Individualized Speech-Language Therapy
Individual therapy services may be initiated after completion of the assessment if a communication or swallowing disorder is identified. Treatment goals will be specific to the client’s areas of need and will guide the speech-language pathologist during the treatment process. Individual treatment sessions range from 30 minutes to 1 hour in duration.
The following communication/swallowing disorders are treated at the Capland Speech Therapy Center:
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Articulation Disorders – difficulties making sounds correctly or substituting one sound for another. Common disorder for young children but can continue into adulthood. May occur in adults following a stroke, head injury or illness. |
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Language Disorders – difficulties understanding spoken words and/or expressing wants, needs and feelings. Common disorder for pre-school and school aged children. |
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Stuttering – speech may be characterized by word repetitions, hesitations and sound prolongations. Physical tension in the body (mouth, eyes, hands, etc.) may be noticed during episodes of dysfluent speech. Most frequently begins during the ages 2 to 5 years and can continue into adulthood. |
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Voice Disorders – voice quality may be characterized by an inappropriate pitch range (too high or low) or be hoarse, harsh, breathy or nasal-sounding. Occurs in both children and adults. Adult clients that have had their larynx removed as a result of cancer will experience loss of voice and need to learn an alternative way to communicate. |
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Aphasia – a language disorder most often affecting adults as a result of a stroke, brain injury or illness. The adult may have the following difficulties: understanding what is being said to them; using words and sentences to express their thoughts and needs; and reading and writing. |
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Dysarthria – speech may be slurred or characterized by sound mispronunciations, breathiness, and altered rate and rhythm. Most often affects adults following a stroke or onset of a neurological disorder (Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). |
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Apraxia – difficulty planning movements of the lips, tongue, and mouth for speech production. Affects both children and adults. |
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Cognitive Communication Disorders – difficulty with memory, attention, problem solving, and organizing thoughts. Often affects adults following a stroke, brain injury or onset of a neurological disease. |
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Swallowing Disorders – difficulty with one or more of the following: chewing; moving food from the mouth to the throat; moving food from the throat to the stomach. Also known as dysphagia. Common in adults following a stroke, brain injury, cancer of the mouth or throat, or onset of a neurological disease. |
For additional information on the disorders listed above, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website at www.asha.org.
