Adult Speech-Language Pathology

• speaking
• listening
• reading
• thinking
• swallowing
• writing

What causes speech, language, or swallowing problems?

• stroke
• head injury
• diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic sclerosis (ALS)
• breathing problems
• head and neck cancer
• vocal abuse (using the voice in the wrong way)
• severe or long-term illness

What types of disorders do SLPs treat?

• Aphasia – problems speaking, understanding, reading, writing, or using numbers due to stroke or brain injury
• Apraxia – problems controlling mouth muscles to speak clearly
• Cognitive-communication disorders – problems with memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and attention
• Dysarthria – weakness or tightness in speech muscles that cause slurred or very quiet speech that may be hard to understand
• Voice disorders – changes in how a person’s voice sounds
• Higher or lower pitch
• Hoarseness
• Too soft or too laud
• Unable to make sound
• Swallowing(Dysphagia)–problems chewing or swallowing that can lead to
• dehydration
• malnutrition
• food or liquid going into the airway, called aspiration
• frequent pneumonia or respiratory infections
• less enjoyment of eating
• embarrassment when eating because of drooling or other problems
• the need for tube feeding or other ways to get nutrition

Will speech-language pathology services help?

• 84% of people with a speech disorder (dysarthria or apraxia) made progress in the hospital or in rehab.
• 81% of people with language problems after a stroke make improvements with outpatient services.
• Over half of people in the hospital no longer needed a feeding tube after receiving swallowing treatment from an SLP.