Treating Speech Disorders

Speech Therapy

Speech language pathologists at Palmdale Regional Medical Center’s Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute provide evaluations and speech therapy for a variety of communication and swallowing disorders. We create and implement an individualized treatment plan for each patient that focuses on re-establishing functional and reliable communication. Patients with swallowing disorders are seen for a comprehensive evaluation. This may include a video fluorographic swallowing study to achieve safe swallowing, followed by swallowing treatment and diet modification, as needed. Treatment goals may also address specific deficits through a variety of treatment techniques.

Speech therapy can benefit people with acquired difficulty in speech, language, memory, cognition and swallowing secondary to:

  • Stroke (CVA)
  • Brain tumor
  • Neurological conditions
  • Neuromuscular disease
  • Head and neck surgery

Speech Disorders We Treat

Specific disorders treated include:

  • Aphasia
  • Apraxia
  • Dysarthria
  • Dysphagia
  • Voice disorders
  • Laryngectomy
  • Glossectomy

Speech Therapy Treatments We Provide

Treatment may include:

  • Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)/speech-generating device (SGD) evaluation and treatment
  • Aphasia therapy – Difficulty with receptive language (listening and reading) and difficulty with expressive language (speaking and writing)
  • Dysarthria therapy (speech production)
  • Preoperative counseling and postoperative treatment
  • Voice therapy
  • Stuttering therapy
  • Cognitive therapy (memory, problem solving, reasoning, attention, executive functions)
  • Clinical swallow assessment
  • Modified barium swallow studies
  • Dysphagia therapy (difficulty swallowing)
  • Patient/family education

Our Specialty Treatments

  • VitalStim: The use of electrical stimulation to retrain the muscles needed to complete the swallowing process.
  • LSVT LOUD: The first speech treatment with level 1 evidence and established efficacy for treating voice and speech disorders in people with Parkinson’s disease with application to other neurological disorders.

Speech Therapy Program Goals

  • Restore functional cognitive and communication skills
  • Promote safe oral feeding and swallowing
  • Educate patients and their families on compensatory strategies and home programs

Get a Physician Referral

If you need a referral to a physician at Palmdale Regional Medical Center, call our free physician referral service at 1-800-851-9780.