What is Speech Language Pathology?

Speech Language Pathology is the study and treatment of speech and language problems. Speech Language Pathologists (SLP’s) are trained clinicians that help patients with a variety of speech, language, social and overall communication problems. The most well-known area of treatment is for those individuals with speech impediments such as stuttering, lisps and pronunciation problems. However, Speech Language Pathologists often do more than that.

Speech

Ever feel like your mouth doesn’t listen to your brain? Want to work on remediating a lisp, or reducing your accent?

Whatever your speech goals, we have a solution just for you.

Looking to improve your speech skills and be better understood? SLN speech therapy can help! We will help you learn to coordinate your speech systems to better produce the sounds to form words and sentences, including articulation, fluency and voice volume regulation.

1. Speech (Articulation Therapy for Adults)

Speech (Articulation) therapy for adults helps with the precision of speech learning the correct way to say difficult sounds and improving clarity. Many adults struggle with their sounds and regular speech therapy can help.

Symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty producing the r, s, l and z sounds
  • Tongue thrust / oral motor difficulties
  • Troubles be understood 100% of the time
2. Acquired Apraxia of Speech (Common after stroke, brain injury or progressive neurological disorders)

Inability to translate speech plans into motor activity. Symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty imitating and producing speech sounds
  • Inconsistent speech errors
  • Groping of the tongue and lips to make specific sounds and words
  • Slow speech rate
  • Impaired rhythm and intonation
3. Dysarthria (Common after stroke/brain injury)

Problems with muscular control that affect speech production. May result in:

  • Limited articulatory movement (slurred speech)
  • Slow rate or rapid rate of speech
  • Changes in vocal quality – soft (whisper like speech), hoarseness, nasal sounding
  • Drooling and swallowing difficulties
4. Stuttering

Looking to get your stutter under control? The Speech-Language Network provides intervention and treatment that can help.

In addition to targeting the speech mechanism (i.e. learning to control breathing, using light touches with articulators, etc.) and slowing the rate of speech, therapy often includes addressing feelings and emotions associated with stuttering.

5. Voice

Voice disorders include inappropriate pitch, quality, intonation, loudness and/or complete voice loss. These conditions may result from damage to the vocal cords due to surgery, misuse of the voice, disease, or other conditions such as cerebral palsy, hearing impairment or cleft palate.

Voice therapy may include:

  • Increasing awareness of good vocal hygiene
  • Reducing/stopping abusive vocal behaviours
  • Direct voice treatment to alter pitch, loudness and proper breath support for good voicing
  • Relaxation exercises and stress reduction techniques
  • Improving the understanding of the emotional content of speech (using tone, inflection, etc to convey meaning)

Note: Voice disorders may be functional or organic in nature. Therefore, a medical referral is required prior to initiating therapy. All possible medical conditions need to be reviewed and/or ruled out before therapy is begun.

6. Accent

When people pay more attention to how you speak than what you say it can be a frustrating barrier to effective communication. Learn to refine your pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and more while improving English grammar and communication skills.

Starting with a diagnostic assessment, the SLN will creates a personalized accent and voice training program to meet your needs and time constraints that will help you achieve communication clarity.

7. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD Program (Effective treatment for people with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions)

LSVT Loud is an effective speech treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurological conditions including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), cerebral palsy, multiple schlerosis, Down Syndrome and adults experiencing speech difficulities arising from a stroke.

LSVT is supported by 37 years of research and is considered the global “gold standard” for speech treatment for people with PD.

Extensive research on LSVT LOUD has documented that people with PD show improvements in loudness and more variation in pitch while speaking that are maintained for at least two years post-treatment with daily short home practicing.

Secondary improvements may include better articulation, changes in swallowing, improved facial expressions while talking and even speech-related brain changes.

The program duration is 4 times a week for 4 weeks.

 

Language

Struggle to find the right words to express yourself? Have trouble reading? English not your first language, but want to improve your expression and understanding?

The SLN is here to help.

Have trouble understanding and expressing language? Learn to improve your use of language through verbal and written methods, as well as alternative communication systems such as social media, computers and tablets with the help of the SLN.

Language treatment goals and objectives are created based on formal and informal assessments to pinpoint where specific language breakdowns are occurring. The SLN can assist with a wide range of language challenges, including both delays and acquired disorders.

1. Language Therapy

Adults may require language therapy due to a specific diagnosis which directly affects their language skills (such as specific language impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome or hearing loss) and/or a developmental delay.

Adults may also require language therapy due to stroke, closed head injury, traumatic brain injury and/or other neurogenic/degenerative diseases.

A language disorder can affect any of the following:

  • Spoken language expression and comprehension
  • Reading and writing
  • Reasoning
  • Understanding humour
  • Inferences
2. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

AAC is a set of strategies and tools used to help individuals (often with severe speech and/or language difficulties) enhance their ability to express themselves.

The SLN offers AAC consultation, family support and treatment for both unaided (gesture, body language or sign language) and aided (paper and pencil, picture systems, speech generating devices) communication systems.

Social

Do social situations make you sweat? Find yourself tongue-tied in business meetings? Wish you could talk in front of an audience?

Connect with like-minded peers with our social language groups.

Social language skills span a range of day-to-day communications activities. From simple manners and normative social behaviours, to understanding, interpreting and empathizing with others, these skills are essential for success, both personally and professionally.

Take control of your social language skills with help from the SLN.

1. Pragmatics

From everyday language usage to appropriate interpretation and response to context, the SLN can help you excel in social situations.

Social language use – initiating interactions, using greetings, requesting information, etc

Changing language – talking differently based on the audience or location

Social rules – taking turns in a conversation, staying on topic, reading verbal and non-verbal cues, etc

Have Coverage for Therapy Services?

Many insurance providers offer coverage for speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. We encourage you to inquire with your insurance provider to determine if your private insurance plan has coverage for these services. Receipts will be provided to you with the required documentation for reimbursement purposes. The Speech Language Network is an approved service provider for the following:

Together WE CAN FIND THE SOLUTION