Share With the World

Speech therapy provides treatment for children and adults who have difficulties with speech, language, communication, voice and swallowing. Speech-language pathologists develop strategies to improve overall communication. They teach patients and their families what to do so that healing continues throughout their daily lives at home. Speech therapy is one component of our comprehensive communication services.

Speech therapy at JRMC can support those who may suffer from:

  • stroke
  • swallowing difficulty
  • memory impairments
  • language delay
  • stuttering complications following head, neck and throat cancer
  • complications following traumatic brain injury
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Communicate with Clarity

Speech

Speech is the movement and accurate production of individual sounds. Speech complications may occur due to stroke, progressive neurological disorders (ALS, MS, Parkinson’s Disease),  congenital disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down’s Syndrome), or delayed language development in children.

Motor Speech

  • speech difficulties that usually occur post stroke, post brain injury, or from other neurological disorders
  • may include difficulty with certain sounds or pronunciations

Articulation Errors

  • lisp

Sound Substitution

  • saying “wabbit” for “rabbit”

Omissions

  • saying “oo” for “shoe”

Stuttering

  • includes repetition of words and sounds (Will-will-will-will we go to the store, I w-w-w-w-want ice cream)
  • prolongation of sounds (SSSSunday comes after Saturday.)

Language

Language is a combination of the ability to accurately express wants and needs and understanding what others are communicating to you. Changes in language may occur due to stroke, progressive neurological disorders (ALS, MS, Parkinson’s Disease), or congenital disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down’s Syndrome)

Expressive Language

  • ability to accurately express wants and needs
  • using correct vocabulary
  • writing abilities
  • object naming

Receptive Language

  • direction following
  • comprehending what other’s are communicating
  • reading abilities
  • accurately answering questions

Cognitive Communication

  • memory
  • attention
  • problem solving
  • organizing
  • daily living skills: balancing a checkbook, reading a recipe, remembering appointments

How Speech Therapy Can Help

  • provide alternative forms of communication
  • provide compensatory language strategies
  • provide language rehab
  • provide cognitive rehab

Voice

Voice disorders include any sudden, unexplained, or progressive difference in the voice.

Disordered Voice Qualities  

  • raspy voice
  • hoarse voice
  • shaky voice
  • uneven sounding
  • pitch breaks
  • inappropriate pitch for age and gender
  • low volume

Causes of Voice Disorders

  • vocal nodules
  • vocal polyps
  • allergies
  • neurological disorders (Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, MS)

How Speech Therapy Can Help

  • teach appropriate voice habits
  • behavioral intervention
  • vocal hygiene
  • Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT)- Parkinson’s Disease specific

Swallowing

Swallowing disorders may occur due to stroke, progressive neurological disorders (ALS, MS, Parkinson’s Disease), congenital disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down’s Syndrome), or normal aging.

Swallowing Disorders May Include

  • difficulty chewing
  • difficulty swallowing
  • coughing when eating/drinking
  • choking when eating/drinking

How Speech Therapy Can Help

  • strengthening exercises
  • modified diet
  • sensory stimulation