Clinical Services at the Wendell Johnson Speech & Hearing Center
Linda Louko, Clinic Director
Our Mission
Our mission at The University of Iowa Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is to be the premier institution for training, research, clinical service, and outreach in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology.
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic strives to achieve these goals through superior clinical education offered to graduate students in speech-language pathology and audiology and through excellent clinical services, provided to individuals of all ages with communication disorders in the university community, surrounding areas and across the State of Iowa. In this regard, you can help us attain this mission.
Referrals
Do you or someone close to you have a diagnosed or suspected communication disorder? Referrals to
the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center can be made by audiologists,
speech-language-pathologists, educators, physicians or through self-referrals. Current
assessment information is important for planning treatment. It is helpful
to have recent assessments and treatment plans forwarded before your scheduled appointment.
However, if current data is not available, assessments can be scheduled at this clinic.
To schedule an appointment or for additional information, phone 319-335-8736 (Voice/TDD). The FAX number is 319-335-8851.
Location
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center is located on the west side
of The University of Iowa campus at the intersection of Hawkins Drive and
Stadium Drive (north of a large white water tower).
A map in pdf is available.
Accessibility
The Handicap entrance is located on the south side of the building by the
water tower. This entrance opens to the second floor of the building where
you can take the elevator to the first floor to the reception desk. Short-term
Handicap parking (30 minutes) is available in the loading dock. Additional
parking with designated parking meters for Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing
Center is located in the Center for Disabilities and Development parking
area.
copyright, The University of Iowa (2009). All rights reserved.
Speech and Language Evaluation and Treatment for Children
Sally Junkins and Anne Wallace, Clinical Coodinators
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic provides services to children who are in need of developing and expanding their speech and/or language skills. These difficulties may occur alone or may be seen in conjunction with diagnoses such as Global Developmental Delay, Specific Language Impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Evaluation and therapy are available for children with:
Evaluation services include an interview, assessment, feedback and written report in order to determine and/or confirm a diagnosis, develop a treatment plan, and monitor progress over time.
Therapy sessions are tailored to the specific needs of each child. Clinicians use a variety of techniques and strategies to facilitate progress:
This approach provides a supportive social environment with appropriate peers to assist in generalization of emerging skills. In addition to these traditional approaches, the program incorporates a variety of treatment methods, including devices to support communication from simple visual symbol systems to computer assisted learning. Clinical faculty and graduate students work closely with family members, teachers, support personnel to design a program that best facilitates the child's communication development.
Speech and Language Evaluation and Treatment for Adults
Anne Wallace, Clinical Coodinator
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic provides evaluations for adults who are experiencing problems in communication which may be effecting school, social experiences, and / or employment. Clinical faculty who specialize in specific areas of communication including voice, fluency, aural rehabilitation and neurogenics are available as well for evaluation and ongoing treatment. (See navigation bar at left). In addition to specialty areas mentioned, adults seeking evaluation in this clinic may have difficulties in communication related to:
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Developmental delay/cognitive delays
• Learning disabilities with language delays
An evaluation includes a complete history and interview; formal and informal testing; and a conference summarizing the results of the evaluation as well as specific recommendations. A written report follows to the client detailing all aspects of the evaluation. If additional referrals are needed or direct services are deemed appropriate and desired by the client, those arrangements are facilitated by the clinical faculty.
For adults who have acquired speech, language or cognitive-communication disorders, please see information under the "Neurogenic Disorders" in the navigation bar at left.
Hearing Evaluations
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic is committed to providing complete hearing care for you and your family. We offer comprehensive hearing evaluations and management of hearing loss for individuals of all ages. Our evaluations include a complete assessment in order to develop an individualized management plan to meet your communication needs. Our clients, as well as their family members, are an important part of our evaluation process. Communication assessments are balanced between our objective hearing test results and your identified concerns. Recommendations for care will be discussed and opportunities to obtain additional services can be arranged through our clinic. If there is an indication for medical treatment, appropriate referrals are made to a physician as necessary.
Hearing evaluation appointments are typically scheduled for one and one-half hours, Monday through Thursday. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 319-335-8736.
Hearing Aid Evaluation: A current hearing test (within the last six months) either from our clinic or another facility is required before you or your child can be evaluated for hearing aids. During the hearing aid evaluation, the clinician will take time to discuss your specific listening situations, lifestyle, and communication needs. Family members are encouraged to share in this discussion. The information you provide along with the results of the hearing evaluation will be used to make a recommendation for appropriate hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices to meet your needs. In some cases, you or your child will have the opportunity to listen to different hearing aids in order to compare and evaluate their sound quality prior to making a decision.
