Columbus Speech and Hearing Center

Mission

To help all people improve communication and vocational independence for life.

Programs

For more than 80 years, the Columbus Speech & Hearing Center has served tens of thousands of people in the Columbus area and beyond. The Center provides complete diagnostic and therapeutic services to children and adults with communication disorders as well as vocational rehabilitation programs for adults who are hearing impaired, deaf, or deaf-blind. Programs of the Center are certified by the Ohio Department of Health (Medicare/Medicaid) and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. The Center offers comprehensive and diversified services in three program areas: 1) Speech-language pathology and occupational therapy services: Through speech and language testing, occupational therapy assessment, and treatment by licensed staff, the Center works to establish or restore communication skills. Programs for both children and adults address voice problems, stuttering, articulation disorders, and language delays through individual or group therapy. OT provides children with the opportunity to master age-appropriate developmental skills such as postural control, visual perception, fine and gross motor, and sensory integration. Parent training is a critical component of children?s speech and occupational therapy. 2) Audiology: Clients receive complete hearing evaluations to determine the type and degree of hearing loss and how it affects their communication ability. Audiologists recommend and fit the most appropriate hearing aids to improve clients? communication abilities and quality of life. The Center is also committed to outreach programs including preschool hearing screenings, free public screenings, and corporate wellness screenings. 3) Comprehensive Program for the Deaf (CPD) and The Ohio Deaf-Blind Outreach Program: The Center's vocational rehabilitation program, CPD serves adults who are deaf and hard of hearing from all over Ohio. Many of the consumers use sign language as their first choice for communication, and most have limited written/spoken English skills. Each consumer's abilities, aptitudes, and goals are evaluated in terms of his/her vocational potential, and an individualized plan is developed with the goal of obtaining permanent employment and living independently. On-the-job work assessments and other career development activities are designed to prepare them for job placement.