Is it ever “Too late” for speech therapy?
Answer:
While beginning speech therapy as early as possible is always recommended in order to implement the best compensatory strategies/implementing exercises using neuroplasticity, there is always hope. Whether you are an adult who has experienced a communication/speech impairment since childhood, a new Mom with a young child having difficulty with speech/feeding/swallowing or someone who is months/years post CVA; speech therapy can be effective. Speech therapy with Back 2 You SLP can help you to create an individualized and meaningful plan of care in order to improve your quality of life at ANY age.
Question:
What are some diagnoses that people tend to “wait and see” before reaching out for speech therapy services?
Answer:
Voice changes: if you have experiences vocal changes that have lasted more than 2 weeks, it is recommended that you seek a speech-language pathologist who has experience treating dysphonia.
Progressive Neurological Disorders: Parkinson’s, ALS, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Disease, Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)- The nature of these diseases/disorders is to progress at vary levels of severity. A speech-language pathologist can help to implement early routines and exercises to improve overall communication, reduce risk of aspiration with food/liquid intake and help to facilitate memory to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of hospitalization.
Swallowing Changes: A speech-language pathologist can provide you with an expansive amount of education regarding dysphagia and how to avoid aspiration and possible associated pneumonia through aspiration precautions, compensatory strategies and oral/pharyngeal swallowing exercises. Contacting your physician and requesting a referral to a speech-language pathologist could help to prevent aspiration associated pneumonia and hospitalization.
Stutter or Articulation: Many adults think it is “too late” to address a fluency or articulation disorder that has presisted since childhood. This is not the case; with dedicated time and effort an adult can improve these areas of speech.
Stroke: While most people who have suffered a CVA receive services while in the hospital and for a time in-home they often have difficulty finding continued speech therapy after their initial few weeks/months of treatment. Outpatient speech therapy is a great option for continued treatment and has been to be effective even for someone who is years post-stroke.
Question:
Where can I find speech-language pathology services in the Buffalo/Western New York Area?
Answer:
Back 2 You Speech Language Pathology provides private and individualized care in-office or virtually to the Buffalo/Western New York area. Our clinicans have extensive knowledge in the areas listed above and are happy to help YOU get back to YOU regardless of your age or how long it has been since your initial diagnosis.
Contact us today! Call: 716-202-8616 or click the button below to fill out our contact form.
