SPEARFISH, S.D. — Felicia Beltman, AuD, an audiologist at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic on North Avenue, has earned Board Certification in Pediatric Audiology (BC-PA) from the American Board of Audiology, one of few certified specialists in the region to hold the distinction.
Dr. Beltman earned the certification after passing the Pediatric Audiology Specialty Certification (PASC) examination. The credential recognizes advanced expertise in diagnosing and treating hearing and balance conditions in infants and children, an area that requires specialized training beyond general audiology practice.
Dr. Beltman, who was born and raised in Rapid City, first saw the need for this care firsthand as a graduate student.
“When I went to graduate school in Vermillion and learned we would be doing outreach in Rapid City, where I was born and raised, as part of our clinic rotation because there was a lack of access to pediatric audiology care, this lit a desire in me to establish back in the area and provide the gap in care that was so very needed for pediatrics and families,” Dr. Beltman said.
Before this level of care was available locally, families often traveled to Denver or Sioux Falls for pediatric audiology services, trips of five to seven hours each way that frequently led to delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment or children lost to follow-up altogether.
“With care closer to home, we are seeing more kids get the timely care they need,” Dr. Beltman said. “Hearing loss that occurs in pediatrics, especially before language is developed, and goes untreated puts a child at high risk of speech and language delays, educational delays and mental health challenges. Access to high level care plays an important role in the overall development of children and the lifelong trajectory of children with hearing loss.”
With very few board certified pediatric audiologists in the region, Dr. Beltman’s certification gives families across the Monument Health service area direct access to specialized pediatric hearing care closer to home.
Board Certification in Pediatric Audiology requires passing a rigorous specialty examination and meeting ongoing continuing education requirements, including regular training in pediatric audiology and professional ethics, to maintain the credential.
About Monument Health
Headquartered in Rapid City, S.D., Monument Health is a community-based health care system with a mission to make a difference, every day. The system offers care in 31 medical specialties and serves 14 communities across western South Dakota and in eastern Wyoming. With over 6,300 physicians and caregivers, Monument Health is composed of 5 hospitals and more than 40 medical clinics and specialty centers. Monument Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
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