Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists provide the evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders. Speech therapy can be beneficial to individuals of all ages to improve an individual’s quality of life. The Bellevue Medical Center offers speech therapy through The Laboratory of Speech and Language Disorders.  You can be seen by a speech-language pathologist while you are hospitalized at the Bellevue Medical Center or on an outpatient basis.  Radiographic swallowing studies can be performed on site as well.

Speech and Language Disorders Include:

• Stuttering: The most common recognized speech problem, although no knows exactly what causes it.
• Communication Enhancement: Improving everyday communication skills, such as pitch, projection, accent and nonverbal communication
• Articulation Disorders: Difficulties making sounds correctly.  Like stuttering, these problems often begin in childhood and become life-long challenges.  They may occur late in life as a result of stroke, injury or illness.
• Language Disorders:  Including difficulty making sense of the environment, comprehending spoken language or communicating thoughts, feelings or experiences.
• Aphasia:  A language disorder caused by stroke, drug use, brain injury or illness.  A person with aphasia may be truly at a loss for words- unable to say even his or her own name.
• Voice Disorders:  Apparent when people speak too high or too low, or when the quality of voice is affected. ( such as having a hoarse, breathy, or nasal voice).
• Cognitive Communication Disorders:  Common in adults after head injury or stroke. These disorders make it difficult to think clearly, remember or problem solve.
• Swallowing Disorders:  Known as dysphagia. This usually occurs as a result of illness, surgery, stroke or injury.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Offering new possibilities for people who cannot speak.  Technology offers an array of options, including voice synthesizing computer and communication boards.
• Pediatric Speech and Swallowing Disorders:  Swallowing disorders that occur with infants and children secondary to premature birth syndrome or injury.

The Laboratory of Speech and Language Disorders is a certified provider for the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Program and VitalStim Therapy.  The speech-language pathologists are also members of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology.

For more information on the speech therapy services offered at the Bellevue Medical Center or to schedule an appointment please contact us at 402-763-3740 or fax us at 402-763-3196.