At Vernon Health, our speech language pathologists provide compassionate, evidence-based care for both children and adults experiencing communication, cognitive, or swallowing challenges. We work closely with patients and families to understand individual needs and create personalized treatment plans. Therapy is available through referral from your primary care provider, ensuring coordinated, patient-centered care. Our team is here to support your progress, answer questions, and guide you every step of the way.
Experiencing tremors, slow movements, impaired balance and stiffness can create problems with walking and completing daily tasks. Declining vocal strength, muffled speech and difficulty swallowing can create problems with communication and eating. LSVT Big & Loud empowers individuals diagnosed with Parkinson Disease to move BIGGER and speak LOUDER.
Dysphagia is difficulty or inability to swallow foods or liquids and has many different causes. Any condition that weakens or disables muscles or nerves can cause dysphagia: cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease and cerebral vascular accidents are examples of conditions that can cause dysphagia. Difficulty swallowing, coughing or choking when eating or drinking, or the sensation of something being “stuck” when swallowing can all be helped.
While many young speakers go through a normal developmental stage of stuttering, those who stutter consistently do so often despite a strong desire to not and will likely always stutter to some degree. However, they may seek the help of a speech language pathologist to learn techniques to decrease the stress, tension and negative image often associated with stuttering.
If there are concerns over a child’s acquisition of speech sounds or language development, a speech language pathologist can evaluate a child, provide speech and/or language therapy, and offer tools to help facilitate speech and language development.
Apraxia is a speech disorder of the nervous system. Those with apraxia know what they want to say, but when they try to say it, their brain cannot correctly coordinate the muscles of the mouth and face. The muscles are intact but communication between the brain and muscles is impaired.
Dysarthria occurs when the muscles of the face, mouth and respiratory system become weak as a result of a stroke or brain injury. The weakness may make talking and eating difficult.
Some people have an inability or difficulty communicating verbally, which can result in frustration and a decreased quality of life. Low- and high-tech augmentative and alternative communication devices are available to help.
Dysphonia and aphonia can involve a range of etiologies and symptoms that make it difficult for a person to use his or her voice effectively. Some symptoms may include chronic breathiness, hoarseness and/or decreased loudness levels.
Have questions about care at Vernon Health? Our team is here to help. For more information or to speak with someone about your care, please call (608) 637-2101.
At Vernon Health, we’re committed to providing patient-centered, compassionate care wherever you are in your health journey. Explore our trusted providers and convenient locations to find the right support for you.