Directions
Hospital Map | Contact Us
When you make an appointment, you may expect the following:
Testing
Comprehensive speech evaluations for children and adults are used to diagnose speech and swallowing disorders and identify the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.
In addition to examination of speech articulation errors, procedures such as nasometry, videoendoscopy and videoflouroscopy are used to identify possible speech disorders.
Diagnosis of Speech Disorders
Speech evaluations and treatment are frequently indicated for adults and children with:
- Dysarthria and/or apraxia (slurred speech)
- Head and neck cancer
- Glossectomy/laryngectomy
- Delayed development
- Cleft palate
- Neurogenic disease/injury
- Speech “mislearning language"
Language Disorders
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, disordered 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
- Cognitive impairment
Voice Disorders
Voice is the sound created by the vibration of the vocal folds in the larynx or voice box. Disorders of voice can be medically, socially and professionally debilitating. Voice disorders can be caused by many factors including:
- Vocal misuse
- Cancer
- Polyps
- Nodules
- Vocal strain
- Paralysis
- Trauma
- Prolonged intubation
- Papilloma
- Laryngeal cancer
Voice Clinic
Laryngeal Cancer
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 prosthesis
- Alternative or augmentative communication device
Swallowing Disorders
Swallowing difficulties (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.
|
