Speech Therapy
The Speech Therapy Program at Williamson Memorial Hospital evaluates and treats patients with communication and swallowing disorders. A Speech Therapist may perform speech and language evaluations, standard swallowing evaluations and radiographic modified barium swallow studies.
Speech Therapy, which is physician prescribed, can help patients who have or have had:
- Cognitive/linguistic impairments
- Swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
- Oral/motor impairments Partial or complete removal of the tongue or larynx
- An inability to communicate through speech, writing or signs
- Speech impairment secondary to neurological disorders
- Head injury and CVA/stroke
- Voice disorders
- Hearing impaired communication
Types of Speech Disorders
Aphasia - The loss of ability to use words to communicate because of inability to remember the correct word.
Dysarthria - The loss of ability to produce speech because of muscle weakness or coordination.
Apraxia - The loss of ability to say words, not because of muscle weakness, but because of an interruption of brain functioning to send the correct muscles the correct message to produce the words.
Cognitive Language Problems - Ineffective communication resulting from problems with attention and concentration, orientation, memory, reasoning, problem solving, language organization and judgment.
Dysphagia - A swallowing disorder that interferes with safe and timely oral nutrition (eating by mouth).