Helpful Information

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a trained professional who specializes in treating communication and swallowing disorders. SLPs work with people of all ages, from babies to adults.

What are speech and language disorders?

Speech disorders are when a person has trouble with the movements involved in speaking, which results in the person not pronouncing their words correctly and/or producing speech that is difficult to understand.

Language disorders are when a person has trouble with the content and comprehension of language. Difficulty with language may be seen when a person does not understand what is being said to them or when they have trouble expressing their own thoughts.

Speech and language disorders in children are usually due to developmental delays, often of unknown cause unless the child has another preexisting condition. Some examples of medical conditions often associated with childhood speech and language disorders include Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Speech and language disorders in adults are usually acquired as a result of a stroke, brain injury, or other neurological conditions such as Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease.

What is a cognitive communication disorder?

Cognitive communication abilities are those thought processes that allow humans to function successfully and interact meaningfully with each other. A cognitive communication disorder is a problem with one or more cognitive functions that can cause difficulty performing activities of daily living safely and efficiently, as well as communicating effectively. Cognitive communication deficits in adults are usually acquired as a result of stroke, brain injury, or other neurological conditions. The following are examples of cognitive processes:

• Attention (selective concentration)

• Memory (recall of facts, procedures, and past & future events)

• Perception (interpretation of sensory information)

• Insight & judgment (understanding one’s own limitations & what they mean)

• Organization (arranging ideas in a useful order)

• Orientation (knowing where, when, & who you are, as well as why you’re there)

• Language (words for communication)

• Processing speed (quick thinking & understanding)

• Problem-solving (finding solutions to obstacles)

• Reasoning (logically thinking through situations)

• Executive functioning (making a plan, acting it out, evaluating success, & adjusting)

• Metacognition (thinking about how you think)

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia means trouble swallowing or chewing food/drink. Dysphagia can cause problems with the oral (1), pharyngeal/laryngeal (2/3), and esophageal (4) phases of your swallow. It’s important to treat dysphagia for many reasons, including the risk of aspiration pneumonia if food/liquid go into your lungs. 

Symptoms of dysphagia:

• Weight loss

• Dehydration

• Swallowing/chewing takes extra effort/time

• Swallowing causes pain

• Coughing when eating/drinking

• Feeling like something is “stuck” in your throat

• Dry mouth

• Need liquid or multiple swallows to “get things down”

• Choking/strangling

• Coughing up food after eating

• Drooling and poor oral control of food/liquid

• Food/liquid still in mouth after swallow

• Voice is wet/gurgly after eating/drinking

• Trouble timing breathing/swallowing

• Frequent bouts of pneumonia

Speech therapy can help individuals with speech disorders coordinate movements through detailed instructions on using tongue placement techniques in order to produce speech clearly. Therapeutic exercises will be provided to assist the person come up with what he/she wants to say so that he/she can express thoughts more effectively. If a person is having difficulty swallowing, therapeutic swallow exercises along with VitalStim therapy can help improve a person’s ability to eat and drink their favorite things without getting choked. VitalStim is a treatment for swallowing disorders (dysphagia) which involves the administration of small electrical impulses to the swallowing muscles in the throat through electrodes attached to the skin.

If you or a loved one is having difficulty expressing basic thoughts, cannot speak clearly, can no longer complete daily activities without assistance, or can no longer eat their favorite foods, call us to schedule an evaluation.