About Samvaad Institution

The Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing was established by Radhika Poovayya, Speech Language Pathologist with vast professional, clinical and teaching experience. The Institute is affiliated to the Bangalore Central University and is recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India. GSM Education Trust manages the activities of the Institute.

Established in 2005, the  objectives of the institute are

  1. Train professionals in the specialized field of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
  2. Provide services to people with speech and language disabilities 
  3. Increase public awareness and dispel myths about speech, hearing and behaviour problems
  4. To undertake clinical based research in the field of speech and hearing 

Inauguration Photos

Institute was Inaugurated on July 3rd 2005 by Prof. Thimmappa, Vice Chancellor, Bangalore University. After the inauguration, the staff and students took a walkathon to create awareness on speech and hearing disabilities.

Sitting left to right : T M Poovayya, Radhika Poovayya, Prof. Thimmappa and Dr. Uma Subramanyan

Community services for people with speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disabilities

  • Auditory Verbal Therapy for children with cochlear implants from Low Socio Economic Strata
  • Pre-School for Children with hearing impairment
  • Neuro rehab center for stroke and other neuro communication disorders
  • Infant screening at local hospitals
  • 2 Special Schools for children with disability
  • Community based program for identification of speech and hearing disorders at 5 primary healthcare centers.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Radhika Poovayya, Speech Language Pathologist and US Board Certified Behavior Analyst, is the founder and Director of Samvaad Institute and Samvaad centres for speech therapy and ABA therapy. She has over 30 years of professional, clinical and teaching experience.  She has worked in rural and urban settings and with  families from all strata of society. Her area of expertise  is to provide ABA based therapy for children with autism/ ADHD and also handles behavior problems in school going children. She also has specialized in treatment of stuttering and Aphasia  She has presented papers in various national and international conferences. She is also active in creating awareness and dispelling myths on disabilities  

She has 3 clinics in Bangalore, Hebbal, Indiranagar and Marathahalli. She consults at Cloud Nine Hospitals, Old airport road , Bangalore. She has one international centre in Phonm Penh, Cambodia.

Qualifications

  • Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), USA
  •  Masters in Behaviour analysis from Florida institute of technology , USA
  •  Masters in Speech and Hearing from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), India’s first and premier education institute

View Certificates

Administrative Posts

  • Managing trustee of GSM Education Trust
  • Managing trustee Samvaad Foundation
  • Completed term in the Governing council  and Expert committee of RCI

Previous Institutional/ Hospital Associations

  • Tata Tea , General Hospital, Munnar, Kerala
  • Dr. S R C Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore
  • Bangalore International School, Bangalore
  • Manipal Hospital, Bangalore
  • HOSMAT, Bangalore
  • Baptist Hospital, Bangalore

What lead RADHIKA POOVAYYA to take up the study of a behaviour analysis  despite being an experienced speech language pathologist ?

 When Radhika Poovayya started her first clinic offering speech therapy in Domlur, Bangalore in 2002, she realized that children with autism have challenges that regular speech therapy could not address. Challenges like, non-compliance, temper tantrums, lack of motivation to learn or an uneven language development, may not be effectively dealt by speech therapy based approach.

 In 2003, a parent introduced her to applied behavior science, as an approach that was well researched and used extensively in the west. Parents organized the first conference in Chennai and after attending the conference, Radhika was convinced that she had to learn the ABA approach. She then organized the first seminar in Bangalore on behavior analysis in 2008. Smita Awasti BCBA D was invited from Dubai and this brought in the awareness on the effectiveness of ABA among parents.Today ,Bangalore has the most number of behaviour analysts in the country.

She signed up to do her masters in Applied Behavior Analysis, (ABA) from Florida Institute of Technology. The practical aspects of the course requires 1500 hours of mentoring  under a Behavior analyst . Radhika was fortunate to mentor under Siri Ming, BCBA D a renowned behavior analyst in the US.  In 2010 she passed the exam to become a US Board certified behavior analyst. She is the first speech pathologist in the country to have a dual degree in speech language pathology and behaviour analysis.

Awards

Rotary Community Service Award 2018

TIMES Emerging Icons in Health care Award 2019

American Speech & hearing Association Conference 2016

International Conference of Behavioral Analysis

International Conference of Behaviour Analysts (ABAI) Seattle 2012

VISION

To be a world class institution that provides:

  • Excellent education in speech and hearing science

  • Comprehensive rehabilitation of communication disorders

MISSION

  • To prepare students, through Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses in Speech and Hearing to become world class professionals by providing sound theoretical knowledge and excellent clinical training
  • To establish the Institute as a reputed center for excellent diagnostic and rehabilitation services by providing professional and individualized care

-- BOARD OF TRUSTEES --

Samvaad Institute is managed by GSM Education Trust

Radhika Poovayya

Managing Trustee

  • Speech Language Pathologist and US board certified Behaviour Analyst.
  • Director of samvaad centres of Speech and ABA therapy , Bangalore

Mr PradeepPoovayya

Secretary

  • Planter and CEO – Blossom showers agro exports

Shanthi Ganapathy

Members

  • Philanthropist , Mysore

Anjaneya Reddy

Membes

  • Builder, Bangalore 

Mr Ashwath Narayan

Membes

  • Business man, Bagalur, Bangalore

SAMVAAD FOUNDATION , BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr Jayaraman

  • Ex Director, Operations, SPI Software Technologies Pvt Ltd. Post retirement he has been working on several projects with Rotary and has done exemplary work in eye donations in India. 

Ms Silvie Clares

  • An architect by profession who has made India her home. Since 2008, she is actively involved with 20 plus charitable organizations in bangalore as a liaison & secretary for Overseas Women’s Organization in Bangalore.
  • Founder of a health tech company focusing on holistic wellness, she enjoys endurance sports and is passionate about creating social impact in human development. 

Ms Rekha Mandal

  • Admin & Facilities Manager of Eurofins IT Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. A very dynamic person who has a Masters in Social Science and dreams of building homes for the homeless.

Radhika Poovayya

  • Founder and Director of Samvaad Institute
  • US Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with 30+ years experience.

Dr Partha Sarathi Kommineni

  • A senior physiotherapist and head of department of the Ramaiah Neuro-rehabilitation Unit.