Difficulties with speaking and swallowing can occur after injury or as a result of certain conditions. Speech therapy helps individuals improve skills, including speech, language and swallowing. Working side-by-side with you, they are committed to helping you communicate more clearly and ensure safe swallowing to improve your overall quality of life.
Why choose Sentara?
Specialists in our speech and swallowing therapy program help you regain function so you can maintain independence. Program highlights include:
Expert therapists: Our speech pathologists have earned a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and have years of experience. They complete additional training every year to further their knowledge and skills
Collaborative care: Our wide network of Sentara experts works together on your personalized care plan. This team approach ensures you get the best, most comprehensive care.
Convenience: We offer speech and swallowing therapy at Sentara centers throughout Virginia and eastern North Carolina.
Speech and language therapists enhance communication and swallowing abilities through specialized evaluations and treatments.
- Evaluate and diagnose speech, language and swallowing disorders
- Create personalized treatment plans to address specific needs and goals
- Provide speech and language therapy to improve communication skills and language development
- Offer swallowing therapy to address difficulties with eating, drinking and safe swallowing
- Specifically, speech and swallowing therapy strengthens muscles in the head, neck and tongue
We develop individualized therapy programs to treat problems with speaking and swallowing due to:
- Autism spectrum disorders and related communication challenges
- Cancers of the head and neck and cancer treatment
- Cognition changes, including dementia
- Esophagus issues
- Laryngectomy or vocal cord dysfunction
- Neurological disease, such as cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
Speech and language therapy offers numerous benefits, including:
- Improved clarity and effectiveness of speech, enhancing daily interactions
- Enhanced language skills, including comprehension and expression, fostering better academic and personal communication
- Increased ability to safely eat and drink, reducing risk of choking and improving nutritional intake
- Boosted confidence and social participation through better communication skills