But My Speech Is Fine…
Is what most people say when they meet a speech therapist. Before we go any further, let's clear up our name, because you may have heard a few. 😂
Speech therapist.Speech pathologist.
Speech language pathologist.
If your therapist uses any of these, please know that these 3 are all interchangeable. They mean the same thing.
Now, what else does a speech therapist do...other than help your speech?
A speech therapist works with people who have trouble speaking, understanding language, focusing, remembering, or swallowing. Speech therapists who work with adults and seniors (like we do!), help people who have had strokes, brain injuries, or other illnesses or injuries that affect their ability to communicate, think, or swallow.
Our practice makes home visits to work privately with patients and their caregivers. To help people practice their speech, cognitive, and language skills -- sometimes we'll bring special tools like books or tablets. Or we'll use what you have in the house. For example- if you keep forgetting the details of your mail and miss bills, then we will practice reading mail and scanning for important details. I'll also teach you and your caregiver different strategies to help you maintain your independence.
Sometimes, a speech therapist might work with a person who has trouble using their voice. We teach exercises that help to make the voice stronger or clearer. We also help people learn to use different low tech and high tech devices that help them to communicate, like a picture board or special computer program!
Another important part of a speech therapist's job is to work with people who have trouble swallowing. This can be a serious problem because it can lead to choking or food/liquid stuck in the throat. We teach exercises or use non-invasive electrical stimulation to strengthen the muscles used for swallowing. We also teach different techniques to make swallowing easier and safer.
Overall, we're an important part of your medical team who have a goal to help older adults and senior citizens live a happy and healthy life. We make sure that your communication and swallowing problems don't get in the way of enjoying life… and staying connected with your loved ones!
Ready to start speech therapy? Reach out to us at The Wynter Wellness Group to learn more about our services and how we can help you think clearer, eat better, or speak with more ease.
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Cover photo by Alex Green:
