SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

There are 20 million people in this country who are disabled by communication disorders. Communication is the basis of everyday life. We are constantly taking in information (receptive language) and giving out our own ideas and thoughts (expressive language). Any breakdown in these areas causes a communication problem because it impairs our ability to receive or express information.

Speech-Language Pathologists identify and treat children and adults with speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders. These disorders can result from hearing loss, brain injury, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, vocal abuse or pathology, laryngectomy, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, auditory processing difficulties, emotional difficulties or foreign dialect. This also includes patients with organic reasons for memory deficits, post-stroke difficulties, cognitive dysfunction, head trauma and non-specific learning disabilities. Speech-Language Pathologists are licensed by the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology.


Appointments are scheduled within one week of initial diagnostic assessment. Scheduling is flexible. Evening appointments are available. Our Speech-Language Pathologists are available by phone for consultation at any time to discuss specific aspects with your physician. Our office is contracted with most insurance companies in our area. Questions about billing and insurance can be addressed by calling our office.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY SERVICES

ARTICULATION
Therapy to correct substitutions, omissions and distortions of speech sounds (e.g. wing/ring)

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Pervasive developmental disorders; Asperger Syndrome; Rett Syndrome; Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

DELAYED LANGUAGE
Intervention to provide stimulation for increasing the development of vocabulary, grammar or cognitive skills required to express and understand thoughts and ideas.


SWALLOWING DISORDERS (DYSPHAGIA)
Instruction is provided for oral motor exercises, compensatory strategies or modification of food textures to improve the patient’s ability to safely maintain an adequate amount of food intake. Will assist at videofluoroscopic studies as needed.


HEAD INJURY/COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS
Implement procedures to improve the patient’s cognitive-communication impairments-to improve memory skills, attending behaviors, language-based problem solving skills.


LARYNGECTOMY
Counsel both patient and family preoperatively and follow the patient and family postoperatively. Voice prosthesis and other forms of alaryngeal speaking are considered for each patient on an individual basis.


FLUENCY/STUTTERING
Strategies are taught to correct the interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech.


APHASIA
Following the loss or reduction of language skills due to brain injury, usually post-CVA, patient is assisted with developing functional communication skills.


APRAXIA
Patients with movement "planning" difficulties for speech production, undergo instruction and structured therapy designed to improve consistency of coordination for speech.


DYSARTHRIA
For patients with decreased speech due to reduced control of oral motor movements: Exercises are provided to improve speed, strength, range or coordination of oral musculature.


VOICE DISORDERS
Specific exercises are assigned for patients to adjust inappropriate pitch and loudness levels or to improve vocal quality (e.g. hoarseness, breathiness, nasality).


AUDITORY PROCESSING
Instruction provided to improve skills and develop compensatory strategies in the areas of auditory discrimination and comprehension, memory, selective attention, perception and sound-symbol relationships. Central Auditory Processing


TONGUE THRUST
Instruction provided on proper tongue placement during swallowing and at rest, to retain proper dental alignment.


READING DEFICITS
Instruct and develop phonological awareness, sound-letter recognition, decoding, vocabulary, grammar, syntax, word recognition, paragraph and listening comprehension