Kristie graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders. Over the last 20 years, Kristie has had the pleasure of working in multiple facilities in various capacities. She has performed diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to orofacial myology, pediatric (toddler/child) feeding aversion, apraxia, disorders related to cleft lip and palate, language disorders, aural rehabilitation, dysphasia, and pragmatic language disorders in infants, pre-school children, school-aged children, and adults. For the past fifteen years, Kristie has focused her clinical skills on treating patients of all ages with issues in feeding, dysphagia, deglutition, oral sensory aversion, orofacial myology, swallowing, and sleep related breathing disorders.
Kristie was the first Certified Orofacial Myologist (COM®) in the city of Houston. She is the author of three books Understanding the Orofacial Complex: The Evolution of Dysfunction (Outskirts Press, 2016), Understanding the Orofacial Complex – Muscle Manual (Outskirts Press, 2014), and Sam the Super Chewer, Eats (Mindstir Media, 2016). She is the owner and a treating clinician with The Speech and Language Connection in Houston, as well as an instructor for the International Association of Orofacial Myology and international lecturer on Orofacial Myology and oral phase swallowing dysfunction. In 2018, she was the invited myofunctional representative on the first American Dental Association’s Children’s Airway Health Conference and Roundtable discussions.
She is a member of the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM) and the immediate Past President of the association, is a member at-large of the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Private Practitioners in Speech Pathology and Audiology, holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence with the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), is a member of the Texas Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (TSHA). and previously served on the Community Advisory Board for the University of Houston, eligibility for school-aged students for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, as Vice President of Membership in the Houston Association for Communication Disorders (HACD) and worked for the Alzheimer's Association/Greater Houston Chapter, and The Parish School.
Melinda graduated from the NOVA Southeastern University in Florida with a Master of Science in Communication Disorders. Melinda's experience includes working in public schools, private practice, rehabilitation hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities.
She has performed diagnosis and treatment of receptive language disorders, expressive language disorders, aural rehabilitation, articulation, phonological processing, oral-motor functioning disorders, voice, fluency, and pragmatic language disorders in infants, pre-school and school-aged children, and adults for those who are monolingual and bilingual.
Melinda has experience with individual and group therapy, augmentative communication (including picture and devise-based communication), social stories, and LINC (Language Intervention in the Classroom Setting).
For the past six years, Melinda has been working towards completing her Masters while working as a Speech Language Pathologist Licensed Assistant. She has focused her clinical skills on treating younger clients with issues of orafacial myology, swallowing related disorders, articulation, phonological processing, apraxia, semantic language issues among pre-school aged children, bilingualism, and pragmatics. Melinda attends continuing education classes to remain current on the most up to date therapy techniques and approaches.
Currently, Melinda is a member of the National Student American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), the Texas Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (TSHA), and Houston Association for Communication Disorders (HACD).
Misty graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has performed the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to orofacial myology, pediatric and adult swallowing, pediatric feeding aversions, receptive/ expressive and social language disorders, cognitive disorders, articulation and phonological processing disorders in pre-school children, school-aged children, and adults. Misty is an advocate for early intervention and is passionate about working with children and their families in a one-to-one setting to promote social, emotional and behavioral health and academic success.
Prior to attending graduate school and becoming a Speech Language Pathologist, Misty was a special education teacher with Houston ISD and has eight years of teaching experience with children aged two through eighteen years old.
Misty is a Certified Orofacial Myologist® with the International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM), holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence with the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), and is licensed to practice in the state of Texas. Currently, she is serving as the Continuing Education Administrator (CEA), which acts as a liaison between IAOM and ASHA.
Karindy Ong graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders in May 2015. She has clinical experience in a variety of settings including the public and charter schools, hospital settings including acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation, in addition to working with community outreach therapy programs. Karindy has been the lead Speech-Language Pathologist of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital in the Houston Medical Center, a member of the brain injury rehabilitation team at TIRR Memorial Hermann, and a PRN Speech-Language Pathologist working in several different therapy settings and hospitals within the Memorial Hermann Hospital System.
