Speech Therapy

Helping You To Be Heard
The desire to communicate is powerful. From the time we're young children, we want - and need - to be heard and understood by those around us. If your ability to communicate has been impaired due to injury or illness, such as stroke, head trauma or Parkinson's Disease, you may feel frustrated and isolated from the world around you. At Regional Medical Center, our speech therapy program is helping many patients with these and other disorders get back in touch. Through the use of voice and language exercises, computer-assisted language therapy and other current training techniques, our licensed speech-language pathologist can help you improve your speech and communication skills and once again make your voice heard.

Joining Our Program
If you have a physician's order and meet eligibility requirements, our speech therapy program is covered by Medicare and Medicaid. If you do not have a physician or would like more information about the physicians in this area, please call 205-752-5050 for a free, confidential physician referral. A physician's order if not required to enroll in our program. During your first visit, our speech-language pathologist will perform a complete evaluation to determine the extent of your speech impairment. The assessment is tailored specifically to each patient, based on the nature of the injury or illness. Through special exercises and standardized testing, the speech-language will assess your oral and written language skills; speech production; and cognitive and linguistic skills.

Finding Your Voice
Using the results of your initial assessment, the speech-language pathologist will develop a treatment plan specifically suited to your individual needs. Treatment for communication disorders varies widely depending upon the type and severity of the disorder and may include individual and group treatment sessions. Common methods of treatment include voice and language exercises. The speech-language pathologist can also facilitate speech output through a specialized interactive computer therapy program. If patients are unable to communicate orally, the pathologist can employ various methods and devices which allow patients to communicate nonverbally. These may include communication aids, such as sign language and communication boards. A communication board is a device that allows patients to communicate with others using pictures and symbols. Through these and/or other methods,the pathologist will help you to achieve the highest possible level of communication.


Swallowing Disorders

When The Simple Becomes Difficult
For most people, swallowing is a simple, nearly unconscious act. However, for people with swallowing disorders, this "simple" process can become quite difficult. Swallowing disorders encompass a wide range of dysfunctions, including difficulties closing the lips and propelling food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. Like speech disorders, swallowing problems often result from other medical conditions such as stroke, head injury and Parkinson's Disease. Unfortunately, many people with these disorders suffer for years before seeking treatment. Untreated swallowing problems can result in a number of serious problems, including dehydration, malnutrition and pneumonia. The good news is that many patients with swallowing disorders are receiving successful treatment through the swallowing disorders program at Regional Medical Center.

Getting An Inside View
If you obtain a physician's order and meet eligibility requirements, our speech therapy program is covered by Medicare and Medicaid. During your initial visit, a speech-language pathologist skilled in evaluating and managing swallowing disorders will perform a swallowing dysfunction study to determine the type and severity of the disorder. Because many of the structures involved in swallowing cannot be seen, a special x-ray procedure called video-fluoroscopy is performed. This procedure assists the therapist in determining whether the various muscles and structures involved in the swallowing process are operating normally.

We're On Your Team
Depending on the results of this procedure, other members of our swallowing team may be consulted. In addition to our speech-language pathologist, the team includes an ear, nose and throat specialist, nutritionists, gastroenterologists, neurologists and occupational therapists.

Treating You Right
In most cases, swallowing disorders can be significantly improved through proper evaluation and therapy. Because each patient's swallowing problem is unique, treatment is highly individualized. Treatment may involve changing your head or body position when swallowing, changing the kinds of food you eat or learning new ways to swallow. For some patients, corrective surgery may be required.

Call Us Today!
Don't suffer needlessly when effective treatment for your speech or swallowing disorder may be just a phone call away. Please ask your physician about the Speech Therapy and Swallowing Disorders programs at Regional Medical Center. Or call us for more information at 205-752-5050.