Speech Language Pathology

Inpatient Acute Care Speech Pathology

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess and treat swallowing disorders with bedside clinical swallow evaluations, modified barium swallow studies, and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) assessments. They also assess speech, language and cognitive abilities after a patient has a stroke, to help improve communication with staff. Some SLPs have further training in feeding disorders and can evaluate infants in the special care nursery that have swallowing or feeding concerns.

Treatment of disorders affecting speech, cognition & swallowing

Often informally known as speech therapists, speech-language pathologists are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development and its disorders. Comprehensive speech-language pathology services for impaired communication are available for patients having difficulty expressing thoughts, feelings or needs.

Speech-language pathologists work to improve cognitive skills, i.e. memory, organization, reasoning and problem solving. Additional services include videofluoroscopic swallow evaluations to assess and treat swallowing disorders. We also offer a variety of inpatient and outpatient options for adults and children.

Our goal is to maximize our patients' potential by working collaboratively with their families and other professionals. Our Speech Language Pathology Department at Confluence Health offers different specialty services to best address your needs.

• 
  Speech Language Therapy for Children
  In speech-language therapy, an SLP will work with a child one-on-one or in a small group to overcome difficulties involved with a specific disorder.
• Aphasia
  A person with aphasia may have trouble understanding, speaking, reading or writing.
• Dysarthria
  Dysarthria is a speech disorder caused by muscle weakness. It can make it hard for you to talk. People may have trouble understanding what you are saying.
• Apraxia
  Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that makes it hard for adults and children to speak.
• LSVT (Loud Program for Parkinson’s Disease)
  Neurological disorders can often impair speech and voice production, making communication difficult. One therapy that has proven effective in treating patients with neurological disorders (specifically Parkinson’s Disease) is the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT).
• Voice Therapy
  Voice therapy is an approach used by speech-language pathologists to help patients find relief from symptoms and achieve the best possible voice. Voice therapy consists of an assessment, followed by the implementation of two techniques: voice therapy and vocal hygiene.
• Cognitive communication therapy
  Cognitive-communication disorders are problems with communication that have an underlying cause in a cognitive deficit rather than a primary language or speech deficit. A cognitive-communication disorder results from impaired functioning of one or more cognitive processes.
• Speech Devices
  Speech generating devices are dedicated communication devices for individuals with communication or speech challenges such as cerebral palsy, ALS, or autism.
• Dysphagia Therapy
  Treatment of dysphagia may include restoration of normal swallow function (rehabilitative), modifications to diet consistency and patient behavior (compensatory), or some combination of these two approaches.