speech therapy

opening the door to better communication, swallowing, & cognitive functions

While speech-language pathologists are best known for their work with children, their expertise can help adults preserve their quality of life.  The effects of aging, disease, or surgery can cause muscle or neurological weakness that can hamper your ability to communicate, think clearly, or swallow.

Through assessment, treatment and education, Rome Memorial Hospital’s experienced speech-language pathologists can help you or a loved one open the door to better speech, cognitive and swallowing functions. 

speech & voice

Clear speech requires the coordination of the lips, tongue, voice box, and lungs.  If any of these structures are weakened, your speech may become difficult to understand. 

For example, if the tongue, lips, or voice box are weakened by a stroke, there’s a decline in articulation and speech will sound slurred.  Decline in the ability to communicate normally can also occur with changes in vocal quality, such as hoarseness, decreased volume, pitch changes, and loss of voice.

Speech-language pathologists work with you to understand, compensate for and improve your speech and/or voice to enhance your ability to communicate.

cognition & communication

A decline in the ability to process information can also make it difficult for you to express yourself, be understood and understand others.  Cognition refers to the way we think, how we learn, and how we remember.  Dementia, stroke, and other illnesses can impact important cognitive skills, such as concentration, memory, language, problem-solving, and reasoning.  A decline in cognitive skills can limit or prevent effective communication.

Some common signs that there’s been a decline in the ability to communicate include:

o     Difficulty with word recall

o     Substitution of words, sometimes with non-words

o     Difficulty understanding & following instructions

o     Increased repetition of words

o     Confusion

Speech-language pathologists help you strengthen your cognitive skills, while providing adaptive tools to break through the communication barriers and reduce frustration.

swallowing problems

Swallowing is one of those things that we take for granted until there’s a problem. Aging, stroke, brain injury, surgery, neurological disease, or injury to the throat can weaken the structures that allow us to swallow effectively.

Swallowing problems can significantly impact a person’s health and quality of life. If food or liquid slips into the airway, you can develop pneumonia.  Just the effort spent on coughing can deplete your energy.  Often, if you’re having difficulty swallowing, you may eat and/or drink less, possibly resulting in dehydration and malnutrition. 

Some of the signs that may indicate a swallowing disorder include:

o     coughing or throat clearing while eating or drinking

o     runny nose, sneezing, & watery eyes

o     excess secretions in the mouth

o     chest congestion

Videofluorscopy swallow studies, conducted in the hospital’s Medical Imaging Department, provide diagnostic information to help assess swallow function.

Speech-language pathologists provide assessments, therapy and recommendations for diet/liquid consistency changes, swallow precautions, exercise programs and education to prevent aspiration, dehydration, and weight loss.

contact us

Rome Memorial Hospital’s speech-language pathologists are integrated members of our healthcare team.  Their expertise is available for hospitalized patients in our acute care units, residents of the skilled nursing facility, as well as adults who need outpatient speech therapy services.

Many insurance plans cover speech therapy services with a physician’s referral.  Preauthorization may be required by your insurance plan.

For more information, please call 338 - 7154. Appointments for outpatient

videofluoroscopy swallow studies may be made by calling our scheduling office at 338 - 7338.