Speech and Hearing Clinic

The Speech and Hearing Clinic is one of several UAMS College of Health Professions clinics. The clinic is located in the Education South Building. The clinic is part of the UAMS College of Health Professions audiology and speech pathology academic program, which is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Council on Academic Accreditation. All services at the clinic are provided by graduate students under the direct supervision of ASHA-certified faculty.

The clinic provides speech, language, literacy, hearing, and balance evaluations tailored to individual needs. A wide array of diagnostic equipment and materials makes it possible to evaluate communication problems experienced by clients of any age, from infants to adults. Based on evaluation results, student clinicians work with clients, parents and families to develop appropriate, functional treatment plans. In addition to diagnostic services, clients may receive speech, language and audiological rehabilitation on an individual or group basis. Hearing aid and assistive listening device selection, fitting, and follow-up services are also provided.

Questions about billing and fees for services can be directed to the clinic office manager at 501-320-7300.

Individual Clinic Programs

Hearing Programs

Diagnostic Services: A full range of audiological diagnostic services is available. Evaluations are offered for children and adults suspected of having hearing and balance difficulties, including tinnitus (ringing in the ears), auditory processing disorders, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.

Hearing Aid Services: Complete hearing aid services are available. A wide range of hearing instruments, hearing aid care supplies, and amplification accessories may be purchased through the clinic. Individual listening needs and personal preferences are taken into consideration when selecting amplification systems. Patients and their significant others receive a thorough orientation in the use of their hearing instruments. Instruction is provided in the care and maintenance of the equipment, as well as the use of hearing instruments with other electronic devices, such as telephones, or televisions. Follow-up hearing aid checks, reprogramming, and repairs are available for all clients who purchase their hearing instruments through the UAMS Speech and Hearing Clinic. Hearing aid adjustments and repairs are also available for clients who have purchased hearing instruments from other clinics.

Audiologic Rehabilitation: Individualized instruction is available to enhance the communication skills of persons with hearing impairments. Instruction focuses on maximizing the use of remaining hearing through amplification and/or assistive listening devices, auditory training, using visual cues (speech reading and gestures), and utilizing communication repair strategies. Sessions can be scheduled on an individual basis for either short or long-term rehabilitation, and are geared to each individual’s specific communication needs.

Speech and Language Programs

Diagnostic Services: A full range of diagnostic speech, language, and literacy services are available for persons of any age with disorders in the following areas: articulation, receptive and expressive language, cognition, fluency, voice and resonance, swallowing, pragmatic language, and hearing. Evaluations provide useful, specific information, especially to parents and caregivers who are uncertain whether or not their family member has a communication, literacy, or language learning problem. Adults who are concerned about their own speech or language skills also find the evaluations helpful and informative. Following the evaluation, results and recommendations are explained and discussed.

Individual Therapy Sessions: Individual speech, language, and literacy therapy sessions are scheduled for clients of all ages. The UAMS Speech and Hearing Clinic is open for individual therapy sessions Monday through Thursday while academic classes are in session. Since the UAMS academic calendar is followed, there are breaks from therapy between semesters and for certain holidays.

Group Therapy Services

Nurturing Expression through Speech Therapy: This is a preschool program for children ages 18 months to five years with speech and language delays. Clients attend four to six hours per week based on their age group. Baby Birds is for children 18 months to three years, and Reddie Birds, is for children three to five years of age. Activities are designed to develop personal-social, cognitive, and fine and gross motor skills, in addition to communication and pre-literacy skills.

Social Communication Groups: These groups provide services for client ranging from young child to young adult and are divided by age. Clients engage in activities to help with the appropriate use of language in social interactions. Clients work on such skills as good listening, turn-taking, topic maintenance, problem solving, discourse management, and other conversational rules and nonverbal behaviors.

Aphasia Groups: These groups provide services for adults who have acquired speech, language, and/or communication difficulties caused by brain damage (e.g., stroke, car accident, tumors, degenerative diseases). Services are designed to help clients become more functional communicators and participator in the activities of life.  The group format provides a supportive peer environment in which all communication modalities are targeted.

The TLC Group:   The TLC group provides services to adults who seek to align their voice and communication style with their sense of self. Services focus on individualized goals such as adjusting vocal pitch, exploring expressive intonation and loudness, modifying vocal resonance, and refining nonverbal communication (e.g., body language, facial expression). Clients also learn strategies for vocal hygiene and safe voice use.

Clinic Supervision

Supervision of all student clinicians is provided by full-time departmental faculty and part-time adjunct faculty, all of whom hold the Arkansas Board of Examiners license in either speech-language pathology or audiology and the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech pathology and/or audiology. Client services are provided by graduate students. The faculty members work closely with the student clinicians to ensure clients are receiving the best in quality care.