Speech & Hearing Clinic
Clinical Services for Communication Disorders
The Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic was established in 1947 and has served the people of east Alabama for over 50 years.
The clinic provides assessment and treatment services for the full range of clients from infants through the elderly.
The clinic offers a sliding fee scale for clients based on their income level and family size. The fee structure makes access to clinical services possible for many people who otherwise could not afford assessment or treatment of their communication disorder.
The clinic is staffed by professionals in communication disorders who specialize in AUDIOLOGY or SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY.
- The Audiologist receives university training to the master’s level or beyond in the study of normal hearing and the identification, evaluation, and rehabilitation of those who have hearing problems. The audiologist determines when a person has a hearing impairment, what type of impairment it is, and how the individual can make the best use of remaining hearing. The audiologist determines if a person will benefit from a hearing instrument hearing aid, FM system, etc.), and if so, can select and provide the appropriate device.
- The Speech-Language Pathologist receives university training to the master’s level or beyond in the normal development and disorders of human communication. By evaluating the speech and language skills of children and adults, this professional determines if communication problems exist and the best way to treat them.
All of our faculty hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in either Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as licensure from the State of Alabama.
The Department of Communication Disorders provides training for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. While our clinic serves as a training opportunity for students, every case is closely supervised by departmental faculty to insure the highest quality service to our clients.
Each of our faculty members has specific areas of expertise within the field of communication disorders and many are nationally recognized for their research, textbooks and clinical abilities.
The Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic provides the following services (clicking on the tabs above can access more specific explanations of our assessment and treatment services).
The Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic accepts self-referrals as well as referrals from physicians and other professionals. To make an appointment or obtain further information, call (334) 844-9600 or visit the clinic located on the first floor or Haley Center (Room 1199). Parking spaces for clinic patients are located in front of the clinic in the parking lot next to Haley Center. The clinic operates throughout the year on the Auburn University schedule and is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
About Speech Language and Hearing Disorders
Our communication system, speaking, hearing and understanding, is a unique human achievement. It plays a vital role in all aspects of everyday life—in our education, our jobs, our families, and our recreation. When communication processes are damaged by disorders of speech, language or hearing, the effects are almost always serious.
- Twenty four million people or 10% of the population have a speech, language or hearing problem.
- It is estimated that 2.5 to 10 million Americans, or 1 out of every 20, suffer from speech or language disorders.
- Hearing impairment affects approximately 21 million Americans, including 3 out of every 100 school children and 1 out of every 3 adults over the age of sixty-five.
Although specific causes of speech, language and hearing disorders often cannot be determined, various factors may be associated with their presence.
- Speech and language disorders may accompany physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, or neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy.
- Hearing loss, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease result in communication impairments.
- The presence of inadequate speech and language models in the home environment may also contribute to communication problems.
- Most often, however, no particular cause is identifiable.
Causes of hearing loss include:
- accumulation of ear wax
- punctured ear drum
- childhood diseases such as mumps or measles
- hereditary disorders
- German measles during early pregnancy
- meningitis and other illnesses
- use of certain drugs
- head injuries
- traumas
- birth defects
- the aging process
- sudden or extended exposure to noise
- The most common cause of hearing loss in children is ear infection.