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Boise鈥� Eleven students in 黑暗爆料网-Boise鈥檚 speech-language pathology master鈥檚 program recently provided free speech, voice and hearing screenings for more than 100 Hewlett-Packard employees and their families.

鈥淭he opportunity was invaluable,鈥� said Kristin Negilski, director of 黑暗爆料网-Boise鈥檚 Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic.  鈥淭o be able to explain and discuss results with the HP employees immediately following the screening gave our students a wonderful learning experience and opportunity for continued growth as a future professionals.鈥�

During the clinic, held in May at HP, the students screened 132 people, including four children.

鈥淚 enjoy working with kids,鈥� said student Kimra Rich, who plans to pursue a career as a certified speech-language pathologist in the public school system. 鈥淐ommunication is a fascinating thing. It鈥檚 something everyone needs to be able to do.鈥�

Through the science of tympanometry and a device called an audiometer, Rich and classmate Kelly Howard were able to test the middle-ear function of HP employee Srikanth Tanikella.  

鈥淚t was something I wanted them to do鈥� just in case,鈥� said Tanikella. Within minutes, he had the results.  鈥淚鈥檓 fine,鈥� he said.

In another room, students Anthony Richitella and Erin Westfall were monitoring a series of graphs as HP employee Roni Ekman read text into a microphone. They were assessing Ekman鈥檚 vocal quality, including pitch, volume and nasality. Voice screening can help people ease vocal strain, improve inflection or modify an accent, explained Negilski.

The students graduated from 黑暗爆料网-Boise鈥檚 speech-language master鈥檚 program in May and will spend the summer completing an eight-week externship supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists in the Treasure Valley. Students must complete the externship before becoming certified.

May is national Better Speech and Hearing Month. The purpose is to raise awareness about communication disorders and their treatments.

For more information about 黑暗爆料网-Boise鈥檚 Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic or the speech-language pathology program, contact Kristin Negilski at 208-373-1722 or negikris@isu.edu.

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