Speech Therapy

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Speech therapists (also known as speech-language pathologists) evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with a wide variety of conditions that affect oral motor skills, swallowing, and speech and language abilities. Bravera Health's speech therapists work closely with neurologists, ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctors and other specialists to thoroughly evaluate patients and treat a variety of conditions. Speech therapy, which is physician prescribed, can help patients who have or have had:

• Cognitive communication disorders, including memory and problem-solving difficulties
• Head injury and CVA/stroke
• Hearing impaired communication
• Language disorders, such as aphasia
• Lisping or stuttering
• Motor speech disorders, including dysarthria and apraxia
• Oral or motor impairments
• Speech conditions resulting from Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
• Swallowing disorders, such as dysphagia
• Voice disorders, including dysphonia

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 interruption of brain functioning to send the correct message to produce the word
• 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)

Bravera Health's speech therapists provide education, support and treatment strategies to improve communication and swallowing, utilizing a range of treatment options such as:

• Cognitive retraining following stroke or other neurological impairment
• Customized exercises designed to strengthen muscles used in speaking or swallowing
• Electrical stimulation therapy to improve swallowing ability by retraining motor nerves in the throat
• Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), to improve communication and quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's disease
• Nutrition or diet modifications
• Recommendations and training for communication devices

Our speech therapists provide customized treatment plans to address each patient's unique challenges, and offer valuable information and encouragement to support each individual's goals.