Our outpatient speech-language pathology services can help adult patients improve swallowing disorders (dysphagia) and voice disorders, as well as speech, language and cognitive communication.
Pediatric patients will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Swallowing disorders
Adult swallowing disorders
We provide treatments for adults with trouble swallowing. Trouble swallowing can be caused by:
- Cancer of the head and neck (and related treatments)
- Chronic codnitions, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Conditions that affect the brain, such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Parkinson's disease, stroke or brain tumor
Swallowing disorder treatments
We offer evaluations and treatments for adults with difficulty swallowing. This testing may include:
- Modified barium swallow studies: This test is a moving X-ray video taken while you swallow small amounts of food and liquid mixed with a barium (a safe substance that shows up on the X-ray). The study allows us to see how food and liquid travel from your mouth through your throat and toward your esophagus. It helps us determine if anything is going toward your airway and what changes may make swallowing safer and easier.
- Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): During this procedure, a speech-language pathologist passes a thin, flexible scope through your nose and into your throat to observe how food and liquids move when you swallow. This allows the clinician to closely examine the structures involved in swallowing. Similar to a modified barium swallow study, this assessment helps determine whether food or liquid is entering your airway instead of moving safetly into your esophagus.
Voice disorders
Your voice may change for many reasons. Common causes include:
- Dysphonia
- Parkinson's disease
- Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)
- Vocal nodules or polyps
We provide voice therapy for adults as well as specialized programs, such as Lee Silverman Voice Therapy and SPEAK OUT. To help us create the best plan for you, consider seeing an otolaryngologist (ENT) prior to starting voice therapy.
Adult speech, language and cognitive communication
If you have sustained a brain injury, we provide wide-ranging services and care for your needs. Brain injuries can include:
- Strokes
- Brain tumors
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Aneurisms
Patients who are living with certain disorders, including those in the list below, can benefit from speech-language pathology services:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Dementia
- Huntington's disorder
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Primary progressive aphasia
Our services may address:
- Issues with cognition, such as deficits in attention, memory, problem solving and decision making
- Understanding written and spoke language through naming, word finding, reading and writing