Baptist Health Care Speech and Hearing Center's friendly, expert therapists assist people with hearing and speaking difficulties.  Audiologists and speech pathologists with master's degrees and considerable professional experience treat a wide range of disorders for people of all ages-from newborns to adults.  All staff members hold the Speech-Language and Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical competence and are licensed by the State of Florida.  The center is open Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm.

Speech-Language Services

Advances in technology have led to new, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options at Baptist Speech and Hearing Clinic.

Videostroboscopy — Allows your physician to better visualize movement and function of the vocal cords, by taking pictures of your vocal cords vibrating, while you say “eeee”. The procedure involves placing a small lens attached to a scope toward the back of the mouth. The resulting “video” shows the structure of the cords and how well they move.

Computer analysis of voice — Computer analysis of voice parameters, such as habitual pitch, pitch range, mean phonation time and roughness measurement provide scientific pre and post-treatment comparisons.

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) — Actual visualization of swallowing as it occurs can be done by passing a small camera through the nose into the throat. From this vantage point, the speech therapist assess the patients ability ot swallow various types and consistencies food and takes pictures for the physician. This study also allows the speech pathologist time to try adaptive strategies that may help the patient’s swallowing.

Vital Stim — Neuro-muscular electrical stimulation is a non-invasive treatment for swallowing problems that is showing promising results. Recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), electrodes are placed on the throat or the face for direct muscular stimulation, often combined with traditional swallowing therapy. The speech therapist must be certified to provide this therapy.

Modified Barium Swallow — A patient’s swallowing of food and liquids is viewed under x-ray by the radiologist and speech pathologist. This is the swallowing evaluation recommended for Vital Stim candidates.

Therapist at the Speech and Hearing Center evaluate and treat many communication problems including:

• Speech and sound production
• Language
• Stuttering
• Voice
• Cleft Lip and Palate
• Swallowing
• Auditory Processing Disorders

Audiology Services:

• Hearing evaluation

• Hearing aids

• Electrodiagnostics, including auditory brainstem response, electrocochleography and otoacoustic emissions

• Middle ear and eustachian tube functioning testing

• Industrial audioloygy
• Newborn hearing screenings
• Hearing evaluation for infants and children
• Hearing screening

Hearing Aids

Finding the right hearing aid helps patients make the most of their residual hearing.  Audiologists thoroughly evaluate patients to determine if a hearing aid is appropriate.  If it is, the audiologists select the best device for each individual. The Speech and Hearing Center carries conventional, programmable and digital hearing aids.

The center also offers hearing aid repair and follow-up service.  A hearing aid battery club is available.

Financial Aid

The Speech and Hearing Center is a United Way provider through the Speech and Hearing Board.  Financial support is also available through Scottish Rite.

Baptist Hospital Speech and Hearing Center is designated as a Childhood Language Disorders Clinic by the Scottish Rite Foundation.  Baptist Health Care receives financial support from Scottish Rite and is part of a statewide network that provides assistance to children with communication problems.

Each year during June, Scottish Rite sponsors a “Summer Literacy Camp” for children ages three to nine who need help with language and the basic skills that lead to being a good reader and speller. The children retell and act out stories, build vocabulary, learn about sounds, make connections between reading and writing. If you think your child would benefit, call the clinic for a screening and more information. Visit their website here www.helpforkidspeech.org.

Baptist Health Care Locations for Speech and Hearing