Outpatient Medical Rehab >> 
Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy provides evaluation and treatment services for people who experience difficulty with their communication skills, swallowing, or cognitive skills.

These difficulties may follow:

• A neurological injury such as a stroke, brain tumor
• Progressive neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s
• Through brain injury
• Normal aging process

There are several communication problems or disorders that can be treated through Speech Therapy services:

• Language Disorders - The speech therapist can help an individual achieve and improve their understanding and/or verbal expression of language following a stroke or head injury. This includes understanding of auditory and reading comprehension and verbal and written expression.
  
  
• Motor Speech Disorders - The speech therapist can evaluate the functioning of the jaw, lips, and tongue for speaking functions. Treatment focuses on training/exercise programs for improving the strength and coordination of the articulators to improve an individuals ability to speak. Disorders such as dysarthria (slurred speech) and apraxia (difficulty with programming and sequencing for voluntary speech) may follow a brain injury or the onset of a neurological disorder.
  
  
• Swallowing Disorders - People experiencing dysphagia (difficulty with swallowing), can be assessed and treated. Injury, disease, or the normal aging process may result in difficulty and / or decreased safety in swallowing certain foods and/or liquids.
  
  
• Voice Disorders - Following an evaluation by an otolaryngologist (doctor specializing in treatment of the ear, nose and throat) the speech therapist can provide treatment for voice disorders with various causes such as vocal nodules or polyps, vocal abuse, or misuse.
  
  
• Fluency Disorders - The speech therapist can evaluate and provide treatment for adults who want to improve their speech fluency and confidence in their ability to communicate with others.
  
  
• Laryngectomy - Pre and postoperative consultation can be provided to people who have difficulty with swallowing and communication resulting from surgical removal of their larynx. Evaluation and training can be provided in the use of alaryngeal devices and esophageal speech.
  
  
• Impaired Cognitive Skills - The speech therapist can help improve cognitive functioning, such as the use of memory, organization, and problem solving skills, which have been impaired by injury (e.g. a stroke or head injury). Treatment focuses on training in the use of strategies to compensate for cognitive changes or re-training of the cognitive skills.
  
  
• Assistive and Alternative Communication - The speech therapist can evaluate individuals whose oral or written communication abilities do not meet their functional needs. Outpatient Medical Services can assist in obtaining the most appropriate assistive device and provide training in their use.

The Staff

The Outpatient Medical Services’ speech therapists are trained professional who hold certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and are licensed in New York State.