Speech Therapy for Recovery from Illness or Injury

The Outpatient Therapy Center at Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center offers a comprehensive program of evaluation and treatment for people who have developed speech, language, swallowing or cognitive deficits following an injury or illness. Experienced and certified speech language pathologists work with patients who have the following diagnoses and specific disorders:

  • Stroke
  • Brain tumor
  • Neurological/Post-neurological condition
  • Neuromuscular disease
  • Head and neck surgery
  • Developmental delays and disorders
  • Trauma

Disorders Treated

Among the disorders treated by Centennial Hills Hospital speech and language pathologists include:

  • Aphasia — difficulty speaking or understanding speech
  • Apraxia — difficulty forming words due to motor condition
  • Dysarthria — unclear articulation
  • Dysphagia — difficulty swallowing
  • Voice disorders — caused by nodules, polyps or sores
  • Laryngectomy — total or partial voice box removal
  • Glossectomy — surgical removal of part or all of the tongue
  • Cognitive disorders — amnesia, dementia, delirium, etc.

Swallowing Exam

People with swallowing disorders may be asked to take video fluoroscopic swallowing exam (VFSE), also called a modified barium swallow exam (MBS). In this radiologic examination, doctors use a special x-ray called fluoroscopy. The doctor observes the patient swallowing various substances made from barium, a metallic chemical, to evaluate his or her ability to swallow safely and effectively. A speech-language pathologist is usually present at the exam with the doctor and patient. The speech-language pathologist may then use information from the VFSE to help the patient learn new swallowing techniques and strategies.

Treatment

Treatments may include:

  • Receptive language therapy (listening and reading)
  • Expressive language therapy (speaking and writing)
  • Speech production therapy
  • Preoperative counseling and postoperative treatment
  • Voice therapy
  • Stuttering therapy
  • Cognitive therapy (memory, problem solving, reasoning)
  • Modified barium swallow studies
  • Patient/family education
  • Dysphagia therapy

Program Goals

The goals of our program include:

  • Facilitating functional cognitive and communication skills
  • Facilitating safe oral feeding/swallowing
  • Educating the patient and family on compensatory strategies and home programs.

If you need a referral to a physician on the staff of Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, call our free physician referral service at 702-388-4888.