Services
The Speech and Hearing Center offers the following clinical services for individuals experiencing problems with articulation (mispronunciation of sounds), fluency (stuttering), hearing, hearing aid fitting and dispensing, language (child language impairment or recovering of language from stroke or other brain trauma), and voice (hoarse or strained voice):
Services are provided by graduate student clinicians under the supervision of licensed and certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
Clients continuing from one semester to the next are assigned to new clinicians at the beginning of each semester. The purposes of this policy are (1) to provide student clinicians with a wide variety of experiences and (2) to foster the client's independence and ability to carry over improved communication skills from one communication situation to another.
The Center follows the University's academic calendar, offering treatment services during three 10-13 week semesters each year:
• During the two long sessions (fall and spring semesters), evaluations, hearing aid fitting and dispensing, and individual and group speech therapy services are available.
• During the summer, our speech pathology program offers two to three week intensive group therapy sessions.
• During the summer, our audiology program offers full audiological services.
Confidentiality
The Speech and Hearing Center considers confidentiality of our clients’ health information to be of the utmost importance in order to maintain the privacy of clients served. We follow HIPPA regulations to ensure this.
• Learn more about the difference between speech and language
Does your child need an evaluation for speech or language?
Here are basic guidelines for normal speech/language development. For more information contact us at 471-3841 and you will be referred to a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
To set up an evaluation/screening:
• Call the receptionist. She will ask questions about the problem you want to address.
• If your have questions regarding a particular problem, she may refer your call to the appropriate staff member.
• If you need audiological (hearing) or speech/language services, an appointment can be scheduled. The frequency and duration of appointments are arranged according to availability and the needs of clients, student clinicians, and supervisors.
• Once intake is completed you will be mailed:
o A description of the program including information about fees (link to fee information);
o An application for the sliding fee scale;
o A map to the Center (link to downloadable map);
o A case history form (only for speech/language services; and
o A release of information for information which needs to be collected from other agencies before the client can be seen.
Referrals – Referrals may be made by physicians, parents, spouses, teachers, and individuals at agencies or by the client himself or herself. Initial contact may be made in person or by telephone at 512-471-3841. At the time of initial contact, the referring person is asked to provide a description of the speech, language, or hearing concern, demographic, and financial and/or insurance information. If the client has been referred by a physician, teacher, or treatment facility, a statement of the reason for referral and a report of medical examination or other diagnostic information is requested.
When admission for speech-language pathology and/or audiology services is not possible, other ways of securing the needed assistance are suggested. Some alternatives to admission to the Speech and Hearing Center are:
• referral to another agency or practice such as the public schools, a community center in the area from which the person lives, or speech-language pathologists and audiologists in private practice;
• referral to another treatment source, such as physicians, or the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center;
• home management, with advice and intermittent guidance from the Speech and Hearing Center staff or from other agencies.