Adults may experience speech and language difficulties for a variety of reasons. Services are available for teenage and adult clients who have concerns about a lisp, clarity of speech and speech sounds, stuttering, difficulty problem solving and reasoning, accessing language/word finding, apraxia, aphasia, and dysarthria.
Speech therapy begins with a Speech and Language Assessment. The area of concern is identified and determined through:
A summary of findings is given verbally to the client and/or client’s family accompanying the client to the appointment. A written report will follow once the speech pathologist understands all areas impacted and is ready to develop a therapy plan.
Speech and language differences or disorders may be found in one or more of the five areas of speech and language that include:
Based on findings from the speech and language assessment as well as considering the client’s input on their own goals for rehabilitation, a therapy plan is developed. Strategies and homework will be given to help the client achieve their goals to the best of their ability.
Regaining skills IS possible. Our brains are always growing and changing with the new experiences we have through neuroplasticity.
Understanding and expression of language are the two main areas needed to communicate with others. We need to know what we want to say and then say it. When someone experiences a stroke or a brain injury they may have concerns with one or both of these areas:
Are medical conditions involving abnormal pitch, loudness or quality of the sound produced by the larynx and thereby affecting speech production. Voice therapy can help ease the symptoms by improving the way the person uses their voice.
Types of voice disorders may include but not limited to:
May include but not limited to the following
Therapy will be adapted to best meet the needs of each client based on goals the client has for improvement on their speech and language skills.
Active therapy can and will help a person regain skills if they are motivated to practice and use the strategies given by the speech-language pathologist daily. Regaining skills is possible. Our brains are always growing and changing with the new experiences we have had through a process called neuroplasticity.
Yes, I can help! Communication strategies can be discussed and a plan can be made for the future when the disease has progressed so far that a person has lost their verbal means of communicating with loved ones. I can help develop a communication plan and implement strategies to help you communicate before you have lost your voice and are unable to verbalize your thoughts. Picture exchange communication system can be developed, a communication book, or communication boards. All very effective options.