Douglas County Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient speech and swallowing services from licensed and certified speech-language pathologists. Speech-language pathologists work with individuals across the lifespan, from birth through adulthood. Individuals may need speech therapy for a variety of reasons, including:
Below is a list of some of the many deficit areas that a speech-language pathologist may be able to help with:
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Articulation (speech) disorders (e.g., difficulty with the correct pronunciation of sounds)
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Language disorders (e.g., difficulty understanding or expressing language)
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Cognitive deficits (e.g., difficulty with attention, memory, problem-solving, or reasoning)
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Swallowing difficulties (e.g., difficulty chewing or swallowing food and/or liquids)
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Fluency disorders (e.g., stuttering or cluttering)
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Voice disorders (e.g., chronic hoarseness, loss of voice, laryngectomy)
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Autism (e.g., addressing socials skills and appropriate use of eye contact)
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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (e.g., communication devices for those who can't speak on their own)
- Feeding Difficulties (e.g., failure to thrive, poor weight gain, pocketing)
These lists do not encompass all reasons for speech therapy or all services that can be provided by a speech-language pathologist, but do provide an idea of why and when speech therapy may be appropriate.
To initiate services, we require a physician's order. Please contact your physician, and they will make the referral to us.
Specific Programs offered through our Speech Therapy Department include:
For more information about services offered through our Speech Therapy Department, or to inquire about making an appointment, please call us at (320)762-6079. |