The speech/language pathology staff provides diagnostic and therapeutic services designed to maximize patients' communicative abilities. The comprehensive program is available to both inpatient and outpatients with varying degrees of impairment, such as:
- Cognitive and language deficits
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Articulation and voice disorders
- Augmentative communication devices
To assist individuals in communicating their needs, language boards are developed and assessments are performed to determine the best available communication device if augmentation is needed. The program also includes the use of video fluoroscopy for diagnosing swallowing disorders, assistance in diet planning, and the establishment of compensatory techniques needed to elicit safe swallowing.
Immanuel Rehabilitation Center provides complete diagnostic and therapeutic services for a variety of areas including speech, voice, language, cognition and dysphasia. Speech-language pathologists at Immanuel provide comprehensive inpatient and/or outpatient programs to meet individuals' needs.
The following are definitions for common speech and language pathology terms. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) are both useful websites to get more information speech and language disorders. We have included links to individual topics for your convenience.
Aphasia - Loss of language function with expression, comprehension or a combination of both (ASHA | Aphasia.org | NIH)
Apraxia - Difficulty executing purposeful movements for production of speech; muscle tone and coordination are normal (ASHA | NIH )
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) - A form of communication that may be helpful when oral production of speech is difficult (ASHA)
Cognition - Includes all the mental processes for memory, problem solving, reasoning, sequencing, planning, organizing and attention; these skills are essential for tasks such as balancing a checkbook, paying bills, scheduling events and completing work requirements "
Dysarthria - Speech difficulties resulting from muscular impairment which can effect not only articulation but respiration, phonation, resonance and prosody (ASHA)
Dysphagia - Difficulty swallowing (ASHA | NIH)
Dysfluency - Difficulty producing sounds, syllables, words & phrases smoothly; stuttering (ASHA | NIH)
Language - A structured, symbolic system for communication which includes expression and comprehension
Modified Barium Swallowing Study - Use of videofluoroscopy to assess swallowing safety and function
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation - Use of electrical stimulation for improved movement and function of muscles involved in swallowing (VitalStim)
Speech - Production of speech sounds correctly and fluently
Voice - Sound produced by the vibration of the vocal folds (ASHA)
