Our speech therapy services are located within the main campus of York Hospital as well as our Wells location. Adult outpatient speech therapy is available to all patients ages 18 and up as ordered by providers. Our therapists have certifications and specialty training in VitalStim NMES, kinesiotaping for dysphagia, Langmore FEES training, and MBS. Learn about the treatments we offer below.
Dysphagia evaluation and treatment
We treat the swallowing function related to conditions including but not limited to aging, stroke, neurodegenerative disease, chronic pulmonary compromise, brain injury, chronic disease state, dementia, and post-radiation therapy. Pre-radiation consultation is available for head/neck cancer patients to establish baseline swallowing skills and to provide prophylactic therapy exercises and dysphagia counseling during treatment. Our treatments include:
- Modified barium swallow studies (videofluoroscopy): 30-60 minutes in radiology. Dynamic x-ray of the swallowing process during consumption of barium-impregnated liquids/solids. Available to ages 18+, or at the discretion of the speech department. Performed by a speech pathologist with the radiologist in attendance.
- Clinical swallow evaluation: 60-minute office visit to evaluate the patient’s swallowing status, related to challenges with the consumption of foods and beverages for maintenance of nutritional status and pleasure.
- Dysphagia therapy: 50-60 minute sessions to address the patient’s swallowing concerns and disorders identified via objective dysphagia evaluation, such as a modified barium swallow study (MBS) or a fiberoptic endoscopic swallow study (FEES). Can include diet texture modifications, exercises, and adjunctive modalities, such as neuromuscular electrical stimulation and kinesiotaping.
- FEES: Fiberoptic endoscopic swallow studies (FEES) are an endoscopic evaluation of swallowing protocol/procedures currently in development that are anticipated to be offered to patients in 2025.
Voice evaluation and treatment
We treat alterations to the voice occurring with but not limited to aging, vocal cord paralysis, vocal abuse/misuse, and vocal pathologies. An ENT consult/laryngoscopy is required prior to speech pathologist assessment.
Language evaluation and treatment
We treat impaired receptive and expressive language, as well as impairments for reading and written language skills that occur with but are not limited to brain injury and pathologies, stroke, and degenerative diseases, including dementias.
Motor speech evaluation and treatment
We treat dysarthria and acquired apraxia due to conditions including but not limited to TBI, stroke, degenerative diseases, and brain pathology.
Cognitive-communication evaluation and treatment
We treat cognitive impairments such as attention, memory, executive functions, and organizational skills. We also help with impairments for receptive and expressive language, reading, and writing as impacted by cognitive domains for activities of daily living, learning, and academic and vocational performance. Cognitive-linguistic impairments may occur with but are not limited to brain injury or tumor, stroke, anoxia, and degenerative diseases, including dementias.
Cognitive-language maintenance skills group
This is a self-pay group provided in six-week sessions of 60-minute meetings, offered four times a year, for patients who’ve been evaluated and treated by one of our speech pathologists who’s recommended them for this program. It’s intended for social connectivity and maintenance of cognitive and language skills achieved in individual sessions. This is not billable to insurance. Patients must register in advance for each six-week session.
Augmentative and alternative communication
We provide basic assessment and treatment of viability for external communication devices/supports for patients with extremely challenged verbal communication, including non-verbal state. For advanced technology, a patient may be referred or a speech language pathologist may consult with outside providers.