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 expressive and receptive aphasia due to stroke (CVA), dysphagia and dysphonia due to head and neck cancer with surgical resection(s) and/or radiation therapy, other voice disorders, and developmental speech and language delay.

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 by the Committee on Employee and Management Relations during the legislative session.

Continued interest in interpersonal communication and the desire to help individuals struggling with such disorders prompted me to attend Florida State University graduate school, Tallahassee, FL, in 1995 following an accelerated post-baccalaureate program. Coursework included brain and spinal cord dissection labs, expanding my intricate knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the disorders I evaluate and treat and how they frequently interrelate. Subsequently, I earned a Master of Science degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology in 1997 and was elected into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi by the Florida State University chapter upon graduation. I hold the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and state of Florida licensure. I am a Palm City Chamber of Commerce member.

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. Safety 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
Phonological processing
Expressive and Receptive Language
Dysarthria
Stuttering
Accent modification
Pragmatics/Executive functioning skills including self-regulation and text organization

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