At the Robert L. Douglass Speech-Language Clinic, we provide a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services in a university environment. We offer services for children and adults with articulation, phonology, language, cognitive, voice, fluency, and hearing disorders.
The clinic is part of a graduate degree program that is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). As such, we maintain high standards in the provision of comprehensive assessment and intervention services.
Clinical Philosophy
The Department of Communication Disorders at Cal State LA embraces a philosophy of clinical service delivery that is consistent with the ethical standards, scope of practice, and current standards of practice of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Our goal is to serve individuals with communication disorders in the most effective and humane manner possible, and to ensure that our students commit themselves to this fundamental clinical value. In training our students, we emphasize the importance of holding paramount the well-being of clients as well as their families and caregivers, and we stress the importance of involving families and caregivers in all aspects of the therapeutic process.
Statement of Inclusion
The aim of the Robert L. Douglass Speech-Language Clinic is to establish an equitable learning environment to ensure that the perspectives and experiences of people from all cultural, linguistic, religious, gender, and sexual identity backgrounds are invited, welcomed, acknowledged, and respected.
Part of creating an open and equitable environment for Clinicians, Clients, Supervisors, and Support Staff is ensuring the equitable and fair treatment of one another. Therefore, sexism, racism, gender, religious or cultural bias, and any form of hate speech will not be tolerated. Behaviors that are perceived as disrespectful or threatening, whether physical or emotional, should be immediately reported to the Department Chair or Clinic Director.
In order to serve clients in the most informed manner, all new clients must (1) complete a clinic application and (2) submit any pertinent records regarding medical history, school services (e.g., IEP), and/or other evaluations or therapy history. To obtain an application, please click on the links below to download and follow the submission instructions.
Application Forms:
Child Clinic Application (English)
Child Clinic Application (Spanish)
Adult Clinic Application (English)
Adult Clinic Application (Spanish)
Submission Instructions:
Applications can be submitted by email to [email protected], by fax to 323-343-4698, or by mail to the following address:
California State University, Los Angeles
Dept. of Communication Disorders, KH B119
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
What Happens Next:
Once a client’s application is received and processed (within 1-2 days of application receipt), the client/family will receive a confirmation email and be placed on the waiting list for a diagnostic evaluation. When the client’s name is reached on the waiting list, the client/family will be contacted to schedule an evaluation during the upcoming university term (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Waiting list times vary. Please be aware that every effort will be made to schedule the evaluation within two semesters (8-10 months) of application.
Once a client has been scheduled for a speech and language evaluation, they will also be scheduled for a complete audiological evaluation at the Hearing and Balance Clinic.
If treatment is recommended at the end of the evaluation, the client will then be placed on the waiting list for therapy. Scheduling for therapy is not on a first-come, first-served basis; it is based on a number of factors, including availability, needs for services, educational needs, etc. Details regarding scheduling for therapy are provided during the diagnostic evaluation.
All clinic services are provided free of charge.
Clinical services are primarily offered in our on-campus facility. However, teletherapy services are available on a limited basis.
Services are consistently offered in English and Spanish.
All clinic services are provided free of charge.
Diagnostic Evaluation:
- Duration: 3 hours
Individual Therapy:
- Fall semester: 14 weeks
- Spring semester: 14 weeks
- Summer session: 9 weeks
- Scheduling: two times per week for 50 minutes, Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday
Group Therapy:
- Fall semester: 14 weeks
- Spring semester: 14 weeks
- Summer session: 9 weeks
- Scheduling: one time per week for 1 hour and 30 minutes
Between Friends:
The Between Friends Program is a social skills group for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related social communication difficulties. Group members participate in social problem-solving activities that include: learning to negotiate conversations in an age-appropriate manner; using social media wisely; dating etiquette; choosing and making friends; and using humor appropriately. The focus of Between Friends is to help clients build effective social relationships within a supportive group environment. Training sessions for families and other caregivers are also provided as a part of this group. Currently, this group is offered in English only.
Chatterboxes:
This adult communication group provides clients an opportunity for social interaction and generalization of treatment approaches. Clients practice communication strategies in a nonthreatening, non-judgmental environment amongst their peers who understand what it is like to experience a neurological trauma. This group provides a meaningful venue for these clients to connect with other adults and participate in a communication interaction as an equal, despite their communication impairments. Three students participate in the group along with one clinical supervisor. Students are responsible for two or three clients in the group. Students scaffold the clients’ communication interactions through various strategies, such as, but not limited to: oral cueing, visual cueing, written cueing, communicative drawing, as well as other evidence-based treatment methods. This group is offered in English only.
