Speech Therapy

The individual who desires to devote their life to speech therapy must take years of university education to provide clients with a wide range of services. The ST may work independently or in conjunction with Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy depending upon the patient’s needs and what the patient’s doctor orders. ST works as a dedicated team member, like PT and OT with other medical staff, the patient’s family members, resources that the patient may be in need of help. ST is devoted in assessing the patient’s needs, can diagnosis, and treat speech deficits. ST works with the patient to retrain language skills, social communications, voice fluency, chewing difficulties, cognitive deficits, and swallowing problems in both children and adults.

The initial assessment of the patient by ST starts with a screening for communication techniques. Possible swallowing disorders are assessed, and diagnosis are made. ST meets with the disciplinary team members to best figure out the patient’s management, interventions, and targeted treatment. Counseling is provided to the patient on an as needed basis. Resources are pinpointed and the patient and family are directed towards helpful resources.

Additional services are added depending on the needs of the patient such as

• Cognition
• Speech
• Language
• Communication
• Swallowing
• Voice fluency
• Sensory awareness

Reasons for Speech Therapy

Speech and swallowing disorders stem from many types of causes such as those who were victim to a stroke, brain injury, closed brain injuries, hearing loss, cleft palate, CP, stress, and developmental deficits. ST duties go far beyond speech deficits such as stuttering problems in children and adults. ST involves the matter in which a patient communicates and responds to other people. A speech therapist helps patients with impairments in language where the person has difficulty developing sentence structures and letter to sound issues known in schools as phonics and reading comprehension. ST assesses those who may have difficulties with their voice. Is the patients voice too loud, too soft, too raspy, or too shrill. The type of voice one has, can negatively affect social and professional activity.

This ST professional works with children as they are beginning to speak but language disorders are apparent. Possible language disorders could include:

• Speech sound disorders
• Apraxia of speech
• Stuttering
• Learning disabilities
• Receptive disorders

Swallowing disorders presents in children and people of all ages but generally the very young or older senior. Swallowing difficulties can be oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal issues. Feeding disorders and dysphagia occurs at any age and needs treatment approaches.

Once the ST has had time to assess the needs of the patient the multidisciplinary team makes recommendations and referrals to

• Dentists
• Nurses
• Specialist doctors
• Rehabilitation
• Psychologists
• Educators
• Nurse practitioners
• OT
• PT
• Parents or guardians

Schedule a Visit with a Speech Therapist

One of the leading hospitals in Gainesville, Texas, is North Texas Medical Center, a level four trauma center. We have to our disposal many quality selective and specialized departments leading the 21st Century in quality healthcare for those residents in Gainesville and surrounding areas. In addition to specialty departments such as pediatrics, OB/GYN, Emergency Services, and much more, we are proud to lead the way in the field of therapies. If you or a family member are in need of Speech therapy, Physical Therapy, or Occupational Therapy, access our website for more information. Give us a call today at 940-665-1751 or stop by for a visit and find out what an excellent therapy department we have, servicing our communities.