ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Kim.  

I founded Polished Speech, PLLC to serve people of all ages in the areas of speech, language, voice, swallowing, and feeding. 

  
Since being licensed in 2006, I’ve sought a wide variety of experiences to gain a holistic understanding of communication across the lifespan and in the context of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I’ve worked in private speech clinics, acute care hospitals, short-term rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, home health, and an aphasia center, where I also supervised graduate student clinicians. Having had the opportunity to treat patients immediately following trauma, see them for outpatient care, and work with them again after discharge from formal therapy, I have shared in my clients’ experience of the emotional, physical, and intellectual strengths and struggles at each stage of recovery.

 

My clients have ranged in age from 30-week-old infants to adults as mature as 104 years old, which has helped me gain versatility and an understanding of how communication needs and styles change throughout development.  

 

My appreciation for other cultures stems from my undergraduate degree in international studies, worldwide travel, and living in Houston, home to speakers of 145 different languages (of which I speak some Spanish, French, and Polish).  

In addition to private speech therapy and accent training, I have taught undergraduate and graduate classes for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston. My public speaking experience has also included stage productions and French poetry competitions at the University of St. Thomas and High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I continue to perform today in voiceovers and in community choir. I have coached business professionals, actors, and clergy on their stage presence, vocal projection, enunciation, timing, and delivery. I’ve also helped normally aging people with voice disorders and individuals with Parkinson's and related neurogenic disorders learn new habits to protect and heal their voice.  

 

When I work with my clients, I take into account not only their communication needs, but also their support network, home or work environment, and culture.  I see my clients as the expert on what it’s like to be in their shoes, so that we inform each other and work as a team throughout the training or therapy process. The result is a caring and personalized approach that is tailored to each of my clients.  

 

Call or email me to discuss how I can best serve you.