Elyse is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). In addition, she is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) through the Brain Injury Association of America. A native New Yorker (Go Yankees!), Elyse was thrilled to be able to return to Wyoming with her family after completing her “tour” as an Army wife.

Elyse graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany with a double major in archaeology & anthropology & worked across the country as an archaeologist which originally brought her to the great state of Wyoming. After 10 years of playing Indiana Jones, she returned to college and graduated with her Master of Science degree in communication disorders from the University of Wyoming (Go Pokes!).

Following her husband’s Army career allowed Elyse to work in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations from pediatric through geriatric which provided her with a wealth of experience and diverse training. By frequently relocating, she was able to work at Trauma 1/2 hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, acute care hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities.

As a medical speech-language pathologist, Elyse currently sees adults and teenagers with a variety of communication disorders, including cognitive-linguistic, voice, aphasia, motor speech (dysarthria, apraxia), dysphagia (swallowing), alternative-augmentative communication (AAC) & speech-generating device (SGD) needs, and stuttering. Populations served include individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, voice, chronic cough, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and dementia. As the spouse of an Army retiree, serving Veterans is a high priority for her.

Elyse has a passion for working with those individuals with traumatic brain injury and is the only SLP-CBIS in the state of Wyoming. In addition to working as an SLP, she has lectured at universities and taught weekend-long courses on cognitive rehabilitation therapy at hospitals across the country with a focus on traumatic brain injury. She prides herself on designing patient-specific plans of care with proven results and evidence-based therapies.

Additional certifications and training include: 

Ampcare Effective Swallowing Protocol (ESP) is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment for dysphagia that combines the most effective electrical stimulation parameters with resistive exercises. The result is improved quality of muscle contraction and swallowing function. ESP is a combination of three major components making this treatment protocol superior to competing electrical stimulation devices: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation + resistive swallowing exercises + postural strategies using the Restorative Posture Device (RPD). 

Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR/Walt Fritz) Myofascial release (MFR) therapy, when appropriate, can be part of the treatment plan for head/neck, voice, & swallowing disorders. This approach is a multifactorial method of treating issues of voice and swallowing issues. It can be particularly helpful following head and neck cancer radiation treatments, spastic dysphonia, and paradoxical vocal fold movement (now induced laryngeal obstruction).

PhoRTE voice therapy is guided by principles of exercise physiology and requires patients to produce progressively higher vocal intensities during vocal tasks. By progressively overloading the phonatory system in PhoRTE, patients regain their vocal power with less vocal effort. This technique can be particularly helpful in individuals with presbylarynx, or aging voice.

Speak Out! Loud is a voice training program specializing in the treatment of speech disorders related to Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s-Plus Syndromes. Together, the patient and speech-language pathologist complete speech, voice and cognitive exercises using the SPEAK OUT! Workbook. SPEAK OUT! emphasizes speaking with intent and converts speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. The program typically consists of eight to twelve speech therapy sessions with daily home practice.

Practical Application for Cognitive Impairment Specialist Working with individuals with cognitive impairments requires an additional set of skills, strategies, and interventions. This certificate program provides an understanding of fundamental characteristics of cognitive impairment and the impact on behavior. It explores how to overcome some of the barriers associated with cognitive impairment. Many of the strategies increase focus and attention. Other strategies are associated with longer-term interventions to improve cognition and learning new compensatory strategies, while other approaches are designed to maximize client motivation, so they more fully engage the therapeutic process.

Certified Lingraphica Technology Specialist trains SLPs to use Lingraphica technologies and enables them to work collaboratively to optimize outcomes for people with aphasia and other communication disorders. An augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device is a tablet or laptop that helps someone with a speech or language impairment to communicate. The term AAC is often used interchangeably with a speech-generating device (SGD).