40 Years of service
Mollie E. Webb Speech and Hearing Center celebrates anniversary
The Mollie E. Webb Speech and Hearing Center, a part of LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Allied Health Professions, marked 40 years of success this summer providing audiology, speech and language pathology services to the Ark-La-Tex.
Located at 3735 Blair St. in Shreveport, the center was started by Mollie Ellerbe Webb as a community clinic in 1974 in honor of her daughter, Charlotte. The center celebrated 40 years this summer.
Charlotte had a profound hearing loss. At that time, there were few to no services for children with severe speech, language and/or hearing disorders. Webb worked tirelessly to secure services for her daughter and others in the same situation.
“Mrs. Webb showed concern and acted on it, for not only her child but for other children,” said Dr. Sandra Hayes, associate professor of clinical communication disorders at LSU Health Shreveport’s School of Allied Health Professions, reflecting on the 40th anniversary of its opening and her 22 years associated with the clinic as a student and a professor.
In 1972, thanks to funds from the Caddo Foundation for Exceptional Children and grants from Vocational Rehabilitation and the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, the community welcomed the start of speech and hearing services for children.
Haynes said, “Because of her, our clinic has provided services to so many people over the years. I imagine that Mrs. Webb had no idea of the widespread effects of her efforts, much less that we would be honoring her and the clinic 40 years later. What a lady!” Within a few years, the clinic became part of LSU Medical Center. A master’s program for communications disorders was formed with the first class of five students graduating in 1977. Webb’s family continues to fund scholarships for the program’s students today.
Operating under the School of Allied Health Shreveport’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the facility also functions as a comprehensive clinic for people of all ages with communication disorders. Offering graduate students diverse clinical experiences, the center provides speech-language pathology services, audiological assessment and aural rehabilitation services.
Over 40 years, countless patients of all ages have been helped by the Mollie Webb Speech and Hearing Center.
Hayes said, “From a community standpoint, we have provided speech, language and hearing services for so many people in the community. We evaluate and provide services to pediatric to geriatric age ranges. In 40 years, it is no surprise that we are providing services to second and third generation family members.
In addition, we are a smaller graduate program; however, almost 300 students have graduated from this program, and many of the students remain in the Shreveport-Bossier area or at least in Louisiana.”
Hearing services range from hearing tests, hearing aid evaluation and sales, hearing loss therapy and custom earplugs for swimming, hearing protection and musicians.
Through support in part by the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, the center also provides specialized services for speech and language disorders.
Some individuals cannot combine words into sentences; others can talk, but their speech may be difficult to understand.
Professionals work with individuals struggling with stuttering, fluency, brain injuries and strokes, as well as injuries that may affect thinking, understanding and speaking.
Staffed by LSU faculty members and a certified therapy dog, Boomer, the center offers medical students a diverse clinical experience and helps the community at the same time. Graduate students evaluate and treat speech and language problems under close supervision by nationally certified and state licensed speech and language pathologists.
Boomer rewards students and visitors for hard work at therapy with friendly nuzzles and puppy affection. He helps people of all ages get over their fear of dogs among other talents.
Boomer wears a vest when at work but enjoys relaxing in Hayes’ office and home when not on the job as a certified Pet Partners therapy dog.
He reminds Hayes when she runs long in the classes she teaches by getting up and wandering around the classroom. Boomer even signals quitting time with a single “woof” every afternoon.
Four years after the infamous Boomer showed up at the Mollie E. Webb Speech and Hearing Center in Shreveport, he celebrates four years, or 28 dog years, on the job, and the center celebrates 40 years in the community.
–Brittney Trahan
