Normal speech communication is a complex process of the effortless exchange of information and thoughts. Swallowing is a fundamental life sustaining process that occurs almost without notice as we eat, drink, and sleep. However, many disorders disrupt communication and/or swallowing and cause serious problems. The UI Hospitals and Clinics Speech and Swallowing Service staff includes speech-language pathologists certified by the American Speech Language-Hearing Association and licensed by the state of Iowa. The staff work closely with physicians and other health care professionals at UI Hospitals and Clinics and in the patient's community to provide effective management of speech and swallowing disorders.
Speech
Comprehensive speech evaluations for children and adults are provided to identify the most appropriate and effective treatment plan. In addition to examination of speech articulation errors, procedures such as nasometry, videoendoscopy and videoflouroscopy are available to identify possible disorders related to the speech problem. Speech therapy is one of several treatment options that can effectively address most speech problems.
Speech evaluations and treatment are frequently indicated for adults and children with:
- dysarthria and/or apraxia (slurred speech)
- head/neck cancer
- glossectomy/laryngectomy
- delayed development
- cleft palate
- neurogenic disease/injury
- speech mislearning
Language
While understanding and using language is effortless for most of us, some children and adults have difficulties with language due to disorders that were present at birth, inadequate learning, or disease processes such as stroke.
Language evaluations and therapy are frequently indicated for patients with:
- developmental delay
- cerebral palsy
- stroke/ brain tumor
- head trauma
- hearing impairment
Swallowing
Swallowing difficulties (sometimes described as dysphagia) can have serious consequences including weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia.
Children may have swallowing difficulties related to:
- premature birth
- neurologic disorder
- developmental delay
- trauma
- birth defects
Adults who for the most of their lives may have had adequate swallowing function may begin to have difficulty with swallowing related to:
- neurologic disorder
- head and neck cancer
- structural lesions
- intubation/tracheostomy
- trauma
After a swallowing evaluation, personalized treatment plans are designed to assist in safe nutritional intake, hydration, and rehabilitation. Swallowing therapy can be effective in minimizing or eliminating the health risks associated with many swallowing disorders.
Voice
Disorders of voice can be medically, socially and professionally debilitating. Voice disorders can be caused by many factors including:
- vocal abuse/misuse
- cancer
- polyps
- nodules
- vocal strain
- paralysis
- trauma
- prolonged intubation
- papilloma
Individuals with voice disorders are evaluated with behavioral laryngeal function studies, videostroboscopy, and acoustic analysis. These tools may also be used during the treatment process to help improve the patient's voice. Voice therapy can effectively improve voice quality for many patients with voice disorders.
The staff also assists patients who have lost their voice due to cancer with post surgical voice options including the following:
- electrolarynx
- esophageal speech
- tracheo-esophageal prothesis
To contact the within UI Hospitals and Clinics Speech and Swallowing Service call 356-2292 for inpatient or outpatient speech and swallowing services. For referrals within UI Hospitals and Clinics, a blue consult requisition is necessary (form #MHO1162/83523). A report describing the findings, recommendations, and treatment options at the UI Hospitals and Clinics Speech and Swallowing Service will be submitted to the referring health care professional within 24 hours of the evaluation.
Staff
- Michael P. Karnell, PhD, Director
- Elizabeth Merrifield, PhD
- Carolyn Graybill, MS
- Scott Dailey, MA
- Jodi Morgan, MA
- Kamal Clifton, MA
- Karin Cox, MA
- Linda Ford, Secretary
Physician Consultants
- Richard Smith, MD
- Nancy Bauman, MD
- John Canady, MD
- Gerry Funk, MD
- Scott Graham, MD
- Henry Hoffman, MD
- Timothy McCulloch, MD
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