Our clinic works with a variety of major hearing aid manufacturers as well as a range of hearing aid styles including behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), completely-in-the-canal (CIC), and open-fit. In addition, a wide array of technologies is available to meet your listening needs. These include: digital signal processing, programmable systems, multiple programs for use in different situations/environments, directional microphones for listening in background noise, telecoils for listening to the telephone or for connection to assistive listening devices including classroom amplification systems for children.
Fitting and Orientation: Following the selection of appropriate amplification, you or your child will be scheduled for a fitting and orientation appointment. At this time, the hearing aids will be adjusted to meet the needs of the individual user, and you will be oriented to the use, care and maintenance of the hearing aids. Measurements will be made of the hearing aid output in your individual ear in order to customize the fitting of your hearing aids. The measurement is made with a small microphone that is placed next to the hearing aid in the ear. In this way, hearing aids will be adjusted to each individual's hearing loss and listening needs.
Adjustment Period and Warranty: Individuals fit with hearing aids will have an adjustment period of at least 30 days during which time they are encouraged to wear the hearing aids in a variety of listening situations including at home, work, school, and social activities to assess their performance. Follow up visits will be scheduled during this adjustment period in order to finetune the settings of the hearing aids. At the end of the adjustment period individuals may decide to keep the hearing aids or return to the clinic to try a different type. When hearing aids are purchased through the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic, services are covered at no extra charge for two years. The hearing aids come with a two-year manufacturer's warranty.
Hearing Aid Follow Up Care: There may be times when your hearing aid is not working properly. The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic provides follow up hearing aid care, including reprogramming and repairs, to individuals who have purchased hearing aids through our clinic. We are also able to service most hearing aids even when they have been purchased through other clinics. We may be able to repair your hearing aid at our clinic or we may send the aid to the manufacturer for repair. Should your hearing aid require manufacturer repair, loaner hearing aids are available for you to use during that time. For children, we will attempt to accommodate their educational needs by fitting a hearing aid that can be used with their classroom amplification devices.
Realistic expectations and motivation are keys to success with amplification. Further information and education is available to you in our auditory rehabilitation section for both children and adults. Use the link at left for additional information.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
Depending on your listening needs, assistive listening devices may be recommended for you or your child instead of hearing aids or in combination with hearing aids. Most ALDs are designed to improve listening in specific situations. A personal communication device, such as an FM system will benefit a listener who is at a distance from the speaker or in an environment with background noise, such as in a classroom, business meeting or restaurant. An alerting device may provide a visual or tactile signal to alert the individual to the doorbell ringing, a baby crying, or the alarm clock buzzing. Telephone devices are available to amplify the ringer of the telephone or the voice of the speaker. Television devices allow listeners to adjust the volume of their individual devices without disturbing others.
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic has several ALDs on display for you to try.
Aural (Re)Habilitation
Diane Niebuhr,
Clinical Coordinator (adults)
Anne Wallace, Clinical Coodinator (children)
Services for Adults
• Individual or family classes
• Three week group classes
• Intensive Residential Adult Communication Program
Once and adult client has been fit with appropriate personal amplification, the journey toward better communication has started. Learning to use amplification effectively can be improved through attending communication training sessions.
These sessions provide information including:
These rehabilitative services can be provided on an individual basis or in groups. Individuals who recently have been fitted with new amplification and their families/friends are encouraged to attend. Our clinic's rehabilitative groups are offered in three two-hour sessions and are provided without charge to clients who have purchased hearing aids or have a service contract with our clinic. These classes are also provided periodically through the Iowa City Senior Center at no charge.
For many people, a group environment's primary advantage is that it provides peer support during the adjustment to amplification. Our clinicians feel strongly that family members and/or significant others should be included throughout the rehabilitation process. In addition to learning about hearing problems and how they can be remediated, family members can learn how to improve their communication skills to facilitate easier communication. It is important that family members understand the benefits and limitations of hearing aids, their roles in communication breakdowns and how they help avoid and/or repair these breakdowns.
