Speech therapy is an intervention service that focuses on improving speech and abilities to understand and express language, including nonverbal language. Speech therapists, or speech and language pathologists (SLPs), are the professionals who provide these services. Our highly trained specialists work with children and adults, both an in-patient and out-patient setting.
Speech therapy specializes in treating patients who are recovering from a number of issues such as:
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury (including concussions)
- Neurogenic disorder
- Neurological disease (i.e. Parkinson’s, MS, etc.)
- Birth defect
- Developmental disorder
- Motor movement disorder
- Process of aging
The goal of Speech Therapy is to facilitate the patient to regain the highest level of independent function. Each patient’s treatment begins with an evaluation and customized comprehensive plan of treatment by our Speech Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist.
Some common skills our Speech Therapy patients may be working on include:
- Expressive and receptive communication
- Cognition
- Memory problems
- Articulation
- Swallowing issues (Dysphagia)
- Voice quality and strength
Our highly trained staff utilizes a variety of tools to assist patients in their rehabilitation journey. The following tools are often used to help patients regain the highest level of function:
- LSVT (Less Silverman Voice Training)
- Vital STIM Therapy (electro stim therapy used to address muscle weakness of the oral/pharyngeal muscles for speaking/articulation, eating, and drinking).
- XRAY Swallow Studies (X-ray study performed to assess the swallowing process of an individual).
We take an integrative approach to care, allowing you to receive multiple therapies and additional services all at one time. As a patient, you have a choice where you receive therapy. Please ask your physician for a referral.
JoAnn Cahill, SLP
JoAnn Cahill, SLPJoAnn has been practicing speech therapy for 20 years and has a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She treats across the entire life span and sees newborn patients to those over 100 years old. She is trained in LSVT BIG which helps train people with Parkinson’s disease, and she’s trained in VitalStim therapy which helps with swallowing. She treats people with impairments in the following areas: language, cognition, speech, and swallowing.
Lindsay Hunt, SLP
Lindsay Hunt, SLPLindsay is a speech-language pathologist with a focus on pediatrics. She services a broad range of developmental needs in the areas of feeding and eating, communication, social function, and cognition. She received her bachelor of science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Dianne Litursky, SLP
Dianne Litursky, SLPDianne works part-time at MMC in both outpatient and inpatient capacities. Her outpatients consist of children and adults with various disorder types. One of her specialty areas is working with patients who are in need of alternative methods of communication and who are not able to verbally communicate effectively. She brings her speech/language pathology experience to MMC from working as a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist for 34 years and also in various skilled nursing facilities.
