The Nicholas Certo Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic

We do not bill insurance providers or other providers for services. Services offered through the Nicholas J. Certo clinic are free. Donations are gratefully accepted. 

You can make a gift online using the Graduate Online Donation Form and select Nicholas Certo Memorial Clinic in the drop-down menu.

The Nicholas Certo Speech, Language and Hearing (SLH) Clinic at San Francisco State University was established more than 50 years ago. The SLHS Clinic is an educational and training facility for master's level clinicians preparing to enter the profession of speech-language therapy. Our services are open to the public. Graduate students provide screenings, diagnostic evaluations, and therapeutic services to infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults with various disabilities of speech, language, and hearing.

The goal of the SLHS Clinic faculty is to educate the speech-language therapist of tomorrow. In addition, the SLHS Clinic provides individuals in the Bay Area with much-needed, high quality services.  Because we are a training facility, we are able to offer screenings, diagnostic evaluations, and speech and language therapy services free of cost. These services are provided during the fall and spring semesters.

All diagnostic and therapy services are offered by appointment and are performed under the direct supervision of state-licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified faculty

Students, faculty, staff, and persons served in the department's clinic are treated in a nondiscriminatory manner-that is, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, genetic information, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran.  The SLHS Clinic and SF State comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and executive orders pertaining thereto. 

Individual and small group therapy sessions are typically scheduled for 55 minutes, one to two times per week. Family participation is highly encouraged.

To get on the waitlist for speech-language services, please complete the application survey below:

Application for Speech, Language, and/or Hearing Services

Speech-Language Pathology Services Offered

The SLHS Clinic offers speech-language screenings, diagnostic evaluations, and therapeutic services for both children and adults. One-on-one and small group therapy sessions are available to address:

  • Speech sound production
  • Autism spectrum and neurodiversity
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Developmental language delay
  • Stuttering and fluency disabilities
  • Oral motor disabilities
  • Voice disabilities

  • Gender affirming voice services
  • Communicative disabilities associated with hearing impairment
  • Communicative disabilities resulting from brain injury, stroke, or neuromuscular disability
  • Speech production disabilities resulting from craniofacial conditions
  • Central Auditory Processing Disorders
  • Language enrichment for preschoolers

  • Child Speech-Language Clinic. Individual and group treatment for child clients who have been recommended for speech and/or language treatment for a variety of needs. The treatment sessions meet one to two times per week for approximately 55-110 minutes each session.  Tenemos servicios en Espanol para ninos. 
  • Adult Speech-Language Clinic. Individual and group treatment for adult clients who have been recommended for speech and/or language treatment for a variety of needs, including aphasia, motor speech disorders, traumatic brain injury, and gender affirmation. Sessions are scheduled for approximately 90 minutes, and include individual and group experiences .
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication Storytellers' Club: Children
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication Conversation Club: Adults
  • Autism Social-Communication Clinic
  • Gender Affirmation Voice Clinic 

Anyone interested in receiving services at the Nicholas J. Certo Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic is welcome to contact our office for more information.  

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: (415) 338-1001

Email: slhsinfo@sfsu.edu

Fax: (415) 338-0916

No referrals are required. Services are offered on a first-come-first serve basis, and as clinic openings become available that address a client's specific needs. If services are not immediately available, clients are placed on a waitlist.

The Nicholas J. Certo Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic is located on the ground floor of Burk Hall on the San Francisco State University (SF State) main campus. Please visit SF State maps.

Parking is available within walking distance of the Nicholas J. Certo Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic Clinic. Parking at SF State is $4 for two hours and $7 for the day (Daily permits expire at midnight). Detailed directions to SF State and information about parking are available at SF State parking information.

The Nicholas J. Certo Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic Clinic was designed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Adaptive features include elevators, amplified telephones, and wheelchair-friendly water fountains and rest rooms.

To park in any blue zone, guests with a DMV placard/ license plate should obtain a guest parking permit or call the Department of Public Safety at (415) 338-7200) upon arrival. For those who need assistance, transportation from Burk Hall to the parking lot is available through the Disability Programs and Resource Center on campus.

We do not bill insurance providers or other providers for services. Services offered through the Nicholas J. Certo clinic are free. Donations are gratefully accepted. You can make a gift online using the Graduate Online Donation Form and select Nicholas Certo Memorial Clinic in the drop-down menu.

The services offered at the Nicholas Certo Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic are available to the public and are free.  Donations are gratefully accepted. 

The Clinic relies on the support of its friends, clients and family members to help provide this vital service to the community. We welcome your support to further expand our work! You can make a gift online using the Graduate Online Donation Form and select Nicholas Certo Memorial Clinic in the drop-down menu.

For additional information on making a gift, please contact: David Fierberg, Director of Development at dfierberg@sfsu.edu or (415) 405-3966.

The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Nicholas J. Certo Clinic complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, genetic information, citizenship, and status as a covered veteran (e.g., the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 [to the Higher Education Act of 1965], the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam-Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act [USERRA], the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act [GINA], the Immigration Reform and Control Act [IRCA], and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 [CSRA], and all amendments to the foregoing).

Clients have the right:

  • To receive high quality, accessible, and culturally sensitive care.

  • To be treated with respect, consideration, dignity, and concern for privacy.

  • To receive treatment and care without discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, ability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.

  • To maintain the confidentiality of patient medical records and disclosures.

  • To know one's provider's name, specialty, and position; to have access, upon request, of the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Clinic process to verify provider credentials; and to change provider if requested, depending on availability.

  • To have anyone they wish present during services, such as family members, an assistant, or chaperone.

  • To receive complete, current information regarding diagnosis, treatment, alternate methods, and any potential consequences of treatment refusal.

  • To have access to other clinical opinions before making treatment decisions.

  • To have been provided, as required by law, a Notice of the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Clinic Privacy Practices.

  • To express any dissatisfaction to one's Graduate Student Clinician, the Clinical Supervisor, the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Clinic staff, or the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Clinic Director.  

  • To have information accessible from the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Clinic Office staff regarding protocol and procedure for client comments, suggestions or grievances.

  • To be informed of personal responsibilities involved in seeking speech-language therapy,  and maintaining communicative health after treatment.

  • To have access to materials providing information about  communicative disorders. .

  • To be informed of the right to refuse to participate in any research conducted at the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Clinic.

  • To present details of condition in a clear, direct manner.

  • To respond to other clients, student clinicians, clinical educators, and clinic staff with respect and consideration.

  • To ask for clarification if information or instructions are not understood.

  • To be on time for appointments, and if unable to keep an appointment, to cancel immediately so student clinicians and clinical educators can provide appropriate support.

  • To assist student clinical and clinical educator in developing and individualized quality treatment plan.

  • To express grievances to the appropriate person as defined on our website and information sheets.

Communicative health is a collaboration between client and clinician.