Suzanne Loparnos

Hi! I’m Suzanne. I was in a car accident at 5 years old and sustained multiple facial fractures. 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. But once I completed my reconstructive surgery at 17 years old, my life changed. I became more outgoing and enjoyed public speaking.

In college, a professor steered me in the direction of the Communication Disorders Department. Speech therapy 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.

My clinical experience includes settings such as hospitals, schools, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), in-home, and teletherapy. I have specialized training in LSVT LOUD, VitalStim, and dementia care, with 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.

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.