SMSD was started in 2018 by Jessica Pogue as a part-time business whose goal was to provide pediatric speech-language services to children located within her Signal Mountain community. These services began in the children’s homes then moved to a small home-based office before transitioning into a shared space with Treehouse Therapy in Ashley Plaza.
With the introduction of the pandemic, services at SMSD transitioned to only being provided either through teletherapy or at the clinic with precautions. SMSD then made the short move next door to its current home in Suite 115 during the winter of 2022. During that time, Jessica was joined by two other dynamic and talented speech-language pathologists.
SMSD now offers services in person at the clinic and also at several specific Signal Mountain preschool locations.
Jessica Pogue, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist, Owner
Jessica is a licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and the owner of Signal Mountain Speech and Development, LLC. She specializes in individualized speech, language, and fluency interventions that are family and community centered.
Jessica received her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Berry College, Georgia before becoming an elementary school teacher. After her experiences working closely with children in exceptional education programs through collaborations with reading specialists and inclusion classroom settings, Jessica decided to return to school to follow her passion for helping exceptional learners and their parents. Jessica graduated with her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2009 from Radford University, Virginia.
Before founding Signal Mountain Speech and Development, Jessica provided evaluations and treatment in numerous settings including outpatient clinics, schools, and early intervention in the home and childcare environments. She is nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and locally licensed through the state of Tennessee.
Jessica lives in Signal Mountain, Tennessee with her husband and two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and gardening.
Amy Langford Ratliff, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Amy graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors in Science Education, before attending Georgia State University in Atlanta for a Masters of Education in Communication Science and Disorders. After completing her Clinical Fellowship year at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and some time working in the Pediatric Day Rehabilitation Program, Amy moved to Nashville to work at the Bill Wilkerson Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She specialized in Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) as well as served on the Early Intervention and Preschool Language and Articulation therapy teams. Amy enjoyed going to local Nashville preschools and elementary schools as an SLP, first through the Bill Wilkerson Center and later through a local private practice.
Amy’s husband is a Signal Mountain native, and they moved back here to the mountain in 2020 with their two boys. After spending some time as a stay at home mom in Nashville, Amy is excited to reconnect and collaborate with children and their families here providing speech and language services. She is nationally certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and locally licensed through the state of Tennessee.
In her spare time, Amy enjoys tennis and traveling to new places with her family!
Laura Plascenia, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Laura received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Biola University in 2001. After taking several years off to start a family she completed her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from California State University Northridge in 2010. Laura has found her passion in working with the pediatric population in the early intervention and school-based settings. In her work as a school-based SLP, Laura has assessed and treated speech sound disorders, fluency, pragmatics of language, and language disorders. Laura has worked in exceptional education classrooms ranging from preschool through middle school during her tenure working the public school system. She was also a member of her school district’s Assistive Technology and Augmentative Alternative Communication team. Laura is nationally certified through the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is locally licensed through the state of Tennessee.
Laura and her husband are the proud parents of four children. In her free time, Laura loves spending time with her family, traveling, reading and taking walks.