Spring Break
Patients treated regardless of pay
Kara N. Bussee
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: News
Patients are treated at the Marshall University Speech and Hearing Center, regardless of their ability to pay.
The clinic, located in Smith Hall, treats children and adult patients with speech-language and hearing problems, said Karen McNealy, associate professor of communication disorders. The clinic is part of the Department of Communication Disorders.
Problems treated include articulation, language, fluency, voice, eating and swallowing, and hearing and assistive technology. Many adults' language problems are a result of strokes or head injury, McNealy said.
Individual goals are set for each patient. The long-term goal of the clinic is to maximize patients' ability to communicate. "This can
be a long process with a child who is autistic or language delayed, or a shorter process for adults with voice disorders," McNealy said.
Programs offered by the clinic include three groups for socialization for autistic children.
There is also a program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children who want to use oral language.
Adult patients with aphasia attend a weekly group meeting. Aphasia is a language disorder that affects adults after a stroke, said Brianna McClung, secretary of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Aphasia affects a person's ability to express and understand language.
Most sessions are twice a week in 45 minutes intervals. The clinic charges for services and bills health insurance providers.
"However, no one is turned away for inability to pay," McNealy said. "There is a sliding scale based on family income."
The clinic provides training for future speech-language pathologists. Graduate students work under the direct supervision of the Department of Communication Disorders faculty, providing most of the services.
Communication disorders students are required to complete 60 hours of observation before beginning direct clinical services.
"I observe children's and adult speech therapy three times a week in the clinic," McClung said. "I use my experience as an example of what I am learning in class."
The clinic is operated while Marshall is in session. Those interested in the clinic's services can call 304-696-3640.
Kara N. Busse can be contacted at busse@marshall.edu.
The clinic, located in Smith Hall, treats children and adult patients with speech-language and hearing problems, said Karen McNealy, associate professor of communication disorders. The clinic is part of the Department of Communication Disorders.
Problems treated include articulation, language, fluency, voice, eating and swallowing, and hearing and assistive technology. Many adults' language problems are a result of strokes or head injury, McNealy said.
Individual goals are set for each patient. The long-term goal of the clinic is to maximize patients' ability to communicate. "This can
be a long process with a child who is autistic or language delayed, or a shorter process for adults with voice disorders," McNealy said.
Programs offered by the clinic include three groups for socialization for autistic children.
There is also a program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children who want to use oral language.
Adult patients with aphasia attend a weekly group meeting. Aphasia is a language disorder that affects adults after a stroke, said Brianna McClung, secretary of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Aphasia affects a person's ability to express and understand language.
Most sessions are twice a week in 45 minutes intervals. The clinic charges for services and bills health insurance providers.
"However, no one is turned away for inability to pay," McNealy said. "There is a sliding scale based on family income."
The clinic provides training for future speech-language pathologists. Graduate students work under the direct supervision of the Department of Communication Disorders faculty, providing most of the services.
Communication disorders students are required to complete 60 hours of observation before beginning direct clinical services.
"I observe children's and adult speech therapy three times a week in the clinic," McClung said. "I use my experience as an example of what I am learning in class."
The clinic is operated while Marshall is in session. Those interested in the clinic's services can call 304-696-3640.
Kara N. Busse can be contacted at busse@marshall.edu.
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