Saint Peter’s speech and language therapists use motivating activities designed to encourage patients to participate and learn new and necessary oral motor, articulation, and language skills. The goal of speech and language therapy is to improve each patient’s ability to understand language and to become more effective communicators in all environments. Our speech language pathologists are also skilled at treating swallowing difficulties and in working with cognitive impairments using cognitive rehabilitation approaches.
Our speech and language therapists often treat:
- Difficulty with receptive/expressive language
- Difficulty with oral motor skills
- Articulation/phonological errors
- Aphasia or loss of language skills
- Dysarthria (difficulty speaking due to weak muscles)
- Stuttering
- Voice disorders (chronic hoarseness, vocal nodules or polyps)
- Dysphagia/difficulty swallowing
Outpatient Speech Therapy Services for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that causes nerve cells in the brain to malfunction and cause involuntary movement, balance and coordination problems and other symptoms. Outpatient speech therapy can help patients maintain or improve their current level of cognitive-communication, speech, and swallowing skills. Therapy is delivered through person- and family-centered care, which is a holistic approach and one that is highly individualized for optimal success and meaningfulness for the patient.
Speech therapy sessions focus on:
- Addressing cognitive communication impairments (i.e., memory, word retrieval, attention, reasoning, organization, insight and awareness)
- Exploring augmentative communication systems and/or assistive devices when necessary
- Improving breath support
- Improving speech intelligibility
- Providing diet recommendations
- Providing strategies for energy conservation
- Safety precautions for eating and drinking
- Strengthening muscles for speech and swallowing
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT)
The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) is an evidenced-based speech therapy program for people with Parkinson’s disease, as well as for children and adults with neurological conditions. LSVT is designed to improve patient’s ability to use their voice at a normal loudness level and “recalibrate” the patient’s own perception of their voice so that they can be heard and understood across all communication settings.
LSVT is a high dosage therapy, so strong patient commitment is expected. Depending on the patient’s insurance, and following an initial in-person evaluation, patients may be eligible to participate in structured therapy sessions remotely via telehealth services.
Prospective patients for this program must be evaluated by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist (otolaryngologist) and obtain a referral for the program.
For more information about Physical Rehabilitation Services at Saint Peter’s Health and Wellness Center or to make an appointment, call 732.565.5455. A physician’s prescription or a physician referral may be required. Most insurances are accepted.
Contact Us
Adult Speech and Language Therapy
562 Easton Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873