Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy + 1 more
Address: 2212 Encompass Drive, Suite 148 | Chattanooga, TN 37421
No ratings yet
Insurances: No info provided
Ages Served: All ages
Care Settings: No info provided
AboutServicesFAQ
About The Speech & Hearing Center
The Speech & Hearing Center is Chattanooga’s only nonprofit medical practice specializing in enhancing communication and enriching lives. Since 1953, the organization has fulfilled its mission of improving quality of life through better communication by providing audiology, speech, occupational and physical therapy services to individuals of all ages and income.
The Speech & Hearing Center is an integral resource to the community. Our best-in-class medical providers deliver much-needed services with top-of-the-line technology, competitive pricing and exceptional customer service.
We help children take their first steps. And speak their first words. We restore hearing to those who have been struggling to understand their loved ones for decades or more. And help to mitigate the significantly increased risk they face of health and safety issues, such as falls and dementia.
As a nonprofit, we ensure all individuals with speech or hearing impairments have access to the services and equipment they need, regardless of their ability to pay. But that doesn’t mean we don’t accept private pay and private insurance patients. These patients, as well as grants and donations, offset the costs of our mission work.
Patients who can afford services can feel good about their choice to support a long-standing community organization. A portion of every service or product purchased assists those in our community who would otherwise not be able to afford therapy or hearing devices.
By choosing us, you’re helping to improve quality of life in our area by minimizing the effects of communication disorders on education, employment and social wellbeing.
Leave a review: Would you recommend this provider?
Frequently Asked Questions
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
Forming speech in a clearer way
Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
Understanding and responding to questions
Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
Noticing and understanding body language
Feeding and swallowing
Stuttering
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about you your skills, and you will most likely demonstrate these skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a couple hours.
Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with you, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon your strengths. If there are others part of your care team, the therapist may teach strategies for supporting your individualized needs at home and may recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help you thrive.
Monitor your progress. You can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure you're achieving your short and long-term goals.
Get involved with local organizations, support groups, and professionals specializing in those hard of hearing. They can offer guidance, resources, and opportunities for your kiddo’s development. The more you know, the better you can support your child.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, nonprofit organization that provides unbiased support, regarding communication methodology and technology, to families with deaf or hard of hearing children.
Gallaudet University — Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center is a federally funded institution offering exemplary academic programs to deaf/HoH students. They provide early intervention services, sign language classes, and uniquely designed resources for deaf/HoH communities.
Hearing Loss Association of America is a nonprofit organization with a mission to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support, and advocacy.
All ages
English