Services for Children
Treatment for auditory/speech/language difficulties secondary to hearing loss are provided at the clinic within several service delivery models. These include intermittent regular therapy sessions focusing on development of child specific skills as well as supporting the family in facilitation of the child's communication skills. There are also intensive programs which occur during the year and include the following:
FOCUS (Facilitation of Communication and Understanding Services): Babies and toddlers with hearing loss who use amplification and/or cochlear implants, as well as their families and service providers are invited for a day long program of seminars and communication assessment. Held in Fall, Spring, and Summer academic terms.
Two summer programs, the Listen and Speak Up Preschool and the Social Skills Enhancement for School aged Children with Hearing Impairment, are offered each summer. Use the "Summer Programs" link at left to learn more.
Voice Evaluation and Treatment
Ann Fennell, Clinical Coordinator
The Voice Clinic in the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic provides diagnostic and treatment services for individuals of all ages with voice problems. All diagnostic and therapy sessions are conducted by graduate-level student-clinicians, under the direct supervision of licensed and certified faculty members of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic services are provided through the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic for individuals of all ages. Referrals are accepted from otolaryngologists, referring speech-language pathologists, and individuals.
The voice evaluation includes: (1) an initial interview designed to address the specific presenting problem(s); (2) clinical measurement of the voice using objective, acoustic and perceptual techniques; (3) materials and information for optimizing vocal health; and (4) a period of trial voice therapy to determine prognosis and goals for therapy. Clinical measurement of a singer's voice may also include the Voice Range Profile.
Therapy
Therapy services are provided through the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic for individuals of all ages. Referrals are accepted from otolaryngologists, referring speech-language pathologists, and individuals.
Treatment sessions are individualized, and are usually scheduled weekly or bi-weekly. Services are provided for individuals with diagnoses such as vocal fold nodules, vocal fold paralysis, tremor, presbyphonia, puberphonia and muscle tension dysphonia.
Additionally, specialized services are offered in the following areas:
Voice Professionals: The Voice Clinic specializes in providing services for voice professionals. These professionals, who depend on their voices for their livelihood, include but are not limited to:
The voice habilitation services provided to these individuals are designed to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the voice for speaking and singing.
Transgender voice: Services provided include a diagnostic evaluation and individual therapy sessions to address feminine voice and communication skills.
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for individuals
with Parkinson disease
The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) program is designed to improve functional intelligible communication by increasing vocal loudness. LSVT consists of 4 sessions per week for 4 weeks (16 sessions in a month). Each session lasts 50-60 minutes.
The treatment involves intensive daily training sessions along with family-assisted practice sessions at home and emphasizes high vocal effort. The individual is encouraged to “THINK LOUD”.
Diagnostic and therapy services are provided by graduate-level student-clinicians who are supervised by a clinical faculty member certified in the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment technique. Follow-up sessions are scheduled as needed.
What to do if you are interested in LSVT?
• Obtain a prescription from your physician for a speech evaluation and speech therapy 4 times/week x 4 weeks.
• Contact an Otolaryngologist (ENT) for an endoscopic voice evaluation to rule out other voice problems such as vocal fold nodules.
• Contact the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic to schedule the LSVT initial diagnostic session.
Helpful links: For additional information about the LSVT program, visit the website at www.lsvt.org.
For additional information about Parkinson Disease, check these sites:
American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.: www.apdaparkinson.org
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: www.michaeljfox.org
National Parkinson Foundation: www.parkinson.org
Parkinson's Disease Foundation: www.pdf.org
Stuttering
Patricia Zebrowski and Toni Cilek, Clinical Coordinators
UI SPEAKS: University of Iowa Speech Programs Educating Adults and Kids who Stutter: The University of Iowa has a long-standing reputation as a premier institution for investigating the disorder of stuttering and providing assessment and treatment for individuals who experience stuttering problems across all ages. As the first speech pathology program in the country, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has its roots in the field of stuttering. Many of the founding fathers of the profession, including such master clinicians and scientists as Lee Travis, Wendell Johnson, Charles Van Riper and Dean Williams, were associated with this program. UI SPEAKS incorporates this rich tradition by offering a full profile of clinical and research opportunities.
Evaluation
Diagnostic services are provided through the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic for individuals of all ages who have concerns about speech fluency or stuttering. This may include initial assessment, consultation concerning previous evaluations and treatment, and recommendations for intervention.
Referrals for an evaluation are accepted from individuals as well as other professionals. The assessment is individualized to address specific questions or issues relative to each situation presented. The assessment may also include evaluation of other communication problems if indicated.
