Suzanne Loparnos

Hi! I’m Suzanne. I was in a car accident at 5 years old. I sustained multiple facial fractures and was in the ICU for over 1 month. As a result of the accident, my speech always sounded like I had a cold. I was bullied and teased. Teachers would not let me read aloud because of my speech. Once I completed my reconstructive surgery at 17 years old, my life changed. I became more outgoing and enjoyed public speaking. I was a Psych major in college. A professor steered me in the direction of the Communication Disorders Department. This is not my career. It is my calling. I am fortunate to have the medical and educational expertise to help others who may benefit from my experience. I've been ready to serve for the past 35 years. I am blessed.

I have specialized training in LSVT LOUD, VitalStim, and dementia care, with clinical experience supporting individuals with feeding and swallowing disorders, aphasia, apraxia, Parkinson’s disease, and failure to thrive across the lifespan. I also have experience working with cleft palate feeding and communication.

In addition to my clinical work, I have taught undergraduate courses in language acquisition, language disorders in children and adults, normal communication changes due to aging, and anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism.

My clinical experience spans diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), in-home, and teletherapy. I approach therapy with a client-centered, functional, and highly individualized style. I prioritize family involvement, strengths-based strategies, and client empowerment to help each person build confidence, independence, and lifelong self-advocacy skills.