One clinic is meeting a need of the community

Words by Nick Norris|Photos by Al Blanton and Courtesy Hyche Center 

Five years ago, Karen Hyche hatched an idea – one that would make a real difference in the surrounding community. She discovered a dire need in the area that was not being met, but felt unable to tackle the opportunity alone. Karen asked her stepdaughter, Becky Hyche Merchant, for help, and, together, they built the Hyche Center from the ground up.

Now, the Hyche Center for Sensory and Motor Learning services nine counties, and continues to grow significantly every year. Karen, along with her highly skilled staff, work tirelessly to aid those with learning differences.

“We specialize in assisting infants, children and adolescents with our occupational, physical, speech and counseling services,” Karen explains. “So, we help refine sensory and motor skills for those who may have cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, or trauma, among many other learning differences.”

The Hyche Center’s goal is to help each child reach their maximum potential, for them to be happy and healthy, and to provide strategies and education to its families and community.

In the center’s first year, Karen and a small team helped about 20 clients. Today, the Hyche Center has a much larger staff of 24, and assists over 350 clients.

“Being the only comprehensive pediatric clinic in the area, we have been blessed to grow rapidly,” Karen says. “We started out in a building that was about 1,200 square feet. Our current Jasper office is 8,500 square feet, and having that space allows us to help more children in more diverse ways.”

All of the space is certainly well utilized, as the Hyche Center has multiple treatment rooms, some of which are filled with computers to assist clients who may have ADHD, while others are complete with colorful swings, rock climbing walls, and trampolines for sensory play. The largest sensory playroom features plenty of mats, ladders, and slides to help children reach their full potential while also having fun. 

The Hyche Center’s success has brought in families from across the state. Currently, Karen and her team serve children in Walker, Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Marion, Cullman, Jefferson and Winston County. And though the main office is in Jasper, the Hyche Center now offers a second location in Dora.

“Because some of our families travel 45 or 50 minutes to us, we made our hours more accessible for them,” Karen says. “We understand that working families may not get off work until 4 or 5 o’clock in the evenings, so we stay open until 6, and are open Monday through Thursday.”

To apply for the Hyche Center’s services, Karen suggests for parents or guardians to first speak about their child’s concerns with their family doctor, as the center requires a physician’s referral for services to be available. 78

For more information about the Hyche Center’s services and applications, visit hychecenter.com.