Heuser Hearing Institute offers a variety of services aimed at improving communication skills. Services are provided by staff members who are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and who have knowledge and expertise in addressing the unique needs that each patient presents.
Speech-language pathologists, also referred to as speech therapists, are able to evaluate a patient’s speech, language and overall communication skills, as well as cognitive and feeding/swallowing skills in order to diagnose delays and/or difficulties.
Speech disorders occur when a patient has difficulty putting words together to communicate a message or producing certain sounds so the message can be understood clearly by others. Speech disorders include:
- Articulation disorders. The patient has difficulty producing speech sounds and combining sounds correctly into syllables, words and sentences to such an extent that it is extremely difficult for others to understand what is being said.
- Fluency disorders. These are characterized by interruptions in the normal flow of speech. Stuttering, an abnormal pattern of repetition or prolongation of sounds, syllables or words, is the most common fluency disorder.
- Voice disorders. These are characterized by problems with pitch, volume or voice quality.
- Feeding/swallowing disorders. These occur when the child or adult has abnormal patterns related to sucking, biting, chewing or swallowing and can impact overall development and quality of life, as well as speech production patterns.
Adult Speech Services
Heuser speech-language pathologists are available to provide aural rehabilitation for adults with hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. The goal of therapy with our adult patients is to improve their overall quality of life, and the focus is on easing and enhancing tasks that are encountered in everyday life. Aural rehabilitation is designed to target:
- Sound and speech recognition tasks
- Hearing in background noise
- Articulation/spoken language practice
- Training for appropriate pitch and loudness
- Social appropriateness
- Cognitive deficits related to hearing loss
Pediatric Speech Services
Our team of experts offers a variety of speech-language services to children with any communication needs including:
- Speech-language evaluations
- Individual speech, language and/or listening therapy
- Social skills groups
- Home-based services for children ages birth to three years through Kentucky and Indiana First Steps (see also Early Intervention)
Private and Parochial School Services
In addition to our clinic-based services at both our downtown and Lyndon locations, Heuser speech-language pathologist provide screenings and site-based therapy services at several private or parochial schools in Louisville. To find out more about the availability of school-based services, contact our Speech Department at (502) 584-3573.
Teletherapy Services
Therapy sessions via teletherapy are very similar to traditional therapy sessions with the exception that the patient interacts with the therapist via video conferencing. Therapy provided in this fashion can accommodate families and patients who have difficulty traveling to our clinic sites. Families and patients are involved in the therapy planning and evaluation from session to session and materials are provided, when needed. If you are interested in further information about our teletherapy services, contact our Speech Department (502) 584-3573.