Audiology & Speech Pathology
The Audiology and Speech Pathology services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare provide a wide range of diagnostic and rehabilitative services for all ages. We offer inpatient services at all hospital locations and outpatient services primarily at the Edgewood campus.

Audiology
Hearing loss can affect a person at any age. Approximately 36 million adults report some degree of hearing loss. In the United States, about 3 out of 1,000 children are born deaf or hard of hearing.

The Audiology Department at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky offers a wide range of diagnostic and rehabilitation services for individuals of all ages with hearing impairments. Our dedicated staff of audiologists is committed to providing the highest level of hearing health care to individuals and their family.

Audiology care at St. Elizabeth includes:

• Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations
• Auditory Evoked Potentials
• Custom Ear Molds
• Hearing Aid Evaluations and Dispensing
• Infant Hearing Screening Program
• Otoacoustic Emissions

Hearing Loss: Symptoms and Causes
Symptoms

• The speech of others seems mumbled or slurred
• Tinnitus
• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
• Difficulty hearing the television or radio at a normal level
• Problems understanding conversations in the presence of background noise

Causes

• Heredity
• Exposure to high level of noise
• Chronic ear infections
• Viral or bacterial infections
• Aging
• Birth defects
• Head injuries
• Exposure to certain medications

Diagnosis and Treatment
If a hearing loss is suspected, a consultation should be scheduled with one of our audiologists. Clinical audiologists are academically trained, licensed and certified hearing healthcare professionals who measure and evaluate a person’s ability to hear and specialize in the treatment of hearing disorders. The staff of St. Elizabeth Healthcare has over 30 years experience and are licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and certified by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Audiology Services
Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations: Audiological testing consists of a battery of test providing specific information about each part of the ear to determine the type and degree of hearing loss. This service is available for persons of all ages.

Auditory Evoked Potentials (ABR): State-of-the-art diagnostic procedure to objectively evaluate the auditory function and hearing sensitivity. ABR has a wide range of clinical applications including universal newborn hearing screening.

Hearing Aid Program: The testing, consultation and fitting is completed by the audiologist on staff who has access to the most current hearing aid technology. Hearing aids from several different manufactures are available to meet the needs of each individual patient.

Our staff has experience fitting all types of hearing aids. Each patient is scheduled for a complete hearing evaluation. If the results indicate that hearing aids are appropriate, the audiologist will discuss with the patient their specific needs. Based on severity of hearing loss, the needs of the patient, and the patient's expectations, the audiologist will recommended the appropriate hearing aids.

All hearing aids are dispensed on a 60-day trial period. Patients return to the department every two weeks for follow-up visits for consultations and adjustments. If the patient determines after the trial period, that the hearing aids are not beneficial, they may return the hearing aids for a refund. There is a $100 dispensing fee that is non-refundable.

For more information about Audiology services or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Audiology Department by calling: (859) 301-5740.
 
Speech Pathology
Communication is the way information is shared. It is vital for learning, working and social interactions. Impaired communication can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Communication disorders may affect a person’s speech, language or cognitive abilities.

A Speech-Language Pathologist is a specialist in communication and swallowing disorders. St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Speech-Language Pathology department provides services to children and adults on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

The Speech Language Pathology Department offers a full range of speech, language and swallowing services for people of all ages. The goal of the Speech-Language Pathology Department is to provide services and education to prevent, identify, diagnosis and treat communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders.

Our Speech-Language Pathologists each have a Master’s Degree, are state licensed, and hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association. The combined experience of our therapists represent over 70 years of serving people with communication and swallowing disorders. 

Specialized Procedures/Programs

• Adult Communicative and Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Assessment for Dyslexia/Language Learning Disabilities
• Clinical Dysphagia Evaluation
• First Steps –Birth to Three years Intervention
• Modified Barium Swallow Studies/Videoflouroscopy Studies
• Orton-Gillingham Academic Language Therapy
• Pediatric Speech-Language Evaluations and Treatment
• Videostroboscopy Evaluations
• Voice Therapy
• Voice Prosthesis Fittings and Treatment for Laryngectomy

Physician scripts are required for some procedures. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (859) 301-5740.