Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy

Speech therapists (also known as speech-language pathologists) evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with a wide variety of conditions that affect oral motor skills, swallowing, and speech and language abilities. Lehigh Regional Medical Center's speech therapists work closely with neurologists, ENT ( ear, nose and throat) doctors and other specialists to thoroughly evaluate patients and treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Cognitive communication disorders, including memory and problem-solving difficulties
• Language disorders, such as aphasia
• Lisping or stuttering
• Motor speech disorders, including dysarthria and apraxia
• Speech conditions resulting from Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
• Swallowing disorders, such as dysphagia
• Voice disorders, including dysphonia

Speech and swallowing therapy treatments

Lehigh Regional Medical Center's speech therapists provide education, support and treatment strategies to improve communication and swallowing, utilizing a range of treatment options such as:

• Cognitive retraining, following stroke or other neurological impairment
• Customized exercises designed to strengthen muscles used in speaking or swallowing
• Electrical stimulation, such as VitalStim therapy, to improve swallowing ability by retraining motor nerves in the throat
• Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), to improve communication and quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's disease
• Nutrition or diet modifications
• Recommendations and training for communication devices

Our speech therapists provide customized treatment plans to address each patient’s unique challenges, and offer valuable information and encouragement to support each individual’s goals.