Chrissy Allen
314.989.8811
cwallen@ssdmo.org

Chrissy Allen is an audiologist at Special School District of St. Louis County. She received her bachelor of health science in communication science and disorders from the University of Missouri - Columbia followed by a doctor of audiology from Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine. After completing her graduate externship at SSD, Chrissy worked for 4 years in a busy office in the medical setting. In 2016 she returned to SSD to join the audiology team. Her professional interests include pediatric diagnostics, amplification, and hearing assistive technology as well as supporting students, families, and teachers in the classroom. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and 2 young daughters and enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking in her free time.

Lauren McCoole
314.989.8877
lnmccoole@ssdmo.org

Lauren is an audiologist at the Special School District of St. Louis County. She received her doctorate in Audiology from the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine. She has worked at Special School District of Saint Louis since 2012. She previously worked at St. Louis Children’s Hospital on their Cochlear Implant team. Her professional interests include optimized amplification for the pediatric population and working with families and educators to support students with hearing loss in their educational environments.

Natalie Thiele
314.989.7109
nthiele@ssdmo.org

Natalie Thiele is an educational audiologist at Special School District. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Audiology from Purdue University. She received her Doctor of Audiology degree from A.T. Still University. She has worked at Special School District for the past 16 years. She has previously worked in a variety of settings, including an ENT office, hospital audiological clinic and non-profit audiological center. She is currently based at our Hazelwood Audiology office. Her research includes “Effect of Linear Frequency Transposition on Speech recognition and production of school aged children” and “Efficacy of an Adaptive Directional microphone and a noise reduction system for school aged children”. Her professional interests include the effects of Unilateral Hearing Loss in children. Her interest in unilateral hearing loss is a personal one as she has a hearing loss in her left ear.

Deb Quick
314.989.6902
dquick@ssdmo.org

Debra Quick is currently an educational audiologist at Special School District. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Dakota in Communication Disorders and Master of Science in Audiology from Minot State University. She received her Doctor of Audiology degree from A.T. Still University. She has worked at Special School District since 1987, first as a hearing screener and then in 1989 as an audiologist. She has previously
worked in a variety of settings including: Grand Forks Special Education/Upper Valley Special Education, ENT offices, Mercy Audiology, and Missouri Baptist Audiology.

She is currently based at our Hazelwood Audiology facility. Her research includes “Effect of Linear Frequency Transposition on Speech recognition and production of school aged children” and “Efficacy of an Adaptive Directional microphone and a noise reduction system for school aged children”. Her professional interests include Pediatric Amplification/ALD fittings and supporting families, educators and students with hearing loss in the educational environment.

Tara Battles
314.989.8856
tjbattles@ssdmo.org

Tara Battles is an audiologist at the Special School District of St. Louis County. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science in 1999 and her master’s degree in Audiology in 2001. Prior to joining the SSD team in August 2009, Tara worked in a not-for-profit speech and hearing clinic, hospital setting, and Ear, Nose, & Throat physicians’ office. Her professional interests include pediatric hearing aid and assistive listening device fittings, and helping students navigate through their ever changing hearing technology options.

Mary Rice
314.989.8855
merice@ssdmo.org

Mary Rice is an audiologist at the Special School District of St. Louis County. She received her doctorate in Audiology from the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine. Prior to joining the SSD team in January of 2020, she was employed at CID (Central Institute for the Deaf) where she programmed cochlear implants and hearing aids, as well as provided early intervention audiologic services since 2011. Her research and professional interests include the effects of Unilateral Hearing Loss in children.