In this day and age of expensive medical bills, large insurance deductibles, and almost seemingly impossible pre-authorizations, there's a hidden gem on the second floor of Memorial Hall on the campus of Western Illinois University, that offers big benefits – and rewards – at no charge.
The WIU Speech-Language- Hearing Clinic is going on 70 years old, and in the last several decades, this clinic, composed of certified audiologists and speech language pathologists who are teaching the next generation of professionals, provides impactful services for individuals with speech and language disorders, hearing issues, neurodivergences (e.g., autism) {to be covered in part 2 of the series}, neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's, swallowing disorders and more.
The Speech Pathology and Audiology department bridges the gap between course work and hands-on clinical experiences to provide necessary speech, language, and hearing services for the region. WIU student clinicians supervised by faculty supervisors screened, evaluated, and provided treatment to more than 4,000 clients during the most recent academic year.
As a teaching clinic, these services are provided at no cost and are not exclusive to WIU faculty, staff and alums. Hearing aids are not free of charge, but are available for purchase or may be covered by their insurance.
Led by the Department Chair Amanda Silberer, who is a licensed clinical audiologist, she and the other 11 faculty teach the undergraduate and graduate curriculum in addition to supervising on- and off-campus clinical experiences, which includes providing speech and language services to children at local school districts through contracts. These contracts are not just important for our students’ experiential learning but they also help rural school districts serve their students.
'We are a great resource for underserved areas,' Silberer noted. 'We are also unique in that we work with individuals from screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
The cohesion we have here is not always an option outside of our setting, and that we provide these services at no cost truly benefits the people we serve while also giving our students real-world experiences.'
Hearing Clinic
The WIU Hearing Clinic offers the following services free of charge to campus and community members, including full audiological evaluations; middle ear monitoring; newborn hearing screenings; child hearing screenings; nursing program hearing screenings; ROTC/ DoDMERB hearing screenings; occupational hearing conservation testing for local businesses; Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) evaluations for ages 7 and up; hearing aid checks and cleanings for their clients; and hearing aid consultations and fittings. These services are supervised by the licensed audiologist Dr.
Mike Sharp, audiology clinic coordinator, and the other licensed audiologists work through the prescribed treatment plan, such as hearing aids and aural rehabilitation Speech & Language Evaluations Besides evaluations and screening being provided at no charge, another beauty of the clinic is that clients don't have to be referred to receive assistance. The evaluations are conducted by a student clinician, under the direction of a speech language pathologist, to provide not only an outstanding learning opportunity for students in the program, but a thorough assessment and evaluation for the client, Silberer noted.
Speech & Language Therapy Senior Instructor and licensed speech-language pathologist Amy Burke, who has been in the department for 16 years, and Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator Julie Cox, also a licensed clinical speech pathologist, who has been with the department for 14 years, along with other faculty, oversee student clinicians who conduct the evaluations, create the treatment plans, and deliver the therapy to speech, language, cognition, voice and swallowing clients across the lifespan.
While most services are provided with no referral needed, for school-age children, a current school IEP or Speech Diagnostic Evaluation is required before speech therapy services can be provided at the WIU clinic.
Little Learners is a language group for up to six children focusing on the development of literacy and social-emotional skills. Enrollment is open to three- and four- yearold children. Children are assessed on a variety of social-emotional and language skills, and families are provided with activities to support their children at home and notified of their progress. To enroll, call (309)2981955.
'Kids who start with our speech programs progress through our programs,' Cox added. 'We've had non-speaking toddlers start with us, who are still with us, learning and growing many years later.'
And it's not just children who benefit from the services. Cox explained that every client receives an individualized treatment plan, while Burke explained that the treatment and services provided are evidence- based. All faculty hold state licensure and national certification, and the clinics provide a continuity of care.
Faculty and student clinicians work with individuals who may have had traumatic brain injuries or a stroke and need assistance learning how to speak again, as well as individuals who might have a swallowing disorder. Giving an example of someone who has had a stroke, speech therapy can help get someone get back on track sooner, and in more moderate to severe cases, they will involve the family so their loved ones can help with coaching and training at home. The women shared a story that they worked with a stroke survivor, who was mostly non-verbal immediately following a stroke, for almost 20 years. He finally decided last year, after working with the group for two decades and making remarkable progress in his communication, that he was ready to leave therapy.
'Speech, language, swallowing, cognition, voice, hearing, feeding, we can help with every aspect of treatment,' Burke stressed.
In addition to the speech and language therapy, the clinic has two laryngoscopes on site in order to conduct voice assessments and swallow studies, at no cost to the client.
Parkinson Voice Project
April is recognized as Parkinson's Awareness Month, and the WIU Speech-Language- Hearing Clinic is a leader in the region to help area residents diagnosed with Parkinson's.
In 2019, the clinic received a grant from the Parkinson Voice Project. Through the SPEAK OUT! grant, the WIU clinic provides group speech therapy to people with Parkinson's Disease. The grant funding also helps the clinic offer free training for the WIU clinic's speech-language pathologists and graduate students, as well as provide speech therapy supplies. Led by Cox, the grant has allowed three faculty to be trained using the techniques for SPEAK OUT!. The programs help those with Parkinson's speak with intent to fully use the muscles used for speech and swallowing.
'Up to 90 percent of people with Parkinson's are at high risk of losing their ability to speak, and aspiration pneumonia, caused by swallowing issues, accounts for 70 percent of the mortality rate in this patient population. These programs substantially increase access to quality speech treatment to those living with Parkinson's,' said Parkinson Voice Project's Founder and Chief Executive Officer Samantha Elandary.
ALS Assistance
The clinic also offers assistance for individuals diagnosed with ALS. The treatment plan often consists of a combination of speech and alternate communication therapy, as well as swallowing-related treatment to help maintain the client's swallowing and speech as long as possible.
To schedule an appointment with the WIU Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, call (309) 298-1955 Autism Clinic of Excellence (WACE) This clinic and services will be featured in Part 2.
