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Speech therapy can improve overall communication and swallowing abilities. Individual treatment plans are designed to: reteach speaking, reading, or writing;improve auditory comprehension; improve orientation, memory and judgement skills; strengthen oral muscles for speech and swallowing; teach esophageal speech or use of electro-larynx; or develop alternative communication systems.
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Patient Types Referred for Speech Therapy
Common Problems Referred for Speech Therapy
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Patient Types Referred for Speech Therapy
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Neuro patients
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Right CVA: Associated problems may include cognitive changes, visual field deficits affecting reading, speech, or swallowing
Left CVA: Associated problems may include receptive and/or expressive aphasia (problems with reading or auditory comprehension, word finding or verbal fluency, writing or mathematical calculations), speech intelligibility, swallowing
Parkinson's: Associated problems may include reduced speech intelligibility, swallowing decline and weak voice/volume and poor breath control
ALS, MS, and other neurological diagnoses: Associated problems typically include speech, swallowing and/or decresaed functional communication ability
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Head/Neck Cancer Patients
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Associated problems may include:
Oral motor issues due to surgery or radiation
Speech intelligbility
Swallowing
Lack of functional communication/need for alternative communication (e.g., electrolarynx)
Cognitive Decline if mets present (to brain)
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Post-Surgery Patients
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Associated problems may include difficulty swallowing due to edema from intubation
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Pneumonia/Septic Patients
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Associated problems may include difficulty swallowing due to weakness and confusion/temporary cogntivie changes
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Dementia Patients
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Associated problems include cognitive decline as expected. In the early stages, speech therapy may be appropriateif there is an able caregiver to assist with compensatory strategies. In the later stages of dementia, problems with swallowing may be noted
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Common Problems Referred for Speech Therapy
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Swallowing/Oral-motor
Speech Intelligibility
Auditory Comprehension
Reading Comprehension
Verbal Fluency/Word Finding
Writing Ability
Cognitive Ability
Functional Communication
Alaryngeal Speech
Voice Disorders
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