Karindy has experience treating both children and adults in the areas of voice and resonance, dysarthria, dysphagia, aphasia, apraxia, articulation, receptive/expressive language, fluency, neurocognitive disorders (attention, memory, executive functioning, problem solving), and augmentative-alternative communication systems. She has specialized experience working with disorders of consciousness, spinal cord injury, and brain injury. Karindy’s certifications include Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, VitalStim, and Safe-and-Sound Protocol. She has presented at the TIRR Memorial Hermann Brain Injury Conference on Locked-In Syndrome and enjoys training others as a part of her role as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Her therapy approach is functional, dynamic, and targeted to produce the highest outcomes for each individual.
Ally Schmitt graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders in July 2016. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University.
Ally has experience in a variety of settings with both pediatric and adult clients. Her clinical experiences include work at KIPP Peace and Liberation, House of Tiny Treasures (HTT), Houston Aphasia Recovery Center (HARC), Professional Imaging Modified Barium Swallow Study van (MBSS), and the University of Houston Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. She has performed diagnosis and treatment in the areas of autism spectrum disorders, fluency, cognitive disorders, receptive/expressive and pragmatic language, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), pediatric and adult swallowing, articulation, and voice.
Sheba has had the privilege of working as a Speech Language Pathologist in Canada and the United States, being certified in both countries. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and is currently licensed to practice in Texas. She completed her education in Canada, obtaining a Psychology degree from McGill University in 1998 and her Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology (MSLP) from the University of Alberta in 2001. Sheba has experience working with both children and adults with a variety of speech and language disorders. She has worked in private practice, public and private schools, as well as inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. Sheba has experience in evaluating and providing treatment for individuals with deficits in the following areas: articulation, phonology, apraxia, expressive/receptive language, social communication, Autism Spectrum Disorder, oral motor, voice, fluency, auditory processing, accent reduction, aphasia and early intervention.
Sheba loves to continually learn new therapy techniques to benefit her clients and keep up to date with the latest research. This is evidenced by her two consecutive ACE awards presented by ASHA for demonstrated excellence and dedication to lifelong learning. She has taken additional courses and become certified in the following programs: Compton P-ESL (Accent Reduction), Beckman Oral Motor Therapy, and the Hanen parent training programs for early intervention: ‘It Takes Two to Talk' and ‘More Than Words'. Sheba believes in creating individualized treatment for all of her clients with a family-centered approach by developing strong trusting relationships with her clients and their families. She is excited to have joined a great team at The Speech and Language Connection and welcomes the opportunity to work with you and your child!
Melissa graduated from Lamar University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.
Melissa is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist in the state of Texas and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Melissa’s clinical experience includes working in private practice, schools, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation. She has performed diagnosis and treatment in the areas of articulation/phonological processing, receptive/expressive and pragmatic language, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and fluency. She has developed a special interest in early intervention, autism spectrum disorders, and stuttering.
Currently, Melissa spends Mondays and Wednesdays at our Tanglewood location and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at our Cinco Ranch location. Melissa is dedicated to providing a supported environment and fostering meaningful interactions in order to encourage learning of new skills and to enhance overall communication for clients and families.
Caroline graduated from Abilene Christian University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She received her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and minored in Child Development at Texas Christian University. She is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist who holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Caroline’s clinical experience includes working in a pediatric rehabilitation clinic, private schools, pediatric home health, and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.
She has performed diagnosis and treatment in the areas of receptive/expressive and pragmatic language, pediatric and adult swallowing, articulation, phonological processing, fluency, cognitive disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Caroline currently spends Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at our Cinco Ranch Location and Mondays and Wednesdays at our Tanglewood Location. Caroline is passionate and excited about working with her clients and helping them achieve their goals!
Celysa graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Upon graduation from Baylor, Celysa began working as a licensed bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant for three years. During her time working as a SLP-Assistant, Celysa returned to Baylor University where she graduated with a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is a licensed bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow and is currently in the process of earning her Certificate of Clinical Competence through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Celysa’s clinical experience includes working in private practices, public schools, and home health. She has experience in evaluating and treatment in receptive/expressive and pragmatic language disorders, swallowing, phonological and articulation disorders, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), apraxia, and autism spectrum disorder. Celysa enjoys building relationships with her clients and their families and wishes to promote a rich learning environment.
