an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. Our specialized clinic houses individual therapy rooms, a sensory room, and observation rooms for caregivers to observe sessions, allowing for further parent/caregiver education.

The following disorders are often treated within our clinic:

• Apraxia of Speech and Dysarthria
• Dysphagia, pediatric and adult
• Expressive/Receptive Language disorders
• Articulation disorders
• Cognitive-communication disorders
• Voice disorders
• Fluency disorders
• Phonological disorders
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
• Aphasia
• Social Pragmatic Communication disorders

AUDIOLOGICAL SERVICES

Our hearing clinic also offers free services. Hearing evaluations and screenings can be conducted on any client. Full aduiological evaluations include pure tone, speech, and tympanometry testing. Middle ear monitoring, in addition to newborn hearing screenings are also available. Our clinic also conducts screenings for students in the teacher certification and nursing programs.

If you would like to schedule an audiological evaluation please email spa@wiu.edu or call (309) 298-1955.

ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED SERVICES

SPEAK OUT! ® and The LOUD Crowd ® The therapy regime, SPEAK OUT! ® and The LOUD Crowd®, were developed the Parkinson Voice Project based on principles of the late Dr. Daniel R. Boone. The techique teaches individuals with Parkinson's Disease to convert speech from an automatic function to an international act. Individuals will begin with an evaluation to determine candidacy for the program. Those who are candidates will participate in approximately 5-6 weeks of individual speech therapy sessions (SPEAK OUT! ®) two times per week. All sessions will be led by a graduate student clinician and supervised by a speech-language pathologist trained in the techniques. Candidates will also begin attending The LOUD Crowd group sessions that meet once per week. Participants are welcome and encouraged to attend THE LOUD Crowd on an ongoing basis in order to maintain their skills.

Deep Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation (DPNS) Therapy is a therapeutic program that restores muscle strength and reflexes within the pharynx for better swallowing.

VitalStim® is a safe and effective treatment for paitients suffering with difficulty swallowing or dysphagia. This is a non-invasive theraphy to help swallowing through the use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES).

Myofunctional Therapy is a series of exercises that target the muscles used for chewing and swallowing. Therapy exercises are meant to improve the strength of the muscles of the tongue and oropharynx. Myofunctional therapy helps to reinforce the proper position of the tongue within the mouth. These programs may be recommended by dentists, orthodontists, and some sleep specialists to improve breathing problems and to facilitate orthodonitic interventions.

Voice & Swallowing Clinic: This specialist clinic will provide evaluation and consultation for clients of all ages with voice disorders or swallowing issues. All clients must be referred by an ENT.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Comfort Circle: Our Comfort Circle support group was designed for parents and/or caregivers of children with different abilities. We meet the first Tuesday of each month during the academic calendar. Sessions vary from specialized speakers to open discussions.

CLINIC MANUAL

To download Clinc Manual in PDF.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Student clinicians, supervisors, faculty, student observers, and staff sign confidentiality agreements and are required to undergo HIPAA training. Clients of our clinic should feel comfortable speaking with supervisors and/or student clinicians about confidentiality.

OUR CLIENTS:

Western Illinois University's Speech-Language & Hearing Clinic values client feedback, as we strive to provide the best services possible. Please feel free to follow the link below and give us your feedback.

Directions to Western Illinois University Speech-Language Hearing Clinic

1 University Circle
2nd floor, Memorial Hall
Phone: 309.298.1955

Directions to Memorial Hall and Parking for Clinic:

Scan the QR code.

This will provide you the means to get directions from your address to WIU Speech Language Hearing Clinic and to the parking lot used for the clinic.

To download the directions to Memorial Hall and Parking for Clinic in PDF.

• Directions to Memorial Hall
• Parking Instruction for Clinic
• Parking Registration for Clinc
• Parking Map for Clinic

Direction on Google Map

Parking instructions:

If you email us or call us we can send you a parking pass before your appointment. If your appointment is within a week, the easiest way is to pick it up when you are here. Information we need for your parking pass is the make/color and license plate of the car that will be parked in the lot. The lot is marked on the map as WIU Speech/Hearing Clinic Parking. There are designated slots with speech and hearing signs but you can park anywhere in this lot if you have a parking pass. Parking is just off of Sherman Drive, between Seal Hall and Tillman Hall.

Canceling or Changing appointment:

Call 309.298.1955 and we can ensure your clinician and the supervisor are aware that the appointment is canceled. If you have trouble getting here using the directions just call us and we can help direct you here.

Basic contact information:

wiu.edu/spa has all of the information you need to access our services, supervisors, and program information.

Quick Access:

• Hearing Clinic: Mike Sharp (309.298.1955)
• Speech Clinic: Haleigh Ruebush (309.298.1955)
• Speech/Language Evaluations: Julie Curless (309.298.1955)
• Program Questions: Amanda Silberer (309.298.1955)

Registration for Clinic

All available spots for Summer Speech Clinic are full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please contact Jennifer at JJ-Howard3@wiu.edu for a registration form.

A current IEP or Speech Diagnostic Evaluation is required for Speech-Language services through our clinic. Speech Diagnostics can be done through our clinic. Intake forms must be completed and returned to us to be added to our Speech Diagnostic waitlist. Please contact Jennifer at JJ-Howard3@wiu.edu for more information.