Speech & Occupational Therapy
Gateway Speech & Occupational Therapy
In the United States, 10% of adults and children live with a speech-language disorder or delay.
An untreated speech-language disorder can lead to difficulties in school, social isolation, and progressive learning disabilities. Intervention can have a significant impact on the quality of speech and communication—and the quality of life—for most patients and their families.
Gateway Speech Therapy evaluates and treats clients of all ages and can offer a variety of options for overcoming a wide range of issues. You may benefit from an evaluation from a speech therapist if you experience:
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Difficulty speaking or being understood
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Problems understanding / following directions
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Trouble with memory / attention
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Difficulty finding words to express basic needs
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Problems with reading or writing
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Hoarseness / difficulty swallowing
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every successful outcome starts with a conversation.
Call us at 410.318.6780 or use the link below to make an appointment to learn how we can help.
- Other Services
We also offer speech-language and/or hearing screenings to local schools. Contact Liz Johnson, Clinical Practice Manager, at 410-318-6780 or ejohnson@gatewaymd.org to learn about speech-language and/or hearing screenings in your school.
Our occupational therapist works alongside our speech-language pathologists within various contracts. At present, we do not offer additional occupational therapy services on site at Gateway.
Meet our Team
Our speech-language pathologists and audiologists are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and are licensed by the Maryland Board of Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers & Speech-Language Pathologists. Our occupational therapists are licensed by the state of Maryland and certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
Olga D. Polites, M.S., CCC-SLP
Director, Speech-Language Pathology
Olga oversees all speech-language pathology and occupational therapy services at Gateway. She graduated from Loyola College in Maryland and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology from Loyola College and subsequently began her career working for the Baltimore City Public School System until joining Gateway (formerly HASA) in 1983.
Christine Smith, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Christine’s clinical experience includes assessment and treatment for children with articulation/phonology, expressive and receptive language, fluency, pre-literacy, and social/pragmatic goals. She received her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, with a minor in Psychology from Towson University.
Jiana Winston, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jiana earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology in 2020 and her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology in 2023, both from Towson University. She has extensive academic and clinical training in working with pediatric populations with diverse communication abilities in outpatient clinic, non-public school, and private school settings. She is passionate about treatment of articulation/phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, pragmatic language, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
John M. Sloan, CCC-SLP, Fellow/ASHA
Speech-Language Pathologist
John is a speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of professional experience in public schools, university, and clinical settings. John is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a Board Certified Specialist in the treatment of stuttering. He has presented over 100 professional workshops and has taught college-level courses in speech-language pathology and special education at Loyola and Villa Julie colleges.
Galya Elbaum, M.S., OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Galya treats children with developmental delays, physical disabilities, and sensory processing disorders. She provides direct therapy to the children as well as training for their parents to ensure the carry-over of learned skills to the home setting. provides outpatient occupational therapy services to children ages 0-18. She also provides occupational therapy services to children in the Gateway school. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brandeis University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University.
Liz Johnson
Practice Manager
Liz oversees the day-to-day management of the business operations of the clinic including compliance, reporting, patient care, billing questions, and outreach with community centers.
Bryanna Sparrow
Patient Care Coordinator
Bryanna is responsible for all aspects of patient care at the clinic, including interfacing with patients, scheduling appointments, and answering questions about services provided.