Chico State’s Speech Therapy Clinic hosts annual free Speech & Hearing Fair

Kaitlin Moore, Reporter|May 16, 2023

Chico State speech pathology students gather for a photo at the annual Speech & Hearing Fair. Photo taken May 6th by Kaitlin Moore.

On May 6th, the Chico State Clinic for Communication Disorders hosted its annual Speech & Hearing Fair, where members of the public got the opportunity to receive free speech, hearing and language screenings. The event served people of all ages, and included food, games, and prizes as well.

“For this event, we look at testing peoples’ speech and hearing. We also test cognition and language using screeners, so it’s really been an all-hitting event. We really want the community to come in if they have any sort of concerns, as this is a good place to do it,” Chantel Bebee, a graduate student in the Speech Language Pathology, or SLP, program said.

The event has been hosted annually for over 20 years at Chico State’s Clinic for Communication Disorders, and is organized entirely by first year Master’s students in the SLP program, who use this as an opportunity to give back to the community, raise awareness on speech and hearing health and also to grow in their own clinical experience.

“It gives them an important experience, as they’re going to be practicing clinicians someday,” Anita Anderson, one of the clinical supervisors for the SLP program at Chico State, and an alumni of the program, said. “Here is a great place for these students to take what they’re learning and put it into practice.”

Chico State speech pathology Master's student demonstrates a screening offered at the on-campus clinic.
Chico State speech pathology Master’s student demonstrates a screening offered at the on-campus clinic. Taken May 6th.
Chico State speech pathology Master's students demonstrate a hearing screening offered at the on-campus clinic.
Chico State speech pathology Master’s students demonstrate a hearing screening at the on-campus clinic. Taken May 6th.

The fair is hosted in May to help promote Better Hearing and Speech Month and bring greater awareness to speech and hearing care. Ivy Gomes, a final year graduate student in the SLP program, offered some helpful advice on maintaining good hearing and voice health. 

“With hearing, it’s important to watch the volume levels on what you’re listening to, since you don’t want anything at too high of a decibel level,” she said. “For your voice, watch for good vocal hygiene. Drink a lot of water and avoid coughing and clearing your throat as much as you can.”

If you would like to learn more about what the Clinic for Communication Disorders offers to the community, please visit their website at www.csuchico.edu/cmsd/clinic.shtml or call 530-898-5871.

Kaitlin Moore can be reached at [email protected].