Speech-Language Pathology

We strive to provide quality evaluation and rehabilitation of deficits pertaining to communication, cognition and swallowing for all ages. Our areas of expertise span premature infants through end-of-life care. We work in all inpatient units at Denver Health, and we serve our outpatients in the Rehabilitation Clinic.

A speech-language pathologist evaluates patients to determine the cause of various speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders affecting all ages. Depending on the cause of the problem, therapy is executed to improve deficits. Speech language pathologists obtain a master’s degree to practice and they are required to pass a national certification examination for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Society.

 

 

Conditions and Treatments

Communication Disorders affecting Adults

  • Aphasia – language loss after stroke or other neurologic insult 
  • Laryngectomy – electrolarynx training, pre-surgical counseling and communication restoration, including tracheoesophageal prosthesis
  • Voice disorders –  Lee Silverman Voice Therapy™
  • Communication problems associated with head injury (cognitive-linguistic intervention)
  • Motor speech disorders (apraxia, dysarthria)
  • Pre and post-surgical testing for patients undergoing surgery for chronic seizure activity

Cognitive Disorders Affecting Adults and Children Resulting from Brain Injuries

  • Attention
  • Memory
  • Executive functions 

 

Communication Disorders Affecting Children

  • Articulation disorders
  • Phonological processing disorders
  • Communication problems associated with autism
  • Stuttering
  • Communication disorders related to hearing loss
  • Language delay
  • Expressive and receptive language disorders
  • Auditory processing disorders
  • Articulation and feeding disorders related to cleft lip and palate
  • Reading disorders
  • Pediatric dysphagia and feeding disorders 

 

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia – Difficulties Swallowing In Adults And Feeding Therapy With Infants

  • Clinical swallow evaluation
  • Fluoroscopic swallow evaluation (modified barium swallow study)
  • Preventative swallow program for patients afflicted with cancer in the head and neck region
  • Pediatric dysphagia
  • Swallowing difficulty

 

Other Conditions and Treatments

  • Mild cognitive disorders
  • Loss of voice
  • Motor speech disorders
  • Transgender voice therapy
  • NMES - Vital Stim Therapy
  • Return to work or school