About the UDC Speech and Hearing Clinic
Welcome to the UDC Speech & Hearing Clinic, part of the University of the District of Columbia’s Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology. The clinic serves adults and children in the DC Metropolitan area with a wide range of communication needs.
We provide comprehensive prevention, education, evaluation, and treatment services for individuals of all ages with speech, language, cognitive, voice, and swallowing disorders. Services also include hearing screenings to support the identification and intervention of communication and swallowing needs.
All services are currently offered free of charge and are delivered as part of the clinical training for graduate students in the Speech-Language Pathology Master’s program. Student clinicians are closely supervised by fully licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
Our Services
At the UDC Speech & Hearing Clinic, we proudly offer services at no cost to our clients. Our clinical offerings include:
Speech and Language Services
- Articulation Therapy: Focuses on improving the clarity of speech sounds to help individuals pronounce words correctly.
- Fluency/Stuttering Therapy: Addresses speech fluency issues, helping individuals manage and reduce stuttering.
- Expressive Language Therapy: Enhances the ability to express thoughts, ideas, and feelings in verbal form.
- Receptive Language Therapy: Improves understanding and processing of spoken language.
- Literacy Services: Supports essential reading and writing skills for academic success.
Voice Disorders Services
- Voice Therapy: Focuses on treating various voice disorders, such as hoarseness, vocal strain, and pitch disorders. Therapy aims to improve vocal quality, pitch, loudness, and breath support.
- Gender-Affirming Voice Services: Provides specialized voice training for individuals seeking to modify their voice as part of gender affirmation. This service helps clients achieve a voice that aligns with their gender identity while ensuring vocal health and efficiency.
Cognitive-Communication Services
- Post-Stroke Speech, Language and Cognitive Therapy: Assists individuals recovering from strokes with communication and cognitive challenges.
Swallowing Disorders Services
- Swallowing Therapy: Addresses difficulties in swallowing (dysphagia), essential for nutrition and safety.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Services
- AAC Services: Introduces and trains clients in the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices and strategies. These services are designed for individuals with significant communication challenges, providing tools to facilitate effective communication.
Hearing Screenings
- Hearing Screenings and Education: Offers assessments of hearing abilities and education on hearing health.
Community Services
- Cognitive and Hearing Screenings at Your Facility: We offer outreach services, with our trained personnel coming to your organization or facility to provide cognitive and hearing screenings for your clients or community members. This initiative aims to promote awareness and early detection of cognitive and hearing issues, ensuring that individuals receive timely support and resources. For logistics related to community screenings, please contact Dorothy Gaspard-St. Cyr, Clinical Coordinator, at dorothy.gaspardstcyr@udc.edu.
Individual and Group Services
- Individual Services: Tailored one-on-one therapy sessions that focus on the specific needs of each client.
- Group Services: Collaborative sessions where clients can practice skills and share experiences in a supportive environment.
- Special Support Group Services: Dedicated groups that provide additional support for specific challenges, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding among participants.
Disorders We Treat
Our clinic addresses a wide range of disorders, including:
- Developmental Delay: Delayed milestones in speech and language development.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges in communication and social interaction associated with autism.
- Stroke: Speech and language impacts resulting from brain injury due to stroke.
- Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussions: Issues arising from severe head injuries affecting communication.
- Parkinson's Disease: Speech and language difficulties related to the progression of Parkinson's.
- Dementia: Communication and cognitive challenges associated with various forms of dementia.
Lifespan Services
We cater to clients across the lifespan, from infants to older adults, ensuring tailored care suited to their unique needs.
Clinic Hours
Our clinic operates on a semester-based schedule that aligns with the university's academic calendar:
Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Clinical Supervision
All services are provided by our graduate students in Speech-Language Pathology as part of their training, under the direct supervision of our certified and licensed clinical faculty.
Intake Procedures
To initiate services, clients must complete intake documents, including:
- Primary Concern: Information about the main issues prompting the referral.
- Background Information: A history of the individual’s communication and/or swallowing challenges.
- Medical History: Relevant medical information that may impact assessment and treatment.
- Primary Care Physician Information: Contact details for coordination of care.
- Birth History: Developmental milestones and events that may be significant.
- Previous Evaluation Documents: While requested, previous evaluation documents are not required.
Location
UDC Van Ness Campus
Building 71, 3rd Floor, Suite 3210
4250 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC
Accreditation
The UDC Speech-Language Pathology program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
Schedule an Appointment
To schedule an appointment or inquire about our community services, please contact our Office Manager, Ms. Demessie, at 202-274-6161. We look forward to assisting you on your path to improved communication and swallowing health!