Meet Our Therapists: Amanda Bell

We’re thrilled to have Amanda Bell join us at Steel City Speech! Check out this Q&A to see why we love her so much!

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to my husband Josh for almost one year! We have two cats named Pitters and Patters. 

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

Josh and I really enjoy doing anything outdoors. We especially like hiking, camping, and kayaking. I also love sitting down with a cup of coffee and a good book.

Favorite Birmingham restaurant?

Giuseppe’s for sure. It’s our favorite hole in the wall Italian restaurant. Rodney Scott’s has become my new favorite for BBQ.

Where did you go to school?

I went to Auburn for my undergraduate degrees in Communication Disorders and Spanish, and then I decided to venture out west and attend the University of Arizona for my Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology as well as a bilingual certificate. 

What made you want to be an SLP?

I had never heard of speech pathology before attending Auburn. I started out studying psychology, but I didn’t have a clear direction for what I wanted to do with that degree. I heard of communication disorders and decided to sign up for the intro class and loved it. I loved being able to work directly with people on something as important as communication.

What's your favorite aspect of being an SLP?

I love when patients have a communication breakthrough, whether that be someone who has had a brain injury and finally can recover a few words or a child whose language suddenly explodes. I love when people realize a personal way for them to communicate. 

What are your favorite resources for learning more about speech and language?

My go-to is following research from the University of Arizona and other top research universities. ASHA is always an excellent place to look for current research as well, and I frequently look on Teachers Pay Teachers for fun therapy materials. 

What's the one thing you wish parents knew about speech and language?

I wish more parents knew that language therapy can be incorporated as a part of your day to day routine. It doesn’t have to be difficult or structured. Your child will benefit so much from you playing with them and modeling language correctly.

You can reach Amanda at amanda.bell@steelcityspeech.com!