In our last newspaper column ad, Dominic received a visit from a speech and language pathologist to help him with his slurred speech and swallowing difficulties.
Speech and language therapy can help stroke survivors if they have communication and/or swallowing problems after a stroke. It is estimated that one third of stroke survivors will have some level of communication difficulty and at least 40 percent will experience some problems swallowing. Speech and language therapists assess patients with communication difficulties and help them overcome or adapt to a range of communication problems. They also assess swallowing problems and advise on safe ways to eat and drink. The goal of speech and language therapy is to help patients recover as much as possible so they can lead fulfilling, independent lives.
For more information on a wide range of speech and swallowing disorders, including those affected by a stroke, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at www.asha.org/public/.