Meet the People Behind the Mission: Speech Therapy

Feb. 10, 2023

By Christina Diede

“I speak just fine; I don’t need a speech-language pathologist.”

I hear something along these lines when I talk to a new patient, especially from those who have no, or limited, previous experience with Speech Therapy. I agree, our name is kind of funny and doesn’t quite explain all the ways that we can help.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs or STs) work to prevent, diagnose, and treat swallowing, communication, and cognitive-communication problems (specifically, problems with communication that have an underlying cause in a cognitive deficit rather than a primary language or speech deficit). 

There are many reasons why you might have a swallow, communication, or cognitive-communication problem and sometimes you may have more than one!  SLPs can help. Below are some of the more common reasons you may see an SLP.  But even if you don’t see it below, you and your doctor may decide to have an SLP evaluate to determine if our services may be beneficial. 

1. Eating, drinking, and swallowing…including pills.

   • Difficulty chewing or swallowing

   • Food remaining in the mouth after swallowing

   • Coughing or clearing the throat during or after swallowing

   • Feeling that something's stuck in the throat

   • Unintended weight loss

   • Aspiration pneumonia or frequent chest congestion

   • Radiation treatment or surgery to the mouth and neck area

   • Diagnosis of conditions like ALS, Dementia, Stroke or Parkinson's Disease

2. Communication (speech, language, voice)

   • Decline in ability to understand or produce speech

   • Trouble reading or writing

   • Difficulty being understood by others

   • Change in voice quality or loudness of speech

   • Poor stamina for holding a conversation

   • Radiation treatment or surgery to the mouth and neck area

   • Diagnosis of conditions like ALS, Dementia, Stroke or Parkinson's Disease

3. Memory and other thinking skills

   • Change in memory that is bothersome or concerning

   • Misunderstanding or losing track of conversation

   • Trouble with managing schedule, finances, medication, etc.

   • Difficulty learning new information or procedures

   • Trouble understanding time, money, or other abstract concepts

   • Impulsiveness that impairs safety

   • Diagnosis of condition such as Dementia, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis

Some problems start in childhood. Others happen after an illness or injury. Common diagnoses and conditions that SLPs provide assessment and treatment for include:

1. Strokes

2. Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS

3. Pneumonia, COPD

4. Dementia

5. Brain Injury

6. Oral, Head and Neck Cancer

7. Falls

8. Dysphagia (Swallowing problems)

After an illness or injury, a person may require an in-patient hospitalization and rehabilitation stay to regain strength and safety. During this time, they often learn how to adapt to changes or modify their lifestyle before they return home. After a person returns home, Home Health Care services step up to the plate! And that may include SLP services as well.

As a practicing SLP for almost 20 years, I’ve experienced multiple healthcare settings. Without a doubt, the Home Health Care environment has been the most rewarding. I attribute that to working with patients in their home environments. I can see “real-life” obstacles, barriers, and needs. We work together to create an individualized plan of care to help them achieve their goals. Additionally, Home Health Care can bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs, providing a continuation of services.

If you are noticing any changes with your swallow, communication, or cognitive function, please reach out to your physician. You may be surprised how a Speech-Language Pathologist can make your life better!

Take our free online assessment to learn if home health care might be right for you or a loved one. To learn more about home health care with Ethos call (701)809-9319 or fill out a form for more information.