4 Ways a Speech Language Pathologist Can Help Adults
Communication is crucial to every day life. When changes in communication abilities or swallowing impede your daily life, a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) can help you work towards overcoming these issues. Communication disorders that may require working with a SLP include:
- Stroke
- Head/Brain Injury
- Hearing Loss
- Respiratory Issues
…and a variety of other issues. Here are four of the most common ways that Speech Language Pathologists help adults:
- Swallowing issues and dysphasia – when lip, jaw, tongue, throat and larynx movement are affected by sickness, such as cancer or neurological disorders, SLPs work with patients to regain that movement.
- Apraxia – this impairment of speech and language ability is often a result of brain injury or brain damage from a stroke or trauma. Apraxia results in difficulty with correct pronunciation or an inability to find the right words. In this instance, SLPs teach patients ways to work through these issues and strengthen speaking abilities.
- Aphasia – this disorder occurs when there is a partial or total loss of language processing. Patients experience issues with reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and/or listening comprehension. SLPs work with patients suffering from aphasia to regain these communication and comprehension abilities.
- Dysarthria – this occurs when the muscles needed for speaking have weakened, causing slurred speech that is difficult for most to understand. While patients with dysarthria often cannot control their speech muscle, SLPs will teach them ways to communicate despite having these issues.
Many of these issues arise as a result of a stroke, and because Memorial is a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center, we are well-versed in providing incredible care for patients who have suffered from a stroke.
Speak with a primary care provider today to see if you need a referral to a speech language pathologist.