Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is a services for patients with oral motor, speech, language, voice, cognitive, and other cognitive impairments. Goals are directed towards optimizing function and enhancing quality of life.

Clinical tests are performed to assess the effects of patients' impairments on functional communication or swallowing in order to determine the best course of clinical management and effect positive outcomes.

Specialized studies are conducted to objectively assess the function of the oropharynx, and to assess and treat language and communicative discourse abilities in neurologically impaired populations.

Infants and children with various genetic or developmental conditions are assessed to establish accurate diagnosis and to provide clinical recommendations to local programs.

Clinical Evaluation

Evaluation services provided by the speech therapist include:

Assessment of infant, pediatric and adult oral motor function, swallowing and feeding skills

Assessment of speech and language development in children and adolescents

Assessment of speech, language, cognitive function for both adults and children

Assessment of voice and resonance with acoustic, perceptual and direct visualization techniques

Assessment of candidacy for alternative augmentative communication systems

Assessment of oral sensorimotor function for swallowing, feeding and speaking

Consultative and Patient Teaching

Consultative services are provided in the areas of speech, language, oral motor, swallowing/feeding, and cognitive functions for both adults and children. Patient and family education is provided regarding the relationships and impact of specific medical therapies and surgical interventions with speech, language and oral motor functioning. Patients and their families are instructed in home programs to improve functional communication and ability to eat safely.

Clinical Therapeutic Intervention Programs

Therapeutic intervention programs are individually designed to meet the needs of the patient's specific disorder. Therapy services are geared to assist the individual in optimizing his/her communication skills for daily activities, returning to work and planning optimal educational and developmental programs. Standard therapeutic approaches, biofeedback and innovative state of the art programs are utilized to achieve the desired therapeutic goals.

Oral Motor and Swallowing Rehabilitation Program

State-of-the-art assessments are utilized to establish the differential diagnosis of an oral motor deficit or a swallowing disorder. This program uses an innovative approach with standard oral motor assessments, feeding evaluations and new instrumentation assessments documenting anatomic and physiologic aspects of the swallowing. Video-fluoroscopy may be ordered to provide a delineation of the swallowing dysfunction for assessments, treatment planning and intervention. Individual therapeutic programs are designed and conducted utilizing both standard therapeutic approaches along with biofeedback instrumentation.

Clinical Evaluation

Evaluation services provided by the speech therapist include:

Stroke

Nieman Pick disease

Juvenile dermatomyosits

cystinosis

Beckwith Wiedeman syndrome

Parkinson's disease

Gauche disease

Inclusion body myositis

Head and neck cancers

Smith Magenis syndrome

Language and Discourse Rehabilitation Program

Using clinically appropriate methods, individualized intervention programs directed toward improvement of impaired processes and re-establishment of functional communication in the patient's natural environments are available.

Patients and family members are taught to analyze their interactive discourse, and to make the necessary adjustments to increase the patient's participation in communicative events.