Follow up consultation concerning the results of the diagnostic session are provided subsequent to the appointment by the clinical faculty. To receive more information and/or to schedule an evaluation, use the "Overview" link at left for contact information. You may also Email Clinic faculty members Toni Cilek (toni-cilek@uiowa.edu) or Tricia Zebrowski (tricia-zebrowski@uiowa.edu).
Treatment Options for Stuttering
Therapy for individuals of all ages with stuttering and other speech fluency disorders is provided in a variety of clinical service delivery models at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Individual as well as group sessions are available for children and adults throughout the calendar year. Intensive treatment options are also provided as appropriate, including services for individuals who do not live in the immediate vicinity of Iowa City or for clients who have work and other schedule conflicts which necessitate a more flexible therapy arrangement.
Further, there are two intensive intervention programs available for children during the summer: one is a day program for elementary ages and another is a residential summer outreach for teens. For additional information about these offerings, use the "Summer Programs" link at left.
Research
Dr. Zebrowski also conducts research in her laboratory, the Stuttering Project at the University of Iowa.
The lab's primary research focus is the onset and development of stuttering in early childhood.
One study looks at the movements of speech articulators (for example. jaw and lips) produced during speech by 4-6 year-old children who do and do not stutter, and relate them to how speech and language are processed. This study will provide baseline information that may help us to understand how language processing and speech movements co-develop in children, and how children with speech and language disorders differ from normal speakers.
A second study study investigates variations in the onset and subsequent developmental course of stuttering in children under age six. We are interested in finding out why and how some children develop more chronic and severe symptoms shortly after onset, while others recover without treatment.
Clients seeking therapy at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic may be invited to participate in these studies, but of course there is certainly no obligation to do so.
Neurogenic Disorders
Marcia Akeson and Jean K. Gordon, Clinical Coordinators
Our Mission
We are dedicated to advancing the understanding of adult acquired speech and language impairments and developing effective treatment approaches in the context of a client-centered research institution.
Client Services
The Clinic for Rehabilitation of Speech and Language (or ‘Neuro Clinic') provides evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic intervention for adults with speech and language impairments acquired in adulthood. Acquired neurogenic communication disorders include aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, and cognitive-communication impairments. These typically result from brain injuries due to stroke, trauma, brain tumors, or progressive neurological diseases (e.g. Parkinson disease, Alzheimer's dementia, ALS, primary progressive aphasia).
People are encouraged to seek our services at sub-acute and chronic stages of recovery. There is ample evidence available today that people who experience a brain injury can still benefit substantially from treatment for speech-language difficulties even years later. We are committed to providing therapy that addresses the underlying impairment, as well as its functional impact on communication in every-day situations.
For more information about any of our services, please contact jean-k-gordon@uiowa.edu, or call 319-335-8729.
Diagnostic Clinic
Clients' communicative abilities are evaluated using current standardized assessments of speech, language, and cognitive skills. Results of the evaluation are used to determine recommendations for therapy specific to each client. As appropriate, clients will be referred for individual and/or group treatment within the Neuro Clinic. (Or, if necessary, clients may be placed on a waiting list for therapeutic services.) The evaluation may also serve, with the permission of the client, to determine his or her candidacy for specific research projects.
Treatment Programs for Neurogenic Disorders
Therapy is offered in both individualized (one-on-one) and group formats. Treatment is based on semester-long blocks, and is typically scheduled on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. All therapy sessions are conducted by graduate-level student-clinicians, under the direct supervision of licensed and certified faculty members of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Therapy for Aphasia, Dysarthria and Apraxia: Clients with motor speech impairments (dysarthria or apraxia), and clients with language impairments (aphasia) work on individualized speech and language goals.
Cognitive-Communication Therapy: People who sustain a brain injury, or develop a progressive neurological disease, frequently experience cognitive impairments (e.g. difficulties with attention, memory, or reasoning) that affect their ability to communicate. For these clients, we offer one-on-one therapy to address these impairments and their impact on daily functioning.
Community Services: At times, the Neuro Clinic negotiates contracts to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services to facilities in the community. We may also provide assessment services to nursing homes in the Iowa City area. One such outreach is with the Pathways Adult Day Health Center. Additional details are provided under the "Community Outreach" link.
Research Services: Clients in the Neuro Clinic may be offered opportunities to participate in research studies investigating the nature of acquired speech and language disorders, and the efficacy of state-of-the-art treatment methods. Participation is entirely voluntary, and does not affect clients' candidacy for treatment in the clinic.
