Speech-Language Pathology

A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), sometimes called a speech therapist, specializes in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing, cognition/thinking skills and communication disorders. Amedisys’ SLPs often collaborate with physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers and dieticians to provide holistic care to our patients.

SLP services aim to improve a person’s quality of life through regaining the ability to eat and swallow, improving cognitive skills for increased independence, and helping to regain communication skills to express wants, needs and ideas. Amedisys’ SLPs take advantage of being in the home to more effectively assess our patients’ real-world needs and individualize their treatment. Oftentimes patients with dementia or cognitive impairment respond better to treatment because they’re in a familiar setting – their own home.

Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders)

Swallowing disorders affect approximately 15 million Americans, and nearly all dementia patients eventually develop dysphagia. Dysphagia is associated with a number of other conditions including stroke, progressive neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s, etc), respiratory conditions (COPD, Etc), brain injury, spinal cord injury. Patients with dysphagia are at risk of having food, drink or medication enter their lungs (aspiration), which can cause aspiration pneumonia or choking.

Our comprehensive approach to dysphagia includes intensive clinical training in geriatric dysphagia for our SLPs, and the use of electrical stimulation to address the impairment. Electrical stimulation is painless (it tingles like when your leg falls asleep), and has been shown to improve swallowing more effectively than traditional treatments.

Cognitive Impairments and Dementia

For our patients and families affected by dementia and other cognitive impairments, SLP helps bridge some of the cognitive and communication gaps that may develop. SLP may help patients with early-stage cognitive disorders develop compensation techniques to keep up with daily tasks and maximize their independence. In the late stages, swallowing disorders may emerge and the SLP can assist in techniques for safe feeding.

SLP also has an important role in implementing communication strategies for both the patient and the family, because problematic behaviors from dementia patients may stem from their inability to express their wants, needs or pains.

Speech, Language and Voice

After a brain injury or stroke, it is common for patients to have difficulty with both the physical and mental functions of communicating. SLPs work with patients to increase their ability to speak and communicate. Additionally, SLPs will implement a number of treatment techniques to treat deficits in a patient’s voice.

At many locations, Amedisys SLPs are certified to provide Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), an evidenced-based treatment program to address voice and swallowing disorders in patients who have neurological conditions.

Alternative Communication

Sometimes it is not possible to regain natural communication methods after a stroke, brain injury or progressive neurological disorder. Depending on the abilities and communication needs of the patient, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems may be able to help. The SLP will customize the device for each patients’ individual needs, loading into it photos of the rooms in the home, medications, information about hobbies, and more.

AAC devices are often covered by insurance or Medicare, and give patients who cannot otherwise communicate the ability to express their wants and needs, and interact with their family and community.

Meeting 19% More Treatment Goals in the Home