At ATP Therapy, LCC, we develop a treatment plan that is customized to each patient's needs. We may teach patients how to make sounds, improve their voices, increase their oral/written language skills to communicate more effectively and/or assist in the use of communication devices. We also teach swallowing strategies to improve swallow function or assist in decision making for alternative forms of nutrition. Our goal is to assist patients in developing or recovering reliable communication and swallowing sills. Whether to improve academic achievement, social confidence, or overall quality of life, we help our patients reach their maximum potential as individuals. A crucial part of successful treatment is family participation. It is important for all family members to be patient and understanding with the child or adult as well as to be active participants in home exercise programs (HEP).

Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders in adults include Aphasia and/or Cognitive Deficits, Dysarthria, Apraxia, Dysphagia and Voice Disorders. Sometimes therapy is elective such as in cases of Accent Reduction. While some cases are idiopathic (without a specified or underlying diagnosis), disorders most often result from neurological dysfunction, head and neck cancer and/or vocally abusive behaviors. Several more common neurological disorders include:

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Bell's Palsy
• Dementia
• Epilepsy
• Huntington's Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Speak with your physician/pediatrician about your concerns regarding the patient's speech and if you should see a speech language pathologist.

Please contact us with your questions and concerns or to schedule an evaluation:

Aileen Grullon-Colon, MA, CCC-SLP
954-536-1806
AileenSLP@adultstopediatrics.com

A Speech Language Pathologist or Speech Language Assistant performs our screenings. The screenings are 5-10 minutes in length and assess your child’s articulation and language skills. If any deviations from the standard norm of the child’s age are noted, a complete speech and language evaluation will be recommended to decide if your child will need Speech Therapy Services.

A Speech Language Pathologist performs our evaluations. An evaluation varies in length depending on the child but is at least 30-45 minutes in length if not longer. The evaluation typically begins with review of the patient’s case history via parent interview. Then the child will be assessed using formal standardized tests and/or informal testing (observation), where the child’s articulation, language, and oral motor function will be assessed. Swallow function is also assessed, but only when concern is reported or if abnormalities noted by clinician during oral assessment. If the child demonstrates any abnormalities in any of the areas assessed for his chronological age, Speech Therapy Services will be recommended.

Already scheduled for an evaluation? Please feel free to download and complete a case history form (PDF) in advance and have it ready to give to your therapist the day of your scheduled appointment. It will save you time and allow you to complete the form more accurately and at your own leisure. Thanks!

Early detection and intervention is essential. Professional help should be sought out as soon as you have concerns.

Many professionals agree that the most effective treatment begins early in the recovery process following Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

You should seek help if you have any of the following concerns:

• You have difficulty understanding what the adult is trying to say
• The adult has difficulty telling you what he/she wants
• The adult has difficulty understanding what people are saying
• The adult has difficulty swallowing/chewing or tolerating textured foods or liquids
• The adult has persistent harsh or breathy vocal quality for a period of several weeks or more

Speech therapy aims to improve a person's ability to communicate and/or swallow. We assist the patient in:

• The use of remaining abilities
• Restoring abilities as much as possible
• Teaching compensatory strategies for the problem indicated
• Learning other methods of communicating (e.g., Augmentative Communication Device, Sign Language)
• Home exercise programs for maintenance of goals

In patients with swallowing disorders, we will monitor signs and symptoms of aspiration. Additional radiologic or endoscopic evaluation may be recommended to further assess the swallow function. We will also assist in upgrading food restrictions through treatment exercises/techniques, food texture recommendations and swallowing strategies.

Group or individual therapy may be recommended for further evaluation by other health professionals such as an audiologist, a developmental psychologist or an otolaryngologist.