SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY is provided Monday 1-4pm and 6-8pm, and Friday 1pm – 5pm

                

                 Generally speaking, speech-language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, fluency, swallowing, and other related disorders. Speech, language, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including stroke, brain injury or deterioration, developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, hearing loss, or emotional problems. These problems may be congenital, developmental, or acquired.

 

             Speech-language pathologists typically work with children and adults who fall into two categories.  The first category includes those who cannot produce speech sounds.  The second category is for individuals who cannot produce speech sounds clearly due to speech, rhythm, and fluency problems, like stuttering, or voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch and harsh voice.  This category can cover a wide range of clients from those with cognitive communication impairments like attention, memory and problem solving disorders, or those with problems understanding a producing language, to those who simply wish to modify an accent. 

 

             The ultimate goal of speech-language pathologists is to help patients develop or recover reliable communication and swallowing skills so that they can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles.   To accomplish this, speech-language pathologists will design an individualized treatment plan, customized to focus on the patient’s needs.  For example, for patients having problems producing speech sounds, a speech-language pathologist could use both qualitative and quantitative assessment methods which may include standardized testing and the use of special instruments. For individuals with little or no speech capability, speech-language pathologists may select augmentative or alternative communication methods which may include automated devices and sign language to help their clients live fulfilled lives.  The speech-language therapist will either teach these individuals how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills to communicate more effectively.

 

             Now that we have taken a look at how speech-language therapists help those who cannot produce speech sounds and individuals who cannot produce speech sounds clearly, we must take a brief look at how speech-language therapist help individuals swallow.  A speech-therapist will help these patients by teaching these individuals ways to strengthen the appropriate muscles needed for swallowing. They will also provide strategies on how to swallow without choking, inhaling food, or inhaling a liquid.    

 

             In order to ensure that patients are receiving optimal treatment, speech-language pathologists keep records on the initial evaluation, progress, and discharge of clients.  This detailed record keeping helps the therapist pinpoint problems, track clients’ progress, and will justify the cost of treatment when applying for monetary reimbursement. In addition to this, speech-language therapists counsel individuals and their families concerning communication disorders and teach techniques to help families cope with the stress and misunderstanding that often occur.  They show family members how to recognize and change behavior patterns that impede communication and treatment and, at the same time, show them communication-enhancing techniques to use at home.

 

             Because speech-language therapists are so useful, they may be found in research facilities, schools, medical facilities, or private practice.  Most speech-language pathologists work in private practice to provide direct clinical services to individuals with communication or swallowing disorders. In medical facilities, they may perform their job in conjunction with physicians, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, and other therapists. Speech-language pathologists in schools collaborate with teachers, special educators, interpreters, other school personnel, and parents to develop and implement individual or group programs, provide counseling, and support classroom activities. Finally, some speech-language pathologists conduct research on how people communicate.  Meanwhile, others design and develop equipment or techniques for diagnosing and treating speech problems. (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos099.htm)

 

             Finally, let’s take a look at a specific treatment strategy used to treat various speech and language disorders.  It is called hippotherapy.  Hippotherapy uses the movement of the horse to help to the client develop postural stability which increases the integrity of the oral-motor musculature. This stimulation prepares the client’s muscles for expressive speech tasks. Common speech and language goals addressed through the use of equine movement include imitation skills, oral-motor stimulation, improving respiration and phonation, auditory memory, increasing labels, improving syntax, and developing social skills.

 

             As a speech therapist administering hippotherapy at SHHRC, I’ve observed the following results: 

· Children are drawn to interact with the horse, increasing communication and language thereby increasing spontaneous language. 

· The children are challenged by the dynamic movement of the horse and also by being positioned in various positions while on the horse.  

· Clients are constantly challenged to handle the horse’s movement while attending to and/or participating in play, and speech/language activities. 

· The movement of the horse provides a natural challenge for balance, trunk stability and posture, which is impacting on feeding, respiration and speech patterns.  

· The horse helps the nervous system respond to activity requests, thus improving cognition and motor skills. 

· It has been documented that intense vestibular stimulation improves processing in the brain.  The horse’s movement is used to keep clients alert and attentive during communicative tasks.  With enhanced sensory integration and arousal/attention, clients become more receptive to speech and language intervention. 

· Most importantly, children often work with the clinician without protesting, and they actively participate and work toward achieving speech and language goals because the goals are combined with a motivating activity.

Speech Therapy

Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center