Speech and language are essential for communication starting at a young age and integral to rehabilitation and wellness, which is why we offer speech therapy to both pediatric and adult patients. Our Speech-Language Pathologists (informally known as Speech Therapists) assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, fluency, and swallowing.
Conditions we treat include but are not limited to:
Speech Disorders: Problems with fluency, voice, and/or speech production
Apraxia: difficulty sequencing the sounds in syllables and words
Stuttering: disruption in the fluency of speech
Voice: vocal production characterized by inappropriate pitch, quality, or loudness
Speech Sound Disorders: difficulties with making sounds and/or sound patterns)
Language Disorders: Problems with understanding and/or using spoken, written, or symbol systems
Receptive/Expressive Language Delays: difficulties understanding and expressing language
Language-Based Learning Disabilities: difficulties with age-appropriate reading, spelling, and/or writing
Social Pragmatic Language Disorder: difficulties with social interaction, social cognition, and pragmatics
Cognitive-Communication Disorders: impairment of cognitive processes including attention, memory, abstract reasoning, awareness and executive functioning (e.g. self-monitoring, planning, and problem-solving)
Auditory Processing Disorders: inability to understand spoken language in the absence of a hearing problem
Swallowing Disorders: Difficulty swallowing when eating or speaking
Speech and language disability may occur due to developmental delays, hearing loss, autism (neurodevelopmental disorder), aphasia (brain damage leading to language disorders), stroke, major trauma, or other reasons.
Treatment may include, but is not limited to:
Mirrors and tape recorders: to enhance coordination between the brain and body
Breathing exercises: to control stammering and improve fluency in speech
Exercises to develop hearing, comprehension, and conversational skills
Nonverbal communication methods for the patient and family when speech cannot be restored
Alternative Communication: communication systems and devices (i.e. augmentative and alternative communication systems) that assist individuals with severe communication disorders
Hearing rehabilitation
Tongue and speech exercises: to improve coordination of the oral muscles
