Speech Therapy is:
• The evaluation and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders by a licensed speech-language pathologist
• The facilitation of the development of speech and language skills.
• Education on all speech, language, and swallowing disorders as well as normal speech, language, and swallowing functions.

Common Disorders
There are many causes of speech, language, and swallowing disorders. These may include Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders, head injuries, stroke, vocal abuse or misuse, and cleft palate or other physical impairments. At times, the cause of a disorder may remain unknown. Some of the most common speech and language disorders include:

Aphasia - The loss or reduction of expressive or receptive speech and language abilities, spoken or written.
Language Delay - Slowness in the development of vocabulary and grammar required to express and understand thoughts and ideas. This may be in combination with slow development in other areas, or it may be a specific language delay.
Stuttering - A dysfluency in the production of speech. This may include sound, syllable, or word repetitions, pauses, and sound prolongations.
Articulation disorders - The omission of a sound or the replacement of a sound with another.
Dysarthria - Speech disorders which result in weakness, abnormal tone, or abnormal reflexes which reduce speech intelligibility.
Apraxia - Difficulty in learning and or executing the movements for speech production.
Voice Disorders - These include a change in vocal quality (hoarse, breathy, nasal), and inappropriate pitch or loudness.

• A person's speech is difficult to understand
• Difficulty comprehending what others say
• Feelings of concern about your voice or speech
• Avoiding situations where communication is necessary
• Reduced or lack of talking
• Stuttering
• Decreased vocalization (such as cooing and babbling in infants)
• Deficits in reading readiness (in children)
• Pain when swallowing
• Frequent coughing or clearing of the throat during or after a meal
• Making modifications in diet to accommodate changes in swallowing or chewing abilities

Communication skills are integral to a child’s social and academic success. Speech therapy may provide your child with the tools necessary to build those skills. PTSC has a team of highly trained speech therapists who are experienced in working with children of all ages. Our therapists routinely spend time at area schools evaluating and treating students, and are available for appointments at all three PTSC locations. If you think your child could benefit from speech therapy, please call your family physician or contact PTSC today.

Treatment
• Speech therapists may work with a child individually or in a language-emersion group to develop appropriate vocabulary, grammar skills and articulation.
• Speech therapists may work with parents and guardians of children with speech needs to teach them to facilitate the child’s progress.
• Speech therapists work with children who have swallowing disorders.

Individuals who have suffered a stroke, head injury, throat injury or who have undergone surgery of the soft palate, or who endure an illness such as Parkinson’s disease or encephalitis, often notice difficulty with previously unaffected communication skills such as speaking, comprehending and swallowing. Speech therapists at PTSC successfully help adult patients regain lost functions.

Treatment
• Speech therapists train patients to change their speech pattern to decrease or eliminate dysfluencies
• Speech therapists help patients with dysarthria achieve increased intelligibility by strengthening their respiratory system and oral motor movements
• Speech therapists help patients with apraxia increase oral motor control
• Speech therapists train patients with swallowing problems to alter their posture in order to increase swallowing efficiency and safety
• Speech therapists work with patients’ family members to help them learn to cope with the patients’ speech insufficiencies.

The PTSC Everyday Language Training Program (ELTP) helps adults develop the communication and language skills required to complete daily living tasks as independently as possible. This program includes both individual and group therapy sessions and is designed to not only develop and improve functional levels but also to teach methods to manage lost abilities. The program addresses functional skills such as:
• paying bills
• communicating in distracting areas
• managing menu selections
• comprehending passages read from books/magazines
• cooking
• remembering appointments

Individuals in the program may have both one-on-one sessions as well as a group session. Individual sessions will focus directly on improving skills and designing management techniques to complete tasks independently. The group session will utilize these skills in simulated everyday situations such as:
• shopping at the grocery store
• correcting billing errors
• participating in a conversation in a large crowd or at a restaurant

What to do if You Suspect You Have an Everyday Language Deficit
Please read the following list. If you answer "Yes" to three or more items, you may have an Everyday Language Deficit. Please consult with your physician. If he prescribes speech therapy, contact PTSC today.

• I am no longer able to pay attention to a conversation in a loud area.
• I am no longer able to attend to all the tasks necessary to pay my bills.
• I can no longer address problems that need to be resolved over the telephone because I become confused.
• I can no longer read my favorite newspaper or magazine because I forget what I read or lose track of where I am.
• I have difficulty managing the choices on a large menu and frequently order the same item to avoid the situation.
• I have trouble writing a check when making a purchase.
• I have trouble counting my money to make a purchase.
• I avoid situations where I will need to talk with others because I have trouble finding my words.
• I am no longer able to find needed information such as a phone number or business in the yellow pages.
• I have trouble recalling appointments and important dates and am unable to maintain my calendar.
• I have trouble remembering what I need at the store even when I attempt to use a list.

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