Speech therapy is the treatment for patients (children and adults), with speech and language disorders. The HRMC Pro Rehab speech pathology department offers a full program of diagnosis and treatment of patients with swallowing, speaking and thinking problems caused from injury, stroke, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, development delays and voice problems.

People with communication disorders are young, old and in-between. Their problems may have existed from birth or resulted from disease or accident. Some communication disorders include:

• Swallowing Disorders – known as dysphagia. This usually occurs as a result of illness, surgery, stroke or injury.
• Aphasia – a language disorder caused by stroke, drug use, brain injury or illness. A person with aphasia may be truly at a loss for words – unable to say even his or her own name.
• Language Disorders – including difficulty making sense of the environment, comprehending spoken language or communicating thoughts, feelings and experiences.
• Voice Disorder – when people speak too high or too low, or when the quality of voice is affected (such as having a hoarse, breathy or nasal voice).
• Cognitive Communication Disorders – more common in adults after head injury or stroke. These disorders make it difficult to think clearly, remember or problem solve.
• Articulation Disorders – difficulties making sounds correctly. Like stuttering, these problems often begin in childhood and become lifelong challenges. They may occur later in life as a result of stroke, injury or illness.
• Stuttering – although no one knows exactly what causes it, this is the most commonly recognized speech problem.
• VitaStim^® Therapy – for oral strengthening for improved swallowing and speech function

By assessing the speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing skills, HRMC’s speech pathologists can determine what type of communication problems you have and the best way to treat these challenges. HRMC offers therapy and education that includes:

• Creating sounds – If you have a consistently hoarse voice, behaviors, such as frequent throat clearing, talking too loudly or having too much tension in your throat, may be contributing to your voice problems. HRMC’s speech therapist can help you to identify and change these behaviors.
• Forming words – If you have experienced a stroke or other brain injury or have undergone surgery or chemotherapy, the coordination of your muscles used for speaking may have been impaired or weakened. Speech therapy can help strengthen these muscles and provide methods to modify muscle movements that produce speech sounds.
• Breathing – If you have undergone a tracheotomy procedure, which inserts a tube into your windpipe to help you breathe, making sounds may be difficult. HRMC’s speech therapist can assist you in developing the best techniques for communicating and adjusting to a new way of speaking.
• Swallowing – A stroke, progressive neurological disease or mouth or throat cancer can affect how you consume your meals. HRMC’s speech therapist will evaluate how you swallow and recommend a diet and techniques that can make swallowing easier and exercises to strengthen weak oral and throat muscles.
• Volume – If you are unable to speak loudly or have a hoarse voice, this may be a result of an injury, tumor, disease, surgery or stroke. Speech therapy can teach you to adjust your pitch and increase your breathing capacity needed to make your voice more audible.

How do I schedule an appointment for speech therapy at either HRMC Pro Rehab location?

An order from your personal physician must be obtained for all therapy assessments to be completed. For more information, to make an appointment or for assistance in obtaining a physician order, please call Pro Rehab South (605) 352-9498.

How should I prepare for my therapy session?

• Make a list of any concern or questions you may have for your speech therapist.
• During your first visit, your speech therapist will ask you lots of questions and perform a detailed evaluation and examination. At this visit, your speech therapist will work with you to determine your goals and will begin to develop a treatment plan.

The goal of the Pro Rehab speech therapy team is to assist patients to communicate in more useful and functional ways all while staying close to home.