Glossary of Neurogenic Terminology
Many terms used in neurogenics may be confusing, and as such, we offer the the following definitions:
Aphasia is an impairment in the ability to use or understand language that results from damage to brain areas responsible for language. The disorder impairs both the expression and understanding of language, as well as reading and writing. Aphasia is usually caused by a stroke, but can also be caused by other types of brain damage, such as a head injury or brain tumor.
Apraxia is motor planning disorder, an impairment in the execution of a voluntary movement, despite being able to demonstrate normal muscle function. Apraxia of speech affects the movements of articulation.
Cognitive-Communication Impairment is a disruption in communicative functions that results from more general cognitive impairment, typically as a result of a head injury, or the onset of dementia. Communication is usually affected in tasks that place a heavier load on cognitive functions like attention, memory, and social skills.
Dysarthria is a group of speech disorders caused by reductions in the strength or coordination of the muscles of the speech mechanism, as a result of damage to the brain or nerves.
The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic offers diagnostic and therapy services for Accent Modification (also called Accent Reduction). These elective clinical services are designed to assist individuals in changing their accents/dialects to Standard American English.
Standard American English is the linguistic variety used by government, the mass media, business, education, science, and the arts. Therefore, some speakers of English who use a version that is not the standard (for example, regional or social dialects) might find it advantageous or even necessary to learn to speak a more customary style of English. In addition, other speakers who have learned English as a second language might be speaking English that is influenced by their first language. In this case, learning to speak the “standard” form of English would be advantageous for basic communication, or even work or university projects and presentations.
In either case, this “elective” therapy focuses on the individual needs of the client, with the objectives selected after an evaluation of linguistic skills. These linguistic skills include, but are not limited to:
Summer Programs
Linda Louko, Clinic Director
Services at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic are available year-round. In addition to these outpatient services, several intensive summer programs are offered for
individuals with specific communication disorders. Use the links at left to learn more about these programs.
For questions about the summer programs, contact Linda Louko, Clinic Director, at (319) 335-8698 or by Email at linda-louko@uiowa.edu.
Coming in Summer 2010: UI HEARS-ARC (Hearing Evaluation & Auditory Rehabilitation Services Adult Residential Conference). This program offers assessments, explorations with various hearing aids and listening devices, and strategies for communication in the real world.
For additional information, contact Diane Niebuhr at 319.335.8736 or diane-niebuhr@uiowa.edu.
Download a flyer / registration form for UI HEARS-ARC (pdf file).
Community Outreach and Service Learning Programs
Linda Louko, Speech and Language Coordinator
Diane Niebuhr, Hearing Coodinator
In addition to diagnostic and therapy services provided within the walls of the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic, a philosophy of service-learning takes our clinicians and their student trainees into the local community.
Preschool Speech - Language - Hearing Screenings: The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center has conducted speech, language, and hearing screenings in area daycare centers, preschools and private schools for many years. The screening protocol is designed for children 3 through 5 years of age who are likely to have a speech, language, hearing or communication problem. The pass/fail procedure may result in a recommendation for further evaluation by a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, monitoring of language, speech and hearing by the teacher(s) and parents or referral for other medical or professional services.
Hearing and Hearing Aid Clinics: Hearing and hearing aid clinics are provided by a staff audiologist and doctoral student in audiology once a month at seven of the Independent and Assistive Living residences in the Iowa City Area. At these clinics adult residents can obtain minimal hearing test results and appropriate referrals as well as hearing aid cleaning and minor repair. These services are currently provided at no charge. If you have friends or family members living in a residence, encourage them to contact our clinic to find out if services are provided at their facilities.
Child Hearing and Hearing Aid Services: Children in the Cedar Rapids area who are eligible for Medicaid services can be seen for hearing aid and earmold care through our Medicaid Clinic which takes place on a monthly basis at the Cedar Rapids Grant Wood Area Education Agency office.
Literacy Skills in Children: According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, "17-20 percent of our nation's children experience substantial difficulties in learning to read…making early identification and intervention of reading problems essential to a child's success in both school and society”. Preschool children with speech and language disorders are considered at-risk for problems with learning to read and to write. Our trained professionals have the knowledge and experience to identify and treat language, speech, and emergent literacy skills which serve as the foundation for later reading and writing development.
