Lorian Speech-Language Pathologists, sometimes called Speech Therapists, assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing and fluency. Speech Therapists do more than help individuals speak more clearly. They work with young and old to improve the way they communicate whether it is overcoming a stutter, recovering the ability to speak following a stroke or simply achieving a better quality of speech.

Lorian Speech Therapists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly; those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language; those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders.

Lorian Speech Therapy also works with people who have swallowing difficulties. Speech, language, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including stroke, brain injury or deterioration, developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, hearing loss, or emotional problems. Problems can be congenital, developmental or acquired. Speechlanguage pathologists use special instruments and qualitative and quantitative assessment methods, including standardized tests, to analyze and diagnose the nature and extent of impairments.

Lorian Speech Therapists develop an individualized plan of care, tailored to each patient’s needs. For individuals with little or no speech capability, speech-language pathologists may select augmentative or alternative communication methods, including automated devices and sign language and teach their use. They teach patients how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills to communicate more effectively. They also teach individuals how to strengthen muscles or use compensatory strategies to swallow without choking or inhaling food or liquid.

Lorian Speech Therapists help patients develop, or recover, reliable communication and swallowing skills so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational and social roles. Lorian Speech Therapists keep records on the initial evaluation, progress and discharge of clients. This helps pinpoint problems, tracks client progress, and justifies the cost of treatment when applying for reimbursement. They counsel individuals and their families concerning communication disorders and how to cope with the stress and misunderstanding that often accompany them. They also work with family members to recognize and change behavior patterns that impede communication and treatment and show them communication enhancing techniques to use at home.