Speech Language Pathology Services

• A comprehensive speech and language evaluation will assess the patient’s receptive and expressive language skills, speech sound production, oral-motor function, voice, fluency, pragmatic language, and overall communicative effectiveness. Assessment methods included standardized testing (when appropriate), clinical observation, caregiver/patient interview, and informal measures.

Pediatrics language sounds like:

“The child demonstrates delays in expressive and receptive language development impacting their ability to communicate wants and needs and participate in age-appropriate activities.”

Adult language sounds like:

“The patient presents with impaired expressive and receptive language skills secondary to neurological insult, impacting functional communication, safety, and independence in daily living.”

• Voice deficits are problems with how a person’s voice sounds, feels, or functions due to inefficient or unhealthy voice production.

• They occur when the quality, pitch, loudness, endurance, or control of the voice is not appropriate for the person’s age, gender, or communication needs.

In Pediatrics, often due to:

• Vocal abuse (yelling, screaming, loud play)

• Nodules or vocal fold irritation

• Poor breath support

• Habitual throat clearing/coughing
  
  

In Adults, often due to:

• Vocal misuse/overuse (teachers, therapists, singers)

• Reflux, smoking, dehydration

• Muscle tension dysphonia

• Vocal fold pathology (nodules, polyps, paralysis)

• Speech therapy addressed cognitive-communication deficits including attention, memory, executive function, and problem solving through restorative exercises and compensatory strategy training to improve the patient’s ability to function safely and independently in daily activities.

Techniques SLPs Use:

• Spaced retrieval

• Errorless learning

• Visual supports

• Verbal rehearsal

• Association strategies

• Environmental modification

• Routine building