What is Speech and Swallowing Therapy?

• Articulation
• Language
• Voice
• Fluency
• Swallowing

People from every generation and walk of life can have difficulty in any of these categories.

Articulation is the problem of producing sounds, syllables, or words incorrectly to the point that the speaker is misunderstood. Articulation often produces sound errors that make it difficult to communicate.

Language deals with developmental delays, typically in children. One type of developmental delay is a child who does not make the correlation between saying "I" when referring to himself at an appropriate age; this child would continue saying something like, "Me want a drink," instead of "I want a drink."

Voice refers to the pitch, loudness and quality of one's speech. Swelling of the voicebox, small growths that develop on the voicebox or vocal cord misuse are examples of problems.

Fluency refers to stuttering, a condition in which the flow of speech is broken by abnormal stoppages, repetitions, or prolongation of sounds and syllables. Stuttering can be treated in both adults and children through a variety of approaches.

Swallowing disorders can be found in infants that are unable to suck or in people of any age who suffer from neurological problems.

Speech-language pathologists are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development and its disorders.

Speech and swallowing therapies are available to outpatients and inpatients and home-bound persons at Davis Memorial Hospital, Broaddus Hospital, and Davis HomeCare.

For more information about speech pathology services call (304) 637-3250. To schedule an appointment, call central scheduling at (304) 637-3185 or any of the above organizations.