It Takes Two to Talk® – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Language Delays:
It Takes Two to Talk® is designed for parents of young children (birth to 5 years of age) who have been identified as having a language delay. In a small, personalized group setting, parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together. The It Takes Two to Talk® Program teaches parents and other caregivers, step-by-step, how to become their child’s most important language teacher. Every semester there are 6-8 training sessions for parents in small, personalized groups where they have the opportunity to build a better understanding of how to engage their children in language learning through daily activities. Graduate student clinicians are supervised by Speech-Language Pathologists certified by the Hanen Centre. This group is offered in both English and Spanish.
More Than Words® - The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Social Communication Difficulties:
More Than Words® is designed specifically for parents of children ages 5 and under on the autism spectrum and with other social communication difficulties. Addressing the unique needs of these children, the program provides parents with the tools, strategies, and support they need to help their children reach their full communication potential. Groups consists of 6-8 parents who receive 8 training sessions in small, personalized groups. In addition to the group sessions, parents and their children are seen for 3-4 individual teaching sessions throughout the course of the semester. The parent groups are facilitated by a Speech-Language Pathologist certified by the Hanen Centre. This group is offered in English only.
Luchadores de Esperanza:
The Luchadores de Esperanza (Hope Fighters) group aims to provide person- and family-centered care. These weekly meetings for Spanish-English speaking adults with communication disorders, families, and caretakers are conducted by bilingual graduate students in the program in Speech-Language Pathology supervised by a certified bilingual speech-language pathologist. In these 90-minute meetings, we support participants, socialize, and practice communication in naturalistic conversations and activities. We strive to incorporate participants’ priorities, share information, and teach specific communication skills.
El grupo Luchadores de Esperanza tiene como objetivo proporcionar atención centrada en la persona y la familia. Estas reuniones semanales son para adultos que hablan español y/o inglés con trastornos de la comunicación, sus familias y sus cuidadores. Estudiantes bilingües en el programa de Patología del Habla y el Lenguaje dirigen las reuniones y son supervisados por una patóloga del habla y el lenguaje bilingüe certificada. En estas reuniones de 90 minutos, apoyamos a los participantes, socializamos y practicamos la comunicación en conversaciones y actividades naturalistas. Tratamos de incorporar las prioridades de los participantes, compartir información y enseñar habilidades para facilitar la comunicación.
The Robert L. Douglass Speech-Language Clinic (RLDSLC) at the California State University Los Angeles has been awarded a grant from the Parkinson Voice Project that allows us to offer the SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd® therapy programs. Currently, these programs are offered in both English and Spanish.
SPEAK OUT!® is a specialized treatment program to improve the voicing and swallowing of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Once completing SPEAK OUT!®, the clients then graduate to the LOUD Crowd®. The LOUD Crowd® is a group that meets once a week to maintain progress gained in therapy. All therapy is supervised by certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologists trained in SPEAK OUT!® and LOUD Crowd® programs.
Both SPEAK OUT!® and the LOUD Crowd® were developed at Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson, TX. You can visit their website here
Coming soon…
Gender Affirming Voice and Communication Training:
Beginning in the spring semester of 2022, a new program that will address voice feminization and voice masculinization will be offered through the Robert L. Douglass Speech-Language Clinic. The way people communicate with others can affect how they see themselves and how they are perceived by others. For some transgender individuals, the sound of their voice can be an issue of discomfort if it does not align with their gender identity and gender expression. This program is designed to assist clients find their voice by addressing factors such as pitch, communication style, and avoiding vocal injury as they develop their vocal and communication skills.
Sibling Support Group (Sib-shops):
More information coming soon.
Clinical Assistant Program:
The Clinical Assistant Program provides undergraduate and certificate students at Cal State LA majoring in Communication Disorders the opportunity to become involved in the clinical process. Clinical assistants are paired with graduate student clinicians and his/her client for one semester. Duties vary significantly from clinician to clinician and client to client but may include observation, interaction with the client, preparation of clinic materials, data recording, etc.
The application for the following semester’s program is available on the COMD Department Canvas page during Week 8 of the current semester.
Clinic Volunteers:
Please email [email protected] if you are a current Cal State LA COMD student interested in volunteering at our clinic.
Sibling Support Group (Sib-shops):
More information coming soon.
On-Campus:
Charter College of Education Reading and Writing Clinic
Hearing and Balance Clinic
Off-Campus:
Cedars-Sinai Aphasia Community Group
Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles
Stuttering Groups:
Partnerships with Our Clinic:
Clinicians:
Graduate student clinicians provide all evaluation and therapy services under the direct supervision of faculty and clinic staff members holding California licensure and ASHA’s certificate of clinical competence.
Clinic Director:
Paula Horner, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
323-343-4753
[email protected]
Contact Us
The Clinic office is located on the Cal State LA campus in the basement level of King Hall (Room B119) adjacent to Parking Lot 8 on Circle Drive. Free parking is provided for our clients.
By email: [email protected]
By phone: 323-343-4754
By fax: 323-343-4698
Office Hours:
Monday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.