Better Communication, Happier Life
In the chaos of day-to-day, it’s easy for us to take life’s most basic things for granted. For most of us, we don’t need to worry about our ability to safely swallow food or easily communicate with our peers, but many people do require some additional help to complete these basic skills. Jenna Patterson, Speech Therapist at Culbertson Memorial Hospital provides us with some helpful insight to the profession and how you or a loved one may benefit from Speech Therapy.
What is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy, or speech pathology, provides a variety of services to individuals ranging from infant to geriatric. Speech therapists can treat disorders of speech, language, cognition, and swallowing.
Who can benefit from speech pathology?
Both pediatric and adult patients can benefit from speech therapy. Patients could receive treatment for a variety of issues including, but not limited to:
- Speech articulation
- Language delays
- Stuttering
- Voice disorders
- Feeding or swallowing difficulties
- Difficulty controlling muscle movement for speech
- Cleft or lip palate complications
How does speech pathology services work at Culbertson?
At Culbertson Memorial Hospital, Jenna works with inpatients, swing patients, and outpatients to help create an individualized plan to work on their conditions. She specializes in:
- Outpatient and inpatient therapy
- Pediatric speech and language disorders
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Motor-Based Speech Disorders
- Cognitive-Communication Disorders
- Dysphagia (swallowing disorders)
- Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Studies (VOSS or MBS)
- Aphasia
- Voice and Fluency Disorders
Typical appointments are one-on-one in an interactive and fun environment to make the space feel as natural and safe as possible. Most treatment plans can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months with each session lasting from 30 minutes to one hour.
What can I expect from my speech therapy appointment at Culbertson?
During your first appointment, you can expect an evaluation that includes getting to know you and establishing how speech therapy could benefit you. Then, there may be paperwork to fill out, some preliminary questions, and possibly a standardized language/swallowing assessment if necessary.
Most importantly, Jenna Patterson will work to make your experience fun, enjoyable, and comfortable to help you reach your short- or long-term goals together.
Where can I learn more about speech pathology at Culbertson Memorial Hospital?
The goal of therapy services at Culbertson is to help each patient achieve their full, functional potential. Our caring, compassionate staff work tirelessly to help you achieve your goals by performing an initial evaluation that will help determine the necessary treatment plan for you or your loved one.
To qualify for therapy services, you need to have a current prescription from a licensed medical provider and be aware of what therapy coverage your health insurance offers.
To learn more about therapy services, visit us online or contact us today!