Speech Therapy

Speech therapists provide treatment for patients who have problems with fluency, stuttering and slurred speech. They also evaluate swallowing and provide treatment for those patients who have difficulty. Speech therapy also is provided to patients with voice disorders. Both inpatients and outpatients are evaluated and treated.

SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICES FOR DYSPHAGIA

Individuals with difficulty swallowing are assessed clinically using patient history, observation and trial feedings. If appropriate, the patient is referred to speech therapy for a video swallow study of their swallowing function. This evaluation is conducted in the Radiology Department with a team of professionals including a Radiologist and Speech Pathologist.

If swallowing is impaired, therapy will address strengthening of the muscles needed for swallowing and establishing compensatory techniques. Therapy is necessary in these situations to teach strategies for safety and to reduce the risk of pneumonia.

ACUTE AND TRANSITIONAL CARE SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICES

Speech services for patients currently hospitalized include evaluation and treatment for disorders of:

• Communication (including speech, language, and voice)
• Swallowing and cognition (including memory and problem solving)

Medical diagnoses treated include, but are not limited to:

• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Parkinson disease
• Cancer

Therapy may be necessary to enable the patient to communicate wants and needs, to swallow safely, and/or to comprehend safety issues in their discharge environment.

OUTPATIENT SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICES

Speech services for outpatients include services for both children and adults. Sessions are held in the outpatient rehab department, located in the rehab services building.

Children
Services for children include evaluation and treatment to improve:

• Articulation
• Grammar
• Language development
• Voice
• Stuttering
• Pragmatics (social use of language)

Medical diagnoses treated include, but are not limited to:

• Developmental delay
• Apraxia
• Autism
• Phonological/articulation disorder
• Language disorders

Parent involvement is fostered so parents can assist their children when not in a speech therapy session. Homework is frequently provided as well. Therapy itself is client centered and includes games, stories and role-playing. All therapy is individual and goals are written to meet the patient’s particular needs. Communication with school speech pathologists and teachers are also provided for continuum of services with parent consent.

Adults
Services for adults include evaluation and treatment for disorders of:

• Communication (speech, language, and voice)
• Swallowing
• Cognition (including memory and problem solving)

Medical diagnoses treated include but are not limited to:

• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Parkinson disease
• Vocal nodules
• Cancer

Contact Our Staff

If you or a family member are interested in speech therapy services, please obtain a prescription from your primary care physician. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital accepts most insurance plans, including: PPO, HMO & Public Aide. To schedule an appointment, please contact:

Gottlieb Memorial Hospital-Rehab Services
555 W. North Ave
Melrose Park, IL 60160
708-450-4942