The Claude I. Howard Speech and Hearing Center at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) located within the Nell J. Redfield building, has a dual mission: to provide high-quality speech-language pathology and audiology services to the Northern Nevada community and to train graduate student clinicians for professional practice. Most services offered in our specialized clinics are delivered by graduate students under the supervision of certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology.

Specialized clinics

Northern Nevada Cleft Palate Clinic

The Northern Nevada Cleft Palate Clinic is a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to the care of children with cleft lip, palate and other craniofacial disorders.

Key features:

• Comprehensive care: The clinic addresses the needs of children with cleft lip and palate, the most common birth anomaly occurring in 1 in 598 births.
• Free services: The clinic provides evaluations and services at no cost, helping approximately 100 children per year without the need for multiple appointments.
• Monthly team meetings: The team meets once a month and includes volunteer specialists in speech pathology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral-maxillofacial surgery and audiology.

Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the first Friday of each month
Contact information: (775) 784-4887

Claude I. Howard Speech and Hearing Clinic

The Claude I. Howard Speech and Hearing Clinic, operated by Renown Health, provides comprehensive assessments and therapy for individuals of all ages facing communication, swallowing, hearing and balancing challenges. Our experienced staff uses state-of-the-art equipment to ensure high-quality care in a supportive environment.

Speech and language services:

• Assessment and therapy for speech articulation, language development, fluency, voice and swallowing difficulties
• Six fully equipped diagnostic rooms
• Nineteen therapy rooms with observation capabilities

Hearing and balance services:

• Hearing evaluations for all ages
• Balance assessments
• Auditory processing disorder (APD) evaluations
• Cochlear implant candidate evaluations and mapping
• OSHA hearing screenings and custom hearing protection
• Cochlear implant support groups
• Community aural rehabilitation classes

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (during academic semesters)
Phone: (775) 784-4887
Address: 1664 N. Virginia St. MS 0152, NV 89557-0152

Language and Literacy Development Center

The Language and Literacy Development Center is dedicated to evaluating school-age children (kindergarten through high school) who struggle with language, reading and writing. We diagnose disorders through comprehensive assessments and screenings, offering tailored interventions for individual therapy when needed. 

Testing services: 

• Comprehensive assessments of oral language, reading and writing 
• Evaluation of five language aspects: morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics and phonology 
• Reading assessments based on the National Reading Panel's five pillars: phonemic awareness, phonics, oral reading fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension 
• Writing assessments focusing on content, mechanics and transcription 
• Vision and hearing screenings  

Therapy services: 

• Individualized therapy sessions based on diagnostic results 
• Research-based strategies to improve reading and writing skills 
• Collaboration with parents to develop home activities that support language and literacy development 

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (during academic semesters) 
Phone: (775) 784-4887 
Address: 1664 N. Virginia St. MS 0152, NV 89557-0152 

Aphasia Center of Nevada

The Aphasia Center of Nevada welcomes individuals with aphasia and their partners. Aphasia is often caused by a stroke, but can also result from a traumatic brain injury or tumor, or as a result of a degenerative disease. Aphasia damages the portions of the brain that are responsible for language production or processing. While core intelligence remains intact, this language disruption impacts expressive language (speaking and writing) and receptive language (listening and reading), mathematical calculation and processing, and impairs an individuals’ ability to create and maintain relationships which are vital for human connection.

The Aphasia Center is modeled on the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) which is a consumer-driven service delivery model that focuses on empowering individuals with aphasia to achieve their life goals and encouraging re-engagement by strengthening daily life participation in activities of choice. The Aphasia Center offers a variety of social communication based programs.

Key features:

• Nevada Aphasia Camp (annually, every September)
  • Every year, we partner with Sierra Nevada Journeys – Grizzly Creek Ranch for the annual Aphasia Camp. We focus on:
    • Community – people with aphasia, partners, and volunteers come together for intergenerational community building, communication and outdoor activities.
    • Time in Nature – located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this camp is ADA accessible with cabins clustered in villages, beautiful grounds, gathering spaces for large and small conversations and activities
    • Team Building – participants have the opportunity to step out of the comfort zone and take on new challenges. Together, in a safe and supportive environment, we work on teamwork and communication.
• Aphasia Conversation Group (first and third Friday of the month, 2:30-3:30pm)
  • Conversation sessions are designed to increase communication opportunities and confidence in a safe and supportive environment. Sessions occur simultaneously in person at the University of Nevada, Reno and online via Zoom.
• Aphasia Book Club (times and dates vary)
  • Members select a book of choice and they read it through multiple modes, such as audiobooks, print books, electronic books, or most often a combination of these. Then members get together over a period of weeks to discuss sections of the book and any other topics that come up.
• Aphasia Game Nights (times and dates vary)
  • During the spring, University of Nevada, Reno undergraduate students sponsor game nights once a month. This involves food, fun and intergenerational conversation and connections.

Hours of operation: Variable depending on the program or event
Contact: Tami Brancamp, Ph.D., CCC-SLP 

Northern Nevada Voice and Swallowing Clinic

The Northern Nevada Voice and Swallowing Clinic, operated by Renown Health, specializes in the evaluation and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders, offering a range of comprehensive services.

Services:

• Vocal tract visualization: Direct visualization using endoscopy, stroboscopy and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
• Electromyography: Surface electromyography (SEMG) for muscle function assessment
• Laryngeal function studies: Detailed studies to evaluate laryngeal performance
• Voice prosthetics evaluation: Assessment for voice prosthetics options
• Pediatric feeding assessment: Specialized evaluations for children’s feeding challenges
• Voice therapy: Behavioral voice therapy and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT)
• Breathing exercises: Techniques to improve breath control
• Swallow interventions: Direct and indirect swallowing interventions for both children and adults

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Kristine Galek, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Gender Affirming and Communication Clinic

The Gender Affirming and Communication Clinic is dedicated to serving the transgender community (FtM and MtF) in Northern Nevada. We are committed to supporting individuals on their journey to achieving their desired voice and communication style.

Key features:

• Individualized assessments: Comprehensive evaluations tailored to each patient's needs for voice modification and communication skills.
• Inclusive services: Treatment programs are available for individuals of all ages, aimed at aligning voice and communication with gender.
• Safe Zone Commitment: The Speech and Hearing Center fosters an inclusive environment, with LGBTQIA-friendly clinicians and supervisors.

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Rachael Walden, M.S., CCC-SLP

Best Buddies

Best Buddies fosters one-to-one friendships between University of Nevada, Reno college students without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their peers on campus or in the community with IDD. Young adults with IDD historically have been isolated at home or in work environments. The Best Buddies program is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in their local campus and community life.

Hours of operation: Variable depending on the program or event
Contact: Jessica Stewart, Ph.D.