Meet Heather

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 advanced 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:

• Hoarseness, strain, or vocal fatigue

• Loss of vocal range or projection

• Chronic cough or throat clearing

• Gender‑affirming voice and communication training

• Voice changes related to reflux (GERD/LPRD)

• Long COVID–related voice symptoms

BREATHING & UPPER AIRWAY DISORDERS—Heather specializes in complex upper airway conditions, including:

• Exercise‑Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO)

• Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) and laryngospasm

• Breathing pattern disorders

• Globus sensation (“lump in throat”)

• Irritable Larynx Syndrome (ILS)

• Chronic cough

• Pulmonary‑related breathing challenges (CF, COPD/emphysema, RADS, adult‑onset asthma)

FACIAL RETRAINING THERAPY—As Idaho’s only Facial Therapy Specialist, Heather provides advanced rehabilitation for:

• Facial paralysis, paresis, and synkinesis

• Bell’s palsy and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

• Acoustic neuroma resection recovery

• Post‑facial paralysis smile rehabilitation

• Pediatric facial palsy

• Oculofacial and jaw‑related dysfunction

• Upper motor neuron facial palsy

• Post‑operative facial rehabilitation

Specialized Training & Certifications

VOICE

• Lessac‑Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy

• Casper‑Stone Confidential Flow Therapy

• Conversation Training Therapy

• PhoRTE® & PhoRTE® Advanced

• Semi‑Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises

• Manual therapy & myofascial release

• Manual circumlaryngeal therapy

• Acoustic & aerodynamic voice assessment

• Gender‑affirming voice training (OutCare Certified)

• Reflux management strategies

BREATHING & UPPER AIRWAY

• Behavioral Cough Suppression Therapy

• Buteyko Breathing Method

• EILOBI breathing training

• Functional breathing pattern retraining

• Laryngeal control therapy

• Assessment of cough and breathing pattern disorders

• Reflux management

• Esophageal dysphagia assessment

FACIAL RETRAINING

• Neuromuscular retraining for facial paralysis and synkinesis

• Post‑facial paralysis smile rehabilitation

• Pediatric facial palsy management

• Oculofacial rehabilitation

• TMD and facial palsy management

• Post‑operative considerations in facial retraining

• Botulinum toxin considerations for synkinesis

Professional Memberships

• American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association (ASHA)

• Facial Therapy Specialists International (FTSI)

• Sir Charles Bell Society

• Global Initiative for ILO (GIILO)

Education

• M.S., Speech‑Language Pathology — University of North Texas (1992)

• 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.