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Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-Language Pathologists provide evaluation and treatment for the following problems:

• Communication and cognitive problems after a stroke or brain injury
• Dysarthria - a speech disorder where speech may be difficult to understand due to weakness or incoordination of the muscles of the respiratory system, voice, mouth and/or face. Dysarthria is caused by damage at or before birth, or later on due to tumors, strokes, head injuries, neurological diseases or other nervous system damage.
• Apraxia (also referred to as apraxia of speech, verbal apraxia or dyspraxia) - a motor speech disorder caused by damage to the parts of the nervous system related to speaking. It is characterized by problems sequencing the sounds in syllables and words. People with apraxia know what words they want to say, but their brains have difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words, and they may say something completely different, even nonsensical.
• Aphasia - a disorder that results from damage to language centers of the brain. As a result, people with aphasia suffer from limitation in the ability to process language. This can include difficulty with understanding, reading, speaking, writing and sometimes math. Recognizing objects/pictures and sounds (agnosia) may also be difficult, depending on the location of the brain damage.
• Voice disorders such as hoarseness, vocal nodules, reflux laryngitis and paralyzed vocal cords - A voice disorder can occur when there is a change in the way the larynx (voice box) functions, resulting in difficulty producing a normal voice. Causes can be overuse or misuse of the voice, infections or inflammatory processes, benign or malignant growths, neuromuscular diseases and/or psychological issues.
• Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) - a laryngeal disorder causing the vocal folds to close when they should open, such as when breathing in or out. PVFM can be mistaken for asthma as it leads to noisy breathing and difficulty breathing. PVFM can co-occur with asthma, possibly as much as 50 percent of the time. Several “triggers” have been identified, which include but are no limited to, stomach acid, allergies, post nasal drip and stress.
• Communication problems after surgical procedures, such as removal of the larynx or cancers of head/neck
• Swallowing difficulties (see Dysphagia for more information)
• Stuttering

The following specialized services also are offered:

• Head and neck cancer rehabilitation
• Language Care Center:  State-of-the-art technology to treat communication problems after a stroke or brain injury.
• Swallow studies:
  • X-rays done with a radiologist to diagnose and treat swallowing disorders.
  • Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
• Videostroboscopy: state-of-the-art technology to view vocal cords
• LSVT Loud: intensive therapeutic program for patients with Parkinson's Disease or other neurological conditions.
• VitalStim® therapy: a specialized form of neuromuscular electrical stimulation designed to treat dysphagia through muscle re-education.

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
800 E. 28th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-4200 or toll free 866-880-3550

First published: 01/01/2004
Last updated: 07/20/2009

Reviewed by: Jane Chandler, speech-language pathologist