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Speech Therapy is intended to restore speech, communication and reduce frustration following an injury or surgery so patients can improve their situation and recover as fully as possible. Our Speech staff is trained to evaluate and determine the scope and severity of speech and cognitive challenges resulting from concussion, stroke, head injury or dementia.
Some people with aphasia have trouble using words and sentences (expressive aphasia). Some have problems understanding others (receptive aphasia). Others with aphasia struggle with both using words and understanding (global aphasia).
Aphasia can cause problems with spoken language (talking and understanding) and written language (reading and writing). Typically, reading and writing are more impaired than talking or understanding.
Aphasia may be mild or severe. The severity of communication difficulties depends on the amount and location of the damage to the brain.
The SLP evaluates the individual and determines the type and severity of aphasia. The evaluation is done by assessing the following areas of communication:
This information is gathered through both structured observations and formal tests, administered by a speech language pathologist.
A voice disorder occurs when pitch, loudness, or quality calls attention to itself rather than to what the speaker is saying. It is also a problem if the speaker experiences pain or discomfort when speaking or singing. Vocal cord nodules, polyps or nodes are different types of growths on the vocal folds. These cause changes in voice quality, such as hoarseness or breathiness and can create discomfort. Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVCM) and spasmodic dysphonia are a few other conditions that can result in voice problems.
Treatment
The SLP can help retrain use of voice and teach strategies to avoid voice misuse, as well as assist people with achieving appropriate pitch, loudness, and quality.