Individual and/or group therapy provide vocabulary enrichment, pre-literacy and literacy development (phonologic awareness such as rhyming, reading comprehension, etc.), as well as encourage social-pragmatic interaction.
KIDTALK Preschool and Neighborhood Centers: Additional therapy programs affiliated with the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center include KIDTALK preschool, and outreach/direct services to the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County. KIDTALK is a preschool program for children identified with communication delays and disorders operated by the Iowa City School District and housed within the WJSHC. Varied programs are provided: screenings, evaluations, direct intervention, and a summer program for children with at-risk language/emerging literacy skills who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall.
Pathways: Pathways Adult Day Health Center is a community based not-for-profit, serving adults 18 and over with challenges, and is designed to prevent premature or unnecessary institutionalization. Pathways offers participants with transportation to and from the Center, nutritious meals, daily programming, assistance with personal cares, and nursing services. It also provides caregivers the ability to work or have a break from their caregiving roles while knowing that their loved one is being cared for by the staff. Individual and/or group therapy clinical services are offered to individuals with communication disorders as a result of cerebrovascular accident, traumatic brain injury, or progressive neurological disorders.
For additional information or to inquire about obtaining outreach services for you or for your facility, contact us at (319) 335-8736.
Aspergers Disorders Social Skills Program
Linda Louko, Clinic Director
Please note: the Aspergers Disorders Social Skills Program will not be offered in Summer 2009.
This program is designed to improve the social skills demonstrated by children with high functioning autism, and focuses on the unique needs of each participant, through group and individual therapy. A variety of therapy activities are developed not only for the children to have fun, but also to provide some structure for learning effectiveness. Currently the program is designed for children who will be entering fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in the fall.
This program starts with a week-long, 2 ½ hour per day therapy program in early June, and continues with a follow-up two-hour session each week for six weeks.
For more information, contact
Linda Louko, PhD
(319)
335-8698
Email linda-louko@uiowa.edu
Scottish Ritecare
This 6-week summer clinic is for children with reading and communication problems, designed for children in the preschool and primary grades. This intensive, six-week program offers various options for treatment frequency and length.
Program philosophy: The Iowa Scottish-Rite Masons have maintained a long standing commitment to the Wendell Johnson Clinic to assist students with speech and learning difficulties. These efforts are funded through the Iowa Scottish-Rite Charitable and Educational Foundation. The purpose of these humanitarian efforts is to assist students to acquire the skills to be successful in school and in life.
This program is called Rite-Care which represented a national effort of Scottish-Rite Masons throughout the country to help, aid and assist children with speech and language difficulties. This help comes in the form of scholarships provided during the summer to help defray the costs of these services.
The program prepares the child for existing school programs and/or carryover of a current school program.
Link to the 2009 brochure/enrollment form (in pdf)
Link to scholarship application
For more information, contact
Elizabeth Merrifield, Ph.D.
Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic
250 Hawkins Drive
The University of Iowa
Iowa City IA 52242-1012
(319) 335-8736
elizabeth-merrifield@uiowa.edu
Summer Programs in Hearing
Adults
Intensive Residential Adult Communication Program
Diane Niebuhr, Clinical Coodinator
UI HEARS - ARC is for active adults with an acquired hearing loss and their communication partners. It was developed for participants to learn how to improve their communication abilities in social environments. Classes will be offered during the day to allow participants to understand hearing loss, learn techniques for coping with communication breakdowns, and improve their communication skills. Information will be presented on innovations in hearing aid technology. State of the art hearing aid and assistive learning device technology will be available for trial use based on each individual’s specific needs. Social events will be scheduled to allow participants to use the skills they have learned as well as to evaluate their trial hearing aid technology and assistive listening devices.
This program will not be offered in 2009, but please check back for details / registration for 2010.
Children
Anne Wallace and Danielle Kelsay, Clinical Coodinators
Listen and Speak Up: This summer preschool program was created to promote the spoken language skills of children with hearing impairments regardless of their communication mode. It takes place at The University of Iowa's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The preschool meets two mornings a week for six weeks during the summer.
The structure for Listen and Speak Up includes thematically-based group sessions to promote communication skill development in natural learning situations, as well as individual sessions (two 30-minute speech/language therapy sessions each day and one 30-minute audiological diagnostic session each week) to focus attention on each individual child's needs. Music therapy provides a unique opportunity to focus on listening / music while reinforcing child's auditory to speech production and language goals. Parent conferences are held weekly.
