Meet Our Voice Team
Cheryl Determan
MS, CCC-SLP. – Encino Office
Cheryl graduated from San Francisco State University in 2003 as a Speech and Language Therapist after careers in law, finance, and teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Cheryl loves working with both adults and children (0-18) and has been lucky enough to work across all types of settings: early intervention, schools, inpatient, outpatient, and multi-disciplinary clinics, including National Health in England. She believes in child-led, play-based therapy, and the power of toys. Cheryl has had additional training in voice and fluency and hopes to become board certified in child language this year. She also enjoys supervising students and new graduates. Cheryl believes being a good therapist includes less talking and more listening!
Leslie Galindo
M.S., CCC-SLP – Encino Office
Hi! My name is Leslie Galindo and I am a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from California State University Northridge (CSUN). I speak fluently both Spanish and English. I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of different age groups, populations, and disorders. I have also work in different settings, such as in-home therapy, schools, clinic, and Head Start programs. My favorite populations to work with are early intervention and adult populations with voice and neurologic disorders. I enjoy the ability to work with patients and families and provide them the tools needed to improve their communication and quality of life.
Haley St. Martin
M.S. CCC-SLP – Culver City Office
Haley St. Martin, MS, CCC-SLP has been working for SLEA as a Speech-Language Pathologist since January 2020. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pepperdine University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in French in 2017, then completed her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with Distinction at Northern Arizona University in 2019. Haley has experience in schools, hospitals, virtual services, and private practice. She has served a variety of populations across the lifespan, including those with articulation/phonological disorders, language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, fluency disorders, aphasia, apraxia, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, head and neck cancer, cognitive communication disorders, total laryngectomy, transgender voice, and more. Haley has special interest in the areas of voice, swallowing, head and neck cancer, and stuttering. She is certified in Lee-Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD) and Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP). She enjoys collaborating with families and other professionals, and she is passionate about helping her clients achieve their full potential. In her free time, Haley enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, surfing, and spending time with family and friends.
Voice Disorders
What is a voice disorder?
A voice disorder is defined by the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association as “any change in voice quality, pitch, and loudness that are inappropriate for an individual's age, gender, cultural background, or geographic location” (www.asha.org).
What are the symptoms of a voice disorder?
Hoarseness, breathiness, pitch/voice breaks, loss of voice, changes in pitch or loudness, pain or discomfort with voicing, easily fatigued when talking, frequent throat clearing, and changes in vocal range. If symptoms persist over two weeks, it is recommended to consult with your healthcare provider or an otolaryngologist (ENT).
What are the reasons to engage in voice therapy?
- Dysphonia/Muscle Tension
- Dysphonia/Spasmodic Dysphonia
- Laryngitis
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)
- Parkinson’s Disease and other neuromuscular conditions
- Precancerous or Cancerous lesions
- Transgender voice transformation
- Vocal hygiene concerns
- Vocal nodules/polyps
- Vocal fold paresis/paralysis
- Other identified concerns as discussed with doctor.
How can we help?
SLEA’s therapists are highly trained and skilled in a variety of research-based techniques and strategies. Voice therapy can improve your vocal health, help prevent future voice problems, as well as help you achieve your preferred voice.
Our voice team also is trained in SPEAK OUT! and Loud Crowd!
See below for details!
What are the SPEAK OUT! and LOUD Crowd therapies?
SPEAK OUT! is a therapy regimen tailored to people with Parkinson’s disease to improve their voicing, and in turn, their swallowing. In this program, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. SPEAK OUT! is usually completed in 12 sessions spanning four weeks, and then the client transitions to the LOUD Crowd. In this four-week span, clients report improvement in their speaking, their ability to be heard, and their overall quality of life.
LOUD Crowd is the group therapy portion of the program and meets once weekly. The sessions provide maintenance for skills obtained during SPEAK OUT! and are a source of camaraderie for the members. Speech Associates offers LOUD Crowd for free to SPEAK OUT! graduates.
https://www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org/default.aspx
