Common Problems We Address

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): A motor speech disorder which causes problems saying sounds, syllables, and words not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. Instead, the brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but the brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.
• Delays or Disorders: Related to the use and/or understanding of non-verbal, verbal, or social language development in children of a variety of ages. Delays or disorders may be developmental or associated with recognized disabilities or neurological conditions (e.g., Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder).
• Dysphagia: Difficulty with feeding or swallowing as a result of brain trauma, neurological conditions, developmental delays, or premature birth.
• Articulation/Phonology: Delayed or disordered acquisition of age-appropriate speech sounds and patterns for the usage of speech-sounds.
• Fluency Disorder: A disorder of speech fluency or rate; also known as “stuttering”.
• Voice: Impairment of the loudness, pitch, or quality of voice, often related to abuse or misuse of the vocal cords or as result of structural differences in the throat and surrounding areas.

Services

• Screen: A speech-language pathologist will conduct an informal and limited evaluation (likely in the acute care setting), when a disorder or delay is suspected; in order to determine if further assessment is needed. A physician’s order is not needed and the patient would not be billed for this service.
• Evaluation: A speech-language pathologist will conduct a thorough evaluation of speech and language skills using standardized or informal assessment procedures, including a parent interview. Evaluations involving feeding/swallowing may be conducted in –office by observation or in the radiology department using x-ray, depending on need. A physician’s order is required.
• Treatment: A speech-language pathologist will design and implement an individualized therapy plan to improve identified weaknesses in communication, feeding, or swallowing function. A physician’s order is required.
• Patient-Family Education: In conjunction with a screen, evaluation, or treatment schedule a speech-language pathologist will provide information relevant to the identified impairment for the purposes of educating family and including family in a plan of care.
• Community Education: Speech-language pathologists are available to present information relevant to a variety of communication topics to the general public.