WP Speech and Hearing Clinic: Giving a Voice to Clients and Valuable Training to Students

As a regional resource for a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for those with communication delays or disorders, William Paterson University’s state-of-the-art Speech and Hearing Clinic in University Hall gives clients the opportunity to find, or regain, their voice—all while providing hands-on learning opportunities to WP speech-language pathology students.

Ranging in age from 18 months to 88 years, clients come to the clinic with many different needs including developmental speech and language disorders; fluency issues; autism; voice disorders; apraxia of speech; issues related to stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia; and those seeking assistance with accent modification and gender-affirming voice therapy.

“We are proud that William Paterson University is a regional leader in allied health fields through our wide array of outstanding healthcare degrees, including our renowned speech-language pathology programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels,” says Venkat Sharma, dean of the College of Science and Health. “Through these programs and our Speech and Hearing Clinic, we are preparing our students to succeed in a specialized and growing field that is in significant demand in New Jersey and beyond.”

The Speech and Hearing Clinic features 13 individual clinic rooms, a large language stimulation lab, and spacious workrooms and suites for faculty/student research. Master’s students spend three semesters there working with clients in small groups led by licensed, certified speech-language pathologists who serve as clinical educators, thus preparing them for subsequent externship placements at area medical centers, rehabilitation facilities, and schools. In addition, two years ago the undergraduate speech-language pathology program began integrating a clinical practicum each spring, allowing undergraduates to work with clients in the clinic.

“The importance of our strong on-campus clinical experiences cannot be stressed enough.  Students come to us with a desire to learn and we hope to ignite their passion for the field within our walls,” says Eileen Fasanella, director of clinical education.

Jim Tsiamtsiouris, chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology, concurs. “Our clinical program prepares graduate students for success in their externships as well as their future careers. Extending clinical experiences to our undergraduate students has helped to place them shoulders above other applicants as they apply for graduate school.” 

Anna Segelken '24, now a graduate student, presents her Honors College research thesis last spring.

As a student-training program, the clinic provides services at a much-discounted rate in comparison to private practice and outpatient services. With an experienced staff of clinical educators overseeing each session and students coming fresh out of academic coursework, the therapy is not only inexpensive but truly cutting edge, says Fasanella.

The clinic has developed several unique programs that serve the Wayne schools and surrounding communities. For example, differently abled students in the Wayne Public Schools’ Young Adult Transitional Program participate in group and individual speech therapy at the clinic. Young adults with autism and/or developmental disabilities also attend a Pioneer Pals evening program to enrich their social skills. A Tiny Talker Program provides language stimulation sessions and structured play groups for parents/caregivers with toddlers or preschoolers. Clients with traumatic brain injury and stroke benefit from a partnership with Lingraphica, a company that provides augmentative communication devices.

Adults with aphasia, an inability to communicate following stroke or brain injury, can enroll in an adult language conversation group or a new aphasia book club, which was created last spring by undergraduate student Anna Segelken for her Honors College research thesis. 

“Helping individuals with aphasia return to a loved hobby like reading will impact me personally and professionally for the rest of my life,” says Segelken who is now a graduate student in the program.

“The student clinicians involved in these programs gain incredible experience and new-found clinical skills. It is truly a win-win for the community and our students,” Fasanella says.      

Eileen Fasanella, left, works in the Clinic with students Nicole Vega, Gabby Rose, and Chantal Cadestin.

For graduate student Gabby Rose, who enrolled in the program intending to work with children, the clinical practicum pushed her outside her comfort zone when she was assigned to work with the adult aphasia language group.   

“Little did I know that working with six adult clients with aphasia would completely change my life. Their motivation and strength to relearn language and effectively communicate with one another was inspirational and led me to know that I want to continue to work with this population,” says Rose. In addition to learning to make therapy sessions accessible and engaging for people with different communication styles, the experience also prepared her for a competitive externship placement at Adler Aphasia Center in West Orange.

For master’s student Nicole Vega '23, a highlight of her time working in the Speech and Hearing Clinic was the opportunity to work with bilingual families, providing her with valuable insight into diverse cultural perspectives and communication styles, as well as the critical role of family involvement in the therapeutic process. Vega says, “This hands-on experience has not only deepened my passion for speech-language pathology but has also provided me with the confidence and skills to excel in my future career.”

For more information on the Speech and Hearing Clinic, visit its website.