Speech Therapy

Struggling with language or swallowing issues can be tremendously frustrating, but help in the form of speech therapy is available from Hands of Hope in Boca Raton, Florida. The experienced team can create a personalized care plan to improve your or a loved one’s ability to communicate, eat and drink safely, and adapt. Don’t suffer in silence when the tools you need are close at hand. Call the Hands of Hope office or contact the team online today.

What can speech therapy help with?

Despite what many think, speech therapy goes beyond the ability to talk clearly. Speech therapists address many conditions that can get in the way of essential skills, such as:

• Aphasia — communication difficulties
• Dementia — struggling with memory or cognition
• Dysarthria — trouble speaking clearly enough to be understood
• Dysphagia — difficulty swallowing
• Dysphonia and aphonia — voice disorders

These conditions can result from other chronic ailments. For example, someone may experience slurred speech because of Parkinson’s disease, a stroke, or multiple sclerosis (MS).

Who may need speech therapy?

Many people assume that communication issues are an inevitable part of aging, but addressing these issues can make their lives significantly better. Talk to your physician about speech therapy if you have noticed you or a loved one are:

• Talking more slowly or putting words in the wrong order
• Having trouble swallowing
• Coughing while eating (often accompanied by the sensation that something is lodged in the throat or chest)
• Having a hard time explaining feelings or answering questions
• Worrying about communicating in an emergency
• Getting frustrated by communication challenges
• Talking with a hoarser or raspier voice than usual

If it’s becoming hard to pay attention or solve problems, a speech therapist can help get to the bottom of what’s going on.

What does speech therapy at home look like?

Your speech therapist will start the process with a thorough assessment to get to know you and evaluate your condition. As much as possible, they discuss your medical history, goals, symptoms, and abilities.

They test your current abilities with specific tasks and ask questions to paint a complete picture of where you are starting so they can create a plan of action. Don’t worry if you struggle; the purpose of this testing is to gather accurate information.

They give you tools and exercises to do to improve your capabilities and follow up to ensure effective care.

After your first visit, they’ll discuss any changes you have experienced since they last saw you and update your treatment plan as needed. Your speech therapist will also update your home health team on your progress so you get the best possible care from all your providers.

Learn more about how speech therapy can benefit you or a loved one by calling the Hands of Hope office or connecting online today.