The Listen and Speak Up! flyer is available as a pdf file.
Social Skills Enhancement for School aged Children with Hearing Impairment: This summer program focuses on monitoring of existing communication goals during the summer as well as specifically emphasizing social skills for children with hearing loss. Group and individual treatment are included in this program.
This program will be offered in Summer 2009.
For more information, contact
Anne Wallace, MA, CCC-SP
(319) 335-8702
Email anne-m-wallace@uiowa.edu
Summer Programs: Stuttering
Toni Cilek and Patricia Zebrowski, Clinical Coordinators
UI SPEAKS (University of Iowa Summer Program to Educate Adults and Kids who Stutter) offers two summer programs: one for elementary school children and another for teens who stutter. The camps are held at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Both programs support participants as they:
· Explore what stuttering is, and what it is not
· Become aware of their own unique way of stuttering
· Make decisions about what changes they would like to make in either speaking or stuttering, or both
· Problem-solve, and identify and learn to use strategies to increase speech fluency
· Practice, practice, practice (particularly in a variety of communication situations)
For Elementary School-Aged Children: The camp is a one-week intensive program for children from K-6th grade who stutter, which is typically scheduled in early to mid- June. In addition, 5 one-day follow up sessions are held throughout the remainder of the summer as part of this program. Therapy includes individual and group sessions which may incorporate previously established speech goals and/or, as appropriate, development of additional strategies to facilitate change in the child's speech. Counseling services provided by a licensed professional are incorporated into the program as well. Further, consultation with parents and school-based services is available and encouraged.
For more information, contact
Toni Cilek, MA, CCC-SLP
(319) 335-8744
Email toni-cilek@uiowa.edu
The 2009 flyer (in pdf) and application form (in Word) are available on-line.
For Teens: For teenagers ages 13-18 who stutter, we offer a week-long intensive, residential program. The dates for 2009 are June 7 –13. Our program is designed to give teenagers who stutter a safe and supportive place in which to “let stuttering out.” By doing this, we help them to study their stuttering so we can guide them in making decisions about how they want to manage their speech. We accomplish this through an intensive therapy format that includes five hours of daily individual and group therapy, including numerous opportunities to practice specific speech “tools” in various situations in and outside of the clinic.
For more information, contact
Patricia Zebrowski, PhD, CCC-SP
(319) 335-8735
Email tricia-zebrowski@uiowa.edu
The 2009 flyer (in pdf) and application form are available on-line.
Aural (Re)Habilitation
Diane Niebuhr, Clinical Coordinator, adults
Anne Wallace, Clinical Coodinator, children
Services for Adults
• Individual or family classes
• Three week group classes
• Intensive Residential Adult Communication Program
Once and adult client has been fit with appropriate personal amplification, the journey toward better communication has started. Learning to use amplification effectively can be improved through attending communication training sessions.
These sessions provide information including:
These rehabilitative services can be provided on an individual basis or in groups. Individuals who recently have been fitted with new amplification and their families/friends are encouraged to attend. Our clinic's rehabilitative groups are offered in three two-hour sessions and are provided without charge to clients who have purchased hearing aids or have a service contract with our clinic. These classes are also provided periodically through the Iowa City Senior Center at no charge.
For many people, a group environment's primary advantage is that it provides peer support during the adjustment to amplification. Our clinicians feel strongly that family members and/or significant others should be included throughout the rehabilitation process. In addition to learning about hearing problems and how they can be remediated, family members can learn how to improve their communication skills to facilitate easier communication. It is important that family members understand the benefits and limitations of hearing aids, their roles in communication breakdowns and how they help avoid and/or repair these breakdowns.
Services for Children
Treatment for auditory/speech/language difficulties secondary to hearing loss are provided at the clinic within several service delivery models. These include intermittent regular therapy sessions focusing on development of child specific skills as well as supporting the family in facilitation of the child's communication skills. There are also intensive programs which occur during the year and include the following:
FOCUS (Facilitation of Communication and Understanding Services): Babies and toddlers with hearing loss who use amplification and/or cochlear implants, as well as their families and service providers, are invited for a day-long program of seminars and communication assessment. FOCUS is held in the fall, spring, and summer academic terms.
Two summer programs, the Listen and Speak Up Preschool and the Social Skills Enhancement for School aged Children with Hearing Impairment, are offered each summer. Use the "Summer Programs" link at left to learn more.