The
Speech-Language Pathology Department provides diagnostic and
therapeutic services for adults and children who have communication
and swallowing disorders. A speech-language pathologist is
trained to assess these deficits and develop a treatment
program. Services are offered on an inpatient and outpatient
basis though our inpatient acute, inpatient rehabilitation,
outpatient rehabilitation and day rehabilitation programs.
Speech
and Language Disorders
Our
specialists treat the following speech and language disorders:
- Aphasia
- Dysarthria
- Apraxia
Swallowing
Disorders
Dysphagia
The
Speech-Language Pathology Department provides a comprehensive
dysphagia assessment and treatment program to address swallowing
difficulties.
Assessment
and treatment procedures include:
- Fiberoptic
Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing
(FEES)
- Videofluoroscopic
Swallow Function (VSF)
- Vital
Stimulation
Services
Cognitive communicative retraining
Cognition
refers to memory, problem solving, reasoning and overall thinking
skills. A person can have problems with cognitive
communicating as the result of medical conditions such
as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, respiratory
failure or lack of oxygen to the brain.
Helping
patients speak again
Passy-Muir
Speaking Valve (PMV) is a one-way speaking valve that can be used for
adult and pediatric patients who have had a tracheotomy or who are on
a ventilator. After assessing the patient's condition, a trained
speech-language pathologist makes recommendations about PMV and help
the patient learn to use the device.
Communicating after
surgery for head and neck cancer
In
collaboration with the ear, nose, and throat specialist, a
speech-language pathologist provides preoperative counseling about
communication options such as esophageal speech, electrolarynx or
tracheal esophageal puncture with voice prosthesis.
Pediatric
Programs
Clinicians
with specialized training in pediatrics serve infants, children and
adolescents who have acute and chronic needs in the areas of multiple
trauma, brain injury, infant and child development, craniofacial
differences and feeding /swallowing.