What is Speech Therapy for seniors?
Speech Therapy addresses various issues seniors may face with speaking or swallowing after an accident, injury, illness, or surgery. Problems can also occur due to age, as it is common for muscles which allow us to talk and swallow to become weaker and more elastic. This type of therapy can help seniors:
- Relearn to speak
- Improve communication skills
- Improve reading, writing, & cognition
- Relearn how to swallow correctly
- Improve Dementia symptoms
- Prevent unhealthy weight loss
Speech Therapy is crucial for seniors, as it is vital to their overall health and so they can effectively communicate with family, friends, caregivers and doctors. It is especially important for a senior to be able to communicate pain or discomfort.
Speech Therapists for Seniors
At our Los Angeles rehabilitation center, our team of licensed speech therapists and their assistants work in conjunction with residents care teams. After they evaluate a patient’s condition, they develop a plan of care for your journey to recovery.
Our speech therapists may perform both a physical neurological assessment to determine the causes of a speech or swallowing issue and to formulate a plan of care. They use cognitive linguistic therapy for seniors to improve both mental and muscle strength as well as the connections between the two.
Individualized Occupational Therapy Treatment Plans
Our residents may be in need of speech therapy for a range of reasons. A common one is Aphasia, a condition caused by a stroke that causes damage to the speech area of the brain. Early intervention to improve communication issues due to a stroke are crucial to recovery. Other Treatments utilized may include cognitive linguistic therapy, dysphagia therapy, or various vocal exercises.
In-House Speech Therapy Rehabilitation
Treatment plans formulated by our speech therapists are specialized and include guidance from the resident’s physician. If a patient is experiencing any issues related to speech and language and its cognition, it is vital that they receive care immediately and regularly.
Having an in-house rehabilitation center eases the burden of traveling after an injury, surgery or other illness. Recovery can be incredibly difficult, but our rehabilitation team is ready to be there every step of the way.