We specialise in:
- Stroke
- Head Injury
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Motor Neuron Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Physical Disability
- Intellectual Disability
- Stammering
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Voice Disorders
- Swallowing Difficulties
If you have any concerns or you don’t see the issue listed contact your local Speech Centre
Speech Therapy for Adults
Speech therapy for adults can support a wide range of communication and swallowing issues. Our local Speech Centres all over Ireland can provide home visits and services to nursing homes ensuring the highest standards and HIQA compliance.
What happens when you see a Speech and Language Therapist?
When you make an appointment with a Speech and Language Therapist, either in the clinic or in your own home, a number of things may happen.
For communication difficulties, you will be asked about the nature of your difficulties, their impact on you, and their origin. The Speech and Language Therapist will then look at various aspects of language by asking questions and showing you pictures. Once they have assessed all the relevant aspects of language they will then formulate a diagnosis and therapy plan.
Speech therapy for adults focuses on the individual’s’ needs. For swallowing difficulties, you will be asked about your medical history and diet, and the details of the problem. The Speech and Language Therapist will then examine your reflexes and the muscles of your mouth and throat. They will then trial various food consistencies and techniques with you to determine the safest way for you to swallow. They may recommend changes to the textures of your food or drink, the way you sit or hold your head, or give you exercises to do.
Communication
Communication changes are part of the natural ageing process, particularly in light of the increasing medical needs and illnesses associated with ageing. While speech clarity may be affected by natural muscle degeneration, specific medical conditions often also have a large impact on both speech clarity and language processing (understanding what is said, and expressing a coherent response).
Difficulties can range from being unable to find the right word when you’re speaking, to having no speech or understanding at all. Parkinson’s disease, MND, stroke, head injury, dementia, MS and cancers are just some of the conditions that our Speech and Language Therapists can help to manage.
Swallowing
We are all familiar with the effect of muscle degeneration on muscular tasks such as walking and dressing; this normal degeneration also affects swallow safety, to the extent where a person’s health and well-being can be compromised. Typical signs of difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) include;
- Coughing when eating or drinking
- A feeling of food getting stuck
- Sneezing or eye watering
- Wet or gurgly voice
- Recurrent Chest Infections
Clear links exist between aspiration (food and drink “going down the wrong way”) and medical sequelae such as dehydration, malnutrition, respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, and hastened death. At The Speech Centre our goal is clear; to help our clients sustain safe oral nutrition to the maximum of their ability, through diet modification, compensatory strategies, postural changes and rehabilitation exercises.
Nursing Homes
The Speech Centre offer home visits to nursing home residents. We provide all equipment for in-house communication or swallow assessments, with detailed recommendations made to care staff following assessment. This can be of particular benefit to those with mobility issues, or where a person’s everyday environment impacts on their swallow or communication. People with dementia are especially at risk of swallowing or feeding difficulties, which can have a negative effect on their health and overall well-being.
We specialise in:
- Stroke
- Head Injury
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Motor Neuron Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Physical Disability
- Intellectual Disability
- Stammering
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Voice Disorders
- Swallowing Difficulties
If you have any concerns or you don’t see the issue listed contact your local Speech Centre
More...
As a therapist working with people who stutter, I have to consider not only speech production and how the stutter presents itself to others, but also how it affects, and is affected by, the client’s psychological, personal and social processes.
How can Parkinson’s Disease affect communication?
This is some general information about the different ways Parkinson’s disease can affect communication, followed by some handy tips for easier communication.
Voice problems are quite common and can occur at any stage in the lifespan, although some populations may be more at risk than others for example older people, singers and teachers