Problems with speech and language after an acquired brain injury are one of the more obvious signs of trauma.
Speech language therapy at Pate focuses on helping patients who are struggling with:
- Not finding the right word
- Unintelligible speech (slurring, volume, etc)
- Not processing conversations
- Inability to organize thoughts or focus
- Losing train of thought
- Following rules of social conversations (dominating, interrupting)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Pate's expert speech and language therapists are part of a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to helping patients reach the highest level of function possible.
Speech language therapy may include:
- Assistive technologies
- Coaching family in how to communicate
- Improving speech, language, swallowing skills
- Problem solving
- Strengthening existing skills
- Working with specific patient goals
- Compensation for deficits
- Increasing deficit awareness
- Recognizing cues
- Social communications
- Multi-tasking during speech
- Physical exercises for speech production
- Introducing alternate communication (hand gestures, writing)
- Reading and writing skills
- Simulating work scenarios
