MEET JEAN SKEFFINGTON
M.A., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist, singing voice specialist
Jean is a medical speech-language pathologist and singing voice specialist whose focus is habilitating and rehabilitating speaking and performing voices. Her practice places emphasis on vocal health and restoring voices to peak performance. Ms. Skeffington also specializes in the assessment and treatment of upper airway disorders/breathing disorders, such as irritable larynx syndrome, chronic cough and throat clearing, vocal cord dysfunction/paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder, and laryngospasm.
Because of her background as a professional singer and teacher of singing, Ms. Skeffington further sub-specializes in restoring singing and performing voices, and continues to train singers of all levels of ability through private instruction.
Jean began her professional career as a singer and teacher of singing. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance and music education from the University of Rhode Island, and continued her professional performing experience and training in Boston, MA; New York City, NY; and at Munich, Germany’s Bavarian State Opera. After many years working as a performer and teaching, both in private studio and in University academic settings as a professor of voice, Jean chose to further her knowledge of voice and upper airway disorders by pursuing a degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She received a Master’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology with a special interest in Voice Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh where she trained with Katherine Verdolini Abbott, PhD, and Jacqueline Gartner Schmidt, PhD. Jean completed a Fellowship specializing in voice and upper airway disorders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Voice Center in Pittsburgh, PA.
Jean has worked collaboratively on clinical research projects and has contributed to published articles and book chapters (see Resources page). She has presented at local, regional, and national conferences, and has been invited to present workshops and educational programs on a variety of voice-related topics. As an experienced performer, clinician, educator, researcher, and presenter, Jean is an active part of the medical and performing arts communities, collaborating with medical professionals, performers, university faculty, and private voice teachers in a multidisciplinary approach to voice and upper airway habilitation and rehabilitation. Jean is committed to providing the highest quality of evidence based, patient centric, compassionate care.
Jean holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-language pathology from the American Speech Hearing Language Association (ASHA) and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).
She is trained in:
- Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT)
- Flow Phonation Therapy
- Spectrum Voice Therapy
- Conversation Training Therapy (CTT)
- Phonation Resistance Training Exercises (PhoRTE)
- Myofascial Release for SLP
- McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program certification
- SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd preferred provider
Our mission is to understand your needs and goals, and collaborate with you, your referring providers, and the rest of your medical and/or musical team to achieve the healthiest, sustainable outcomes possible.
We offer services for all clients from school age across the lifespan.
We work with people who have:
- Voice disorders
- Communication disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease/Other neurological voice and speech issues
- Laryngeal Breathing difficulties
- Chronic cough/throat clearing
- Singing and presentation concerns