Speech-Language Pathology

Untitled 1

Speech-Language Pathology is a field dedicated to identifying, assessing, and treating disorders related to speech-language, swallow, voice, and cognition. Our skilled professionals provide personalized care and therapeutic interventions to help individuals improve their cognitive-communication skills, increase the safety and efficiency of their swallow function, and enhance their overall quality of life.

MISSION

"Our mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with swallow, voice, and cognitive communication impairments by providing specialized and compassionate care, utilizing evidence-based practices and innovative therapies. We strive to optimize communication, swallow function, and overall well-being, empowering our patients to live fulfilling and meaningful lives."

Speech-Language Pathologists at PNI specialize in assessing and treating patients who present with swallow, voice, speech/language, and cognitive-communication impairments.
Diagnosis

Diagnosis 

A diagnosis may include:

  • Case History: Medical status, education, socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds and information from teachers and other related service providers
  • Patient and family interview
  • Review of auditory, visual, motor, and cognitive status
  • Standardized and/or non-standardized measures of specific aspects of speech, spoken and non-spoken language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing function, including observations, and analysis of work samples
  • Identification of potential for effective intervention strategies and compensations
  • Selection of standardized measures for speech, language, cognitive-communication, and/or swallowing assessment with consideration for documented ecological validity, and cultural sensitivity
  • Follow-up services to monitor communication and swallowing status and ensure appropriate intervention and support for individuals with identified speech, language, cognitive-communication, and/or swallowing disorders
Techniques
What type of patient populations do we serve?

Frequently Asked Questions

When a healthcare provider suspects the need for speech therapy they will recommend some initial screenings. The tests will help determine the underlying cause. For example, when a child has trouble communicating a healthcare provider will recommend additional testing for hearing and speech. 

Speech therapy depends on several factors, including age and the type of speech disorder. For children, it usually involves play (sequencing activities or language-based board games). For adults, it’s focused on improving or rebuilding particular skill sets.

The speech-language pathologist will customize an appropriate treatment based on your unique situation.

  • Improves self-esteem
  • Increase independence
  • Improved ability to comprehend and express ideas, thoughts and feelings
  • School readiness for children
  • Enhanced vocal quality
  • Helps with language and social skills 
  • Better swallowing function

The worldwide prevalence of swallowing impairments in people with Parkinson’s Disease ranges from 40-80%. Swallowing impairments can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, depression, aspiration pneumonia, and respiratory compromise. Severe complications may result in death.

*Cosentino, G., Avenali, M., Schindler, A., Pizzorni, N., Montomoli, C., Abbruzzese, G., Antonini, A., Barbiera, F., Benazzo, M., Benarroch, E. E., Bertino, G., Cereda, E., Clavé, P., Cortelli, P., Eleopra, R., Ferrari, C., Hamdy, S., Huckabee, M., Lopiano, L., . . . Alfonsi, E. (2021). A multinational consensus on dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease: screening, diagnosis and prognostic value. Journal of Neurology, 269(3), 1335–1352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10739-8

 

A medical SLP can help to offer strategies to increase the safety and efficiency of your swallowing. There are many ways an SLP can help:  

  1. Identify compensatory strategies to reduce aspiration risk and/or risk of material building up and sticking in your throat.
  2. Identify specific liquid consistencies or food textures to help reduce aspiration risk and/or risk of material building up and sticking in your throat.
  3. Identify exercises to help build the muscles of your mouth and throat essential for swallowing. 

Call our office or contact our Administrative Coordinator, Correna Tate for instructions on how to place a SLP referral. She can be reached at:

Meet Our Staff

Romina Huerta, SLP

Romina Huerta, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathology

Carol Park, MS, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Patholgist

Speech-Language Pathology

Correna Tate

Administrative Coordinator

Pacific Neuroscience Institute

Get In Touch

Request An Appointment

  • * All indicated fields must be completed.
    Please include non-medical questions and correspondence only.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get In Touch

Request Appointment

  • * All indicated fields must be completed.
    Please include non-medical questions and correspondence only.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

unnamed 1
Saint John Logo
unnamed 1
unnamed 2
unnamed
unnamed
unnamed 4

Accessibility Toolbar

Scroll to Top