Speech-Language Pathology
If you or your loved one requires speech-language therapy to help with communication and swallowing problems, turn to the speech-language pathologists at Concord Hospital Rehabilitation Services for evaluation and treatment. They diagnose and treat speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders in adults and children. Services are available in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Common Conditions Treated with Speech-Language Pathology
- Swallowing disorders (dysphagia/difficulty swallowing)
- Language impairments (aphasia, dysarthria)
- Head and neck cancer (voice, swallowing & trismus treatment)
- Head injuries (acute & sub-acute conditions)
- Neurological diseases including stroke and Parkinson’s disease (acute & sub-acute conditions)
- Voice disorders (vocal cord paralysis, nodules/polyps & granulomas)
Treatment Programs
- Biofeedback training for improvement of swallowing function
- Recommendations for optimal diet texture and swallowing strategies to maximize swallowing safety and efficiency
- Training of caregivers in facilitating and enhancing functional communication and swallowing
- Training in strategies to maximize functional communication skills in cases where the return of normal speech and/or language skills is not a realistic goal
- Development of an exercise program to improve neuromuscular performance for more effective speech, voice or swallowing function
- Direct training and instruction to improve the quality of speech and voice, often through the use of biofeedback
Specialized Services
- Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study
- Used to identify anatomic and physiologic abnormalities. Using this information, we develop treatment strategies to improve your safety and efficiency of swallowing.
- Swallowing Therapy
- This includes neuromuscular re-education through biofeedback, therapeutic exercise, and patient/caregiver training in feeding and swallowing techniques.
- VitalStim® Therapy System
- VitalStim® is a non-invasive electrical stimulation therapy, used with traditional swallowing exercises, to treat difficulty swallowing. A speech-language pathologist certified in using the VitalStim® Therapy System performs this therapy.
