Speech and Voice Dynamics

Speech and Language Professional

I have over 25 years experience as a certified speech-language pathologist evaluating and treating pediatric and adult patients with varying and sometimes complex diagnoses in hospitals, physician practices, schools, and private practice. A few diagnoses include stroke (CVA), head and neck cancer, voice disorders, and developmental speech and language delay. I provide various services for students as well, focusing on executive functioning, organization and self-regulation skills benefiting personal interactions, academic, and test-taking performance.

I attended Flagler College, St. Augustine, FL, graduating cum laude with a double major in Communications and Business Administration in 1993. I received the Department of Communications Award for Academic Excellence upon graduation. Further, I was appointed as a legislative intern to the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee, FL, for the 1993-94 calendar school year. My responsibilities included writing and assisting in the passing of House bills on the Floor during the legislative session by the Committee on Employee and Management Relations.

Continued interest in interpersonal communication and the desire to help individuals struggling with such disorders prompted me to attend Florida State University graduate school following an accelerated eight month, 36 credit hour, post-baccalaureate program in Communication Disorders at Texas State University. I earned a Master of Science degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology within the top 5% of my graduating class in 1997. I was elected into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi by the Florida State University chapter. Some of the post-baccalaureate coursework included brain and spinal cord dissection courses, expanding my intricate knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the disorders I evaluate and treat and how they frequently interrelate. I hold the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and state of Florida licensure. I am a member of the Palm City Chamber of Commerce and proudly raising a family.

Expert Therapy

I experienced treatment by a speech-language pathologist as a young child for a minor articulation error due to missing dentition. As simple as that may sound, I still recall practicing her instruction of the production "ch" and "sh" to my grandmother's patient head nod as I improved. The experience had a memorable impact on my development, confidence, interest, and overall growth in this dynamic field.

See the Difference

I understand the range of obstacles many of my patients and students endure through my personal life experience and experiences of my family and friends. I offer evaluations and individual treatment plans based on a "whole person" and family-centered approach. Sanitary precautions are followed to keep our community healthy and teletherapy options are available for those quarantined, traveling, or residing out of the area.

MY Therapy Services

Speech and Language Evaluation

Articulation
Auditory comprehension
Stuttering
Lisps
Pragmatics
Accent modification
Executive functioning skills including self-regulation, organization, memory, and test-taking strategies

Voice Evaluation

Acoustic and Aerodynamic Vocal Analysis
Dysphonia
Raspy vocal quality
Harsh vocal quality
Volume difficulty
Aphonia or loss of voice
Hypophonia
Hyperphonia

Dysphagia Evaluation

Aspiration risk
Functional swallowing level
Appropriate food and liquid textures
Deep Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation (DPNS)
Oral motor and laryngopharyngeal exercises