Meet Heather — Specialist in Voice, Breathing, and Facial Rehabilitation
With more than 30 years of clinical experience, Heather provides comprehensive, intuitive, and highly personalized speech‑language pathology care. She is an Idaho‑licensed, ASHA‑certified clinician with expertise in voice disorders, upper airway dysfunction, and facial retraining therapy.
Heather is known for her ability to blend evidence‑based practice, trauma‑informed care, and deep clinical intuition to help patients achieve meaningful, lasting change. Her approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in decades of specialized training.
Areas of Expertise
VOICE — Heather has extensive experience treating voice disorders and supporting occupational voice users, including teachers, singers, actors, clergy, attorneys, sales professionals, and call‑center staff.
Common concerns she treats include:
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Hoarseness, strain, or vocal fatigue
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Loss of vocal range or projection
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Age-related voice changes (PhoRTE provider)
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Gender‑affirming voice and communication training (OutCare certified provider)
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Voice changes related to reflux
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Long COVID-related voice symptoms
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Voice care and wellness
BREATHING & UPPER AIRWAY DISORDERS — Heather specializes in complex upper airway conditions, including:
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Chronic cough / chronic throat clearing
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Breathing pattern disorders
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Exercise‑Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO)
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Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) and laryngospasm / Vocal Cord Dysfunction
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Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD)
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Laryngopharyngeal Symptoms (LPS)
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Irritable Larynx Syndrome (ILS) / sensitive larynx
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Lump in throat sensation
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Pulmonary‑related breathing challenges (CF, COPD/emphysema, RADS, adult‑onset asthma)
FACIAL RETRAINING THERAPY — As one of the few clinicians in the region with Facial Therapy Specialist training, Heather provides advanced rehabilitation for:
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Facial paralysis, weakness, and synkinesis
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Bell’s palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome
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Acoustic neuroma resection recovery
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Post‑facial paralysis smile rehabilitation
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Pediatric facial palsy
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Oculofacial and jaw‑related dysfunction
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Post‑operative facial rehabilitation
Professional Memberships
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American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association (ASHA)
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Facial Therapy Specialists International (FTSI)
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Sir Charles Bell Society
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Global Initiative for ILO (GIILO)
Education
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M.S., Speech‑Language Pathology — University of North Texas (1992)
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B.S., Communication Sciences & Disorders — South Dakota State University (1990)
A Note from Heather
With more than 25 years in the performing arts, Heather has a special passion for helping singers and professional voice users reach their highest level of function and performance. Outside the clinic, she enjoys hiking in the Boise Foothills, gardening, and spending time with her family.
