Our certified speech-language therapists, also called speech-language pathologists, identify, evaluate and treat a wide range of speech, voice, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders that can result from stroke, head injury, dementia, complex medical conditions and developmental delay in adults and children.
We help our patients develop effective communication and cognitive skills as well as return to a safe diet using current, best practice clinical skills and interventions.
Speech therapy commonly helps with:
Reviewed 2/8/2023
Speech therapy quiz
True or false?
Speech-language pathologists treat a wide variety of communication and swallowing problems. How much do you know about the many types of disorders speech therapy can address?
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True or false: Speech-language pathologists work only in outpatient settings.
FALSE. Speech-language pathologists work in many settings. You might find them in grade schools, colleges and universities, private practices, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.
True or false: Speech therapy is mainly helpful for children.
FALSE. Speech-language pathologists work with people of all ages to treat many types of communication and swallowing problems, including:
- Stuttering.
- Learning disabilities involving reading, spelling and writing.
- Voice, language and swallowing disorders caused by problems like stroke, cancer or brain injury.
True or false: Speech therapy might help someone who has autism interact socially with others.
TRUE: All people with autism have social communication problems. Speech-language pathologists can educate and train them how to greet others and ask questions; speak in ways appropriate to the listener and setting; and follow social norms for conversation, like taking turns at talking or how close to stand to someone while conversing.
True or false: Speech-language pathologists help people learn to swallow food.
TRUE: A swallowing disorder can lead to problems like poor nutrition and weight loss. Speech-language pathologists can help people learn to manage swallowing problems (called dysphagia) in order to suck, chew and swallow food and liquid properly.
True or false: Speech therapy can help with how your voice sounds.
TRUE: Speech-language pathologists address a variety of voice problems. If you sound hoarse or lose your voice easily, speech therapy can help. Speech-language pathologists can also address other voice issues like talking too loudly, talking through your nose or being unable to make sounds.
What's the best way to take care of your voice? Find out by taking this voice care quiz.
- Brain, lung, or head and neck cancers
- Cognitive changes
- Dementia
- Dysarthria or motor speech disorders
- Dysphagia
- Fluency disorders such as stuttering and cluttering
- Head injuries
- Language deficits including assistive technology
- Stroke
- Voice disorders
Helping to improve your child's communication
Pediatric speech-language therapy focuses on improving your child's overall communication skills. This includes understanding language, using language and articulating words. It also includes caring for children with oral motor and feeding disorders, hearing impairments, voice disorders, and stuttering.
Pediatric speech-language therapists commonly help with:
- Articulation delays
- Motor speech difficulties (apraxia)
- Language delays
- Oral motor weakness
- Feeding and swallowing delays and difficulties
- Sensory and motor-based difficulties
- Developmental delays
- Hearing impairment
Speech-language therapy requires a doctor's referral.