Call: (502) 938-3337 contact@speechandswallowing.com

Company History

Speech & Swallowing Specialists, LLC was established by co-owners Kristie Bryant and Christa Lantz as a result of their knowledge, experience, and passion for serving individuals with dysphagia. Founded in 2006 as Western Kentucky Speech & Swallowing (WKSS), we were the first FEES provider in Kentucky and quickly expanded our service area to include neighboring states. In 2010 our headquarters moved to its more centralized location in Louisville, Kentucky and we adopted the name Speech & Swallowing Specialists, to reflect our growth from a small local provider in Western Kentucky to a regional provider serving healthcare facilities in 4 states: Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.

Our staff consists of licensed and certified speech-language pathologists with clinical privileges to perform Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). We possess the knowledge and specialized skills required by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) to perform FEES. We offer extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders in acute care hospitals, LTACHs, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing and long-term care.

Kristie Bryant, MS, CCC-SLP

Co-Owner & Founder, Speech & Swallowing Specialists, LLC

Kristie is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and has been a practicing Medical SLP since 2000. She has provided speech therapy services to all age populations in acute care and a variety of rehab settings. Prior to co-founding Speech & Swallowing Specialists, Kristie worked at Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville, KY for over 10 years where she developed special interests in traumatic brain injury, stroke, and dysphagia, as well as gained extensive experience completing FEES and MBSS. She has been performing the FEES procedure since 2003. Kristie is also a 2018 recipient of the ASHA ACE Award.

Christa Lantz, MEd, CCC-SLP

Co-Owner & Founder, Speech & Swallowing Specialists, LLC

Christa earned her Master‘s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia in 2006. She is co-owner of Speech & Swallowing Specialists and has provided dysphagia diagnostics and treatment to individuals of all ages in acute care, inpatient rehab, and skilled nursing settings. She was trained to perform the FEES procedure in 2007 at Frazier Rehab Institute where she worked extensively with patients diagnosed with movement disorders and spinal cord injuries. She completed training and certification in LSVT and NMES and has served as a clinical supervisor for SLP graduate students and clinical fellows.

Amanda Garver, MS, CCC-SLP

Amanda graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology in May 2007. She has provided speech pathology services in the Veteran’s Administration Hospitals in Nashville and Murfreesboro TN, the Vanderbilt University hospital, and the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson center. Amanda has been performing FEES since 2008, and she is also a Certified Provider for the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program.

Dan Freeman, MA, CCC-SLP

Dan obtained his Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Radford University in 2011. His clinical experience includes diagnostic and treatment in the acute care, outpatient, skilled nursing and long-term care settings. Dan attended the Langmore Foundation FEES Course and completed the remainder of his training at University of Louisville Hospital in 2014. Dan holds current certifications in VitalStim, McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program and is a Registered MBSImP Clinician. He also received the ASHA ACE award in 2012 and 2013.

Chrisney Bush, MS, CCC-SLP:

Chrisney earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders in 1998 from the University of Kentucky. Since then, she has provided speech therapy services to pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations in acute care, home care, skilled nursing, and long-term care settings. Chrisney has been a certified provider of Vital Stim for dysphagia intervention since 2010. She has been performing FEES examinations since 2015.

Libby Jarett, MS, CCC-SLP:

Libby graduated from Murray State University in 2007 earning a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology.  She obtained Vital Stim certification in 2008, and completed training in 2010 to perform the FEES procedure. Her clinical experience includes providing speech therapy services, dysphagia assessment/intervention, and performing FEES exams with adult and geriatric populations in home health, skilled nursing, and long-term care settings.

Chloe Bohlen, MS, CCC-SLP:

Chloe earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Kentucky in 2014. Since then she has worked in acute care hospitals with a primary focus on evaluation and treatment of dysphagia to the adult population. Chloe began her FEES training at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern KY after attending the Emory Voice Center FEES Course in 2015. She then completed the remainder of her FEES training as an inpatient SLP at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. While working in the acute care setting, Chloe obtained extensive training and experience performing FEES and MBSS, as well as developed a special interest in the trach/vent population.

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Speech & Swallowing Specialists, LLC
8401 Shelbyville Rd. Suite 202 | Louisville, KY 40222
Phone: 502.938.FEES (3337) | Fax: 866.936.9371
Email: contact@speechandswallowing.com

Speech & Swallowing Specialists, LLC