Speech Therapy

Speech therapy involves treating conditions that affect a person’s ability to communicate, eat, and/or swallow.  It is typically provided by a speech-language pathologist (SLP), who, depending on the patient’s condition, may work with a psychologist, physiotherapist, or psychiatrist.

Speech therapy for seniors is often necessary when recovering from the debilitating events such as an head, face, or throat injury, or a stroke, brain tumor, brain hemorrhage, or neural disorder. It may be necessary to due to diseases impacting the nervous system (such as Parkinson’s) or loss of mental faculties (such as dementia).  Difficulty in swallowing my be due to stroke, pneumonia, changes in physical attributes (such as teeth,  gums, or shape of the mouth) , or even “dry mouth” from aging or as a side effect from taking medication.

Speech therapy for language disorders starts with determining the extent of the disorder, exploring the underlying cause, addressing the cause with the patient, and then using a variety of exercises to help the patient overcome the disorder.

Types and Causes of Speech Disorders that Speech Therapy can Address

Below are some of the most common types and causes of speech disorders that speech therapy can address.

It is important to realize when thinking about speech that there are many functions that go into speech, including:

• Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Comprehension
• Attention
• Memory
• Visual processing
• Problem-solving

Your speech therapist and you will work together to identify on which of these areas of speech you will need to work, and developing and carrying out the appropriate speech therapy exercises.

Sampling of Representative Speech Therapy Products

Below is a sampling of products and equipment that are designed to assist in speech therapy. Click on the links to find out more information, see other products selections, and if you like, to make a purchase from one of our providers.