Grace Media Group visited with  Kimberli Moore to discuss her role as Executive Director of the West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center, 65 Ridgecrest Road – and a second location for the center in downtown Jackson, 213 E. Lafayette St. – for a question and answer session.

Question: First, a little background information on Kimberli – where are you originally from, family, education?

Answer: My family moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Paris, Tennessee when in was young. My dad’s job relocated him to Henry County. I grew up just a few miles from Como, Tennessee completing grade school at Cottage Grove School and high school at Henry County High School.

I attended UT-Martin right out of high school for a year but stopped my education because of a ‘boy.’ I married that boy and I worked. It was during the next five years while working as a physical therapy technician that I learned about speech language pathology.

I had an experience with a sweet lady who had a stroke. The PT and doctor wrote orders to ‘get her up and walk.’ After three days, this lady refused to get up and walk with us. The stroke left her unable to communicate, and we were being persistent with getting her out of bed.

I remembered the department had a laminated picture card with words and faces on it, so I took that to the next therapy session.

The patient, using pictures, expressed she had a sore on the inside of her leg from her catheter and walking make the pain more intense. It was at this moment I realized the importance and value of communication. I realized life is incredibly difficult when you are unable to tell others your wants, needs, and ideas. At that moment, I KNEW I was going to be a speech pathologist.

That evening, I told my husband of my desire to go back to school and study speech language pathology. The next five years were intense but with the support of my husband, I completed the Master of Science program at Murray State University and began working in this field.

In 2005, my husband and two daughters moved to Bradford, Tennessee where I began working in the Jackson area. I joined West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center in 2009 as the Executive Director and speech therapist.

Question: Would you describe a few of the services offered by West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center?

Answer: WTHSC offers services to anyone, any age who is impacted by a communication or hearing disorder. On the hearing side, the audiology department completes thorough hearing evaluations for all ages.

When recommended, hearing aids are custom fit for the individual. On the speech therapy side of things, the clinicians provide evaluation and treatment for concerns related to speech and language development, swallowing disorders / feeding problems, stuttering, cognition (post-stroke, long COVID & head injury), and fitting with a proper communication device.

Question: West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center is expanding to a new location in downtown Jackson. What entered into the decision that a second location was needed?

Answer: We have a wonderful space on Ridgecrest Road; however, referrals for services have increased and there just isn’t enough treatment space to meet this demand. There is not enough property to add onto our current building, and parking is limited.

After about 12 months (about 1 year) of discussion and six months of searching, it was decided to move downtown.

Honestly, I was not initially planning to have a second site downtown. I was looking more toward south Jackson. Caleb Meriwether and I connected and began looking downtown. It did not take long for me to realize that downtown Jackson was the perfect location for the Center.

The WTHSC therapists are growth minded and focus on functional therapy. The variety downtown offers our patients the opportunity to practice their skills while shopping, eating, banking, and navigating in the area.

Question: How many therapists are employed at West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center, and are you adding new therapists to staff the downtown location?

Answer: Currently, there are three speech pathologists and one hearing aid specialist in our clinic.

The downtown location will be primarily used for speech therapy services. Within the space we will have a sensory room, a gym for occupational therapy services, a feeding clinic, and an AAC clinic.

We ARE looking for speech pathology assistants, speech pathologists, and an audiologist. Along with the clinical positions, we will hire office staff.

Question: What are a few of the products you offer?

Answer: The Center offers hearing aids and hearing protection instruments. We dispense and service Starkey and Phonak products. The Center provides a broad line of hearing aids for all forms of hearing loss. Multiple levels of technology and features accommodate users’ individual needs.

The model styles include custom invisible in-the-ear (ITE) and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids as well as powerful behind-the-ear (BTE) solutions.

Other types of equipment the Center is able to acquire for patients include alternative augmentative communication devices. We work as the liaison between the individual’s insurance company and the device company allowing the insurance company to directly pay for the device. Often times, additional equipment is needed for mounting and accessibility.

Question: Does West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center have events that helps promote the organization:

Answer: Yes! We host two fundraisers a year: Speaking of Art in the spring and a 5K Run (3.1 miles) in the fall.

We have small fundraising efforts throughout the year such as a Rummage Sale and merchandise. The money raised during the Speaking of Art event funds our grant program, which assists individuals with the purchase of speech and hearing equipment.

The money raised from the 5K Run supports the free programs offered, such as Language Camp and screenings.

(PHOTO: Kimberli Moore – Executive Director of the West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center)