Adult Services

In order to speak the brain must send messages to the mouth. The muscles of the mouth are told what to do by the brain. The brain gives direction on when and how the muscles should move to create sounds. When this process is interrupted, the messages do not go to the brain correctly, this is known as apraxia. The sounds may be distorted due to the lips and/or tongue not being able to move in the correct way in order to produce sounds. This can also  cause inability to speak at all. Apraxia can present at different levels of severity depending on the level of brain damage that has occurred. Apraxia is a motor speech disorder caused by brain damage that can present independently or alongside other speech (see dysarthria) and language disorders (see aphasia). Our SLP's first assesses, then works with you to improve the way you say sounds, in words in order to create higher intelligibility in your speech. Other options may also be available in order to communicate (see augmentative and alternative communication). 

We need our articulators to talk. These include our face, lips, tongue, throat and muscles required for breathing. When any of the muscles are weakened due to brain damage it changes one's ability to communicate. Dysarthria is known as a motor speech disorder that can present independently or alongside other speech (see apraxia) and language disorders (see aphasia). If any of these signs are present please see a doctor right away to get an underlying cause of why these symptoms are occurring. Our SLP's can then test your speech and decide if you have dysarthria. An individualized therapy plan will be created to help aid in intelligible communication. 

Stuttering can be defined when speech is disrupted by disfluencies. Disfluencies can range in appearance from repeating part or whole words (repetitions), stretching a sound out for a long time (prolongations) or trouble getting a word to come out (blocks). Another big part of stuttering is the emotional tension and negative feelings towards communication. This may cause people to avoid certain situations due to their disfluencies. Secondary behaviors can also accompany stuttering such as head nods or eye blinking. These behaviors may also be used as an avoidance technique. Our SLP can assess and treat stuttering and also work on feelings one may have about their disfluencies. 

Aphasia is a deficit in language abilities resulting from damage to the brain. Aphasia is an acquired language disorder most often caused by stroke, however any brain damage may lead to aphasia. The brain is composed of two halves. The left side of the brain houses language skills. When damage occurs to the left side of the brain, aphasia may follow. Aphasia presents in a number of different ways. It can cause decreased ability or cause inability to understand, speak, read and/or write.