Swallowing (dysphagia)
People with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and may even experience pain while swallowing (odynophagia). Some people may be completely unable to eat or have trouble safely swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva. When that happens, eating becomes a challenge. Often, dysphagia makes it difficult to take in enough calories and fluids to nourish the body and can lead to additional serious medical problems.
Aphasia
Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain that are responsible for language. For most people, these areas are on the left side of the brain. Aphasia usually occurs suddenly, often following a stroke or head injury, but it may also develop slowly due to a brain tumor or a progressive neurological disease. The disorder impairs the expression and understanding of language, reading, and writing. Aphasia may co-occur with speech disorders, such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech, which also result from brain damage.
Apraxia
Apraxia of speech (AOS)—also known as acquired apraxia of speech, is a speech sound disorder. Someone with AOS has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. AOS is a neurological disorder that affects the brain pathways involved in planning the sequence of movements involved in producing speech. The brain knows what it wants to say but cannot properly plan and sequence the required speech sound movements.
Cognitive-Linguistic Deficits
Acquired cognitive-linguistic impairments refer to difficulties with different areas of thinking resulting from events such as stroke or traumatic brain injury or as a result of a progressive neurological condition (e.g. Dementia). Deficit areas can include: Attention, Perception (Visual and Auditory), Memor, Reasoning and Problem-Solving, Organization and Planning, Insight and Awareness, and Social Communication.
Our team of speech-language pathologists can complete a formalized cognitive-linguistic evaluation to determine the presence and type of impairment and develop an individualized treatment plan to target your specific cognitive needs.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.
Specialty ST Services Provided
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LSVT LOUD
LSVT LOUD is an effective speech treatment for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurological conditions. Named for Mrs. Lee Silverman (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment), a woman living with PD, it was developed by Dr. Lorraine Ramig and has been scientifically studied for over 25 years with support from the National Institute for Deafness and other Communication Disorders within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding organizations. LSVT LOUD trains people with PD to use their voice at a more normal loudness level while speaking at home, work, or in the community. Key to the treatment is helping people "recalibrate" their perceptions so they know how loud or soft they sound to other people and can feel comfortable using a stronger voice at a normal loudness level.
SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd®
SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd® is a clinically-proven speech therapy approach for individuals with Parkinson's. The program helps patients REGAIN and MAINTAIN their speaking abilities with a combination of education, individual speech therapy, daily home practice, group sessions, and regular re-assessments.
SPEAK OUT! is based on principles of motor learning and teachings of the late Daniel R. Boone, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. In the 1950s, Boone recognized individuals with Parkinson’s could improve their communication by "speaking with intent."
Every SPEAK OUT! patient receives free access to Parkinson Voice Project's eLibrary!
VitalStim
VitalStim provides dysphagia patients with the treatment they deserve and therapists with the support they need. Research shows that the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) relieves patients of the emotional, physical, and financial burdens of feeding tubes—allowing a return to normalcy. It also creates an opportunity for therapists to not only manage their patients’ difficulties but also to overcome them.
VitalStim Plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation helps recruit and re-educate muscles in the process of swallowing. Under the guidance of a clinician, patients partner in an interactive therapy that aids muscle strengthening to rehabilitate swallowing. Preset or customized programs allow the provider to truly customize treatments while biofeedback and visuals create a patient-focused experience that encourages engagement and achievement of goals.
The VitalStim Plus Electrotherapy and sEMG Biofeedback System projects live treatment progress onto a computer or tablet screen. The Screen Mirroring technology allows clinicians to guide patients through personalized, targeted swallowing exercises. sEMG biofeedback helps to increase the effort and duration of swallowing attempts and to improve coordination. It also offers the potential for objective evaluation of swallowing function and patterns.
