Speech-Language-Hearing Center

Communicate confidently with help from the Speech-Language-Hearing Center.

Worcester State University’s Speech-Language-Hearing Center helps people of all ages with communication needs, including difficulties with speech sound production, fluency, voice, language, cognition, AAC, social language and hearing.

For more than 50+ years the center has been assisting the community, operating two clinics: the speech-language clinic and the hearing clinic. These clinics are staffed by speech-language pathologists and audiologists certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

The Worcester State University Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Department and the Speech-Language-Hearing Center are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination for students, faculty, staff, and clients on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital/parental status, national/ethnic origin, genetic information, or citizenship.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The center will assist with a variety of communication needs. The center serves the following groups:
People with a variety of diagnoses, including autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease
Individuals seeking voice affirming speech therapy
Children, teens, and adults who stutter
Individuals with hearing loss
Non-native English speakers who wish to communicate more effectively
Please call us for more information at 508-929-8055, Monday-Friday between 9:00am-4:30pm.
The center is open whenever Worcester State University is open. The schedule is based on the academic calendar:
Fall sessions run from late September through mid-December
Spring sessions run from early February through early May
Summer features a 6-week program that runs from June through early August
Although services are free, donations are welcomed and can be made online, in person or through the mail.
Checks can be made out to the Worcester State Foundation and mailed directly to:
Division of University Advancement
Worcester State University
486 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA 01602
Please be sure to list “SLHC donation” in the memo field. Your generous support will help us continue our mission to have a positive impact on the community.

Parkinson Voice Project: “SPEAK OUT!” Programs

SPEAK OUT!^® is a therapy program developed by the Parkinson Voice Project https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/ in Richardson Texas, for people with Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson-plus syndromes. The therapy focuses on maintaining and improving the voice and swallowing of people with Parkinson’s Disease. The program includes individual services, group services and periodic refresher sessions.

In this program, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. Treatment focus on speaking “with intent” while completing speech, voice and cognitive activities. These activities may also minimize swallowing complications.

The SPEAK OUT! individual program is completed twice weekly over the course of a semester. The client then transitions to the SPEAK OUT! group program

The SPEAK OUT! group meets once weekly and focuses on maintaining skills obtained during the individual sessions. The sessions focus on vocal practice, accountability, support, and encouragement, and are a source of camaraderie for its members.

The SPEAK OUT! refreshers are completed every 3-6 months for individuals in the group. During the refresher session a comparison is made with the client’s performance at the end of their individual therapy. Additional therapy may be recommended if a decline is noted.

SPEAK OUT! sessions occur at the Worcester State University Speech-Language-Hearing Center thanks to grant support from the Parkinson Voice Project. There is no fee for services or for the SPEAK OUT! workbook.

Interested?
If you are interested in receiving “SPEAK OUT!” services please contact the center by using the number in the contact information.

Hearing Clinic

Thanks to several grants from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, the Hoche-Schofield Foundation, and the McEvoy Foundation, our Hearing Clinic provides audiology services to children and adults. The center offers a variety of services and discounts for adults with hearing difficulties.

Pure-tone audiometry
Speech audiometry
Immittance testing (tympanometry and acoustic reflexes)
Otoacoustic emissions
Fitting fully digital customized products
Hearing aid consultation
Hearing aid orientation and follow-up appointments
On-site hearing aid checks and repairs
Providing hearing aid batteries and supplies
Group and individual therapy
Family education and support
Hearing aid care and maintenance
Communication strategies
Hearing assistive technology
Ear molds for adults using hearing aids
Musician ear molds and monitors
Swim molds
Hearing protection molds

Speech-Language Clinic

The Speech-Language Clinic offers a full range of prevention, evaluation, and intervention services for people with communication needs.

Accent expansion
Speech Sound Disorders
Fluency
Receptive and Expressive Language
Voice
Aural Rehabilitation
AAC (Alternative Augmentative Communication)
Cognition
Social Communication Needs
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology supervise graduate students.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Aphasia Support Group & Individual Therapy

We offer both individual and group therapy for adults with a diagnosis of aphasia. Our services are designed to support individuals in addressing their communication abilities while also improving psychosocial wellbeing.

Held every other week
Group sizes range from 4 to 8 members
Typical group sessions are 90 minutes in length
Open to adults of all ages with any type of aphasia
Focused on practicing communication skills in a supportive group environment
Provides opportunities to meet and interact with others who share similar challenges and goals
In addition to the structured group therapy, we offer several informal, voluntary groups designed to provide additional support and social interaction, including:
Aphasia Book Club: Discuss books and share thoughts in a relaxed setting.
Game Day: Enjoy fun games and activities that stimulate communication.
Coffee Chat: A casual gathering for conversation, coffee, and connection.
These informal groups allow individuals with aphasia to engage with others, practice communication in low-pressure settings, and foster meaningful social connections.

Fluency Disorders Program

The center’s Fluency Disorders Program offers prevention, evaluation, and intervention services for individuals of all ages who have fluency disorders (i.e., child-onset stuttering, cluttering, and acquired fluency disorders such as neurogenic or psychogenic). If you stutter or have acquired a fluency disorder, you can sign up for individual and group services. Counseling is an integral component in the diagnostic and therapeutic process at the Center.

Individual & Group Services

The Center offers individual and group services during the fall and spring semesters.

Summer Program for Children & Teens

The Center offers a summer program for children and teens who stutter. Established in 2005, this program features individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, and parent education sessions. Individual and group therapies help clients more effectively manage their stuttering. At the same time, parents receive support and information about stuttering to improve their understanding and interactions with their children.

Information Meetings About Stuttering

The Center hosts the Worcester chapter of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) for adults who stutter. Meetings are hybrid (i.e., both in-person and via Zoom) and are held every third Tuesday of the month from September through May in the Ghosh Science and Technology Center, Room 122D from 7:30pm-9:00pm. For more information, please contact Dr. Ken Melnick (kmelnick@worcester.edu) and visit the NSA website for the Worcester Chapter (https://www.westutter.org/chapter/worcester).

Support from Trained Pathologists

The clinic employs two speech-language pathologists who are the only board-certified specialists in fluency and fluency disorders in the Central Massachusetts region. There are only approximately 300 specialists in the United States.

Forms for Services

Please contact us before completing the following forms so that we can direct you to the packet that will most appropriately meet your needs.

To become part of our waitlist, please print and complete the appropriate form (e.g., pediatric or adult) and return this form to the Center. This form can be mailed to the Center or dropped off in person. Once the form is received, a representative from the Center will reach out to confirm your place on our waitlist.