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Speech therapy focuses on identifying, diagnosing and treating various speech and language disorders.
There are many conditions and illnesses that can cause difficulties in speaking and swallowing. These include weak oral muscles, cognitive or other developmental delays, respiratory problems and damage to the nervous system, seen in illnesses such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and certain forms of muscular dystrophy (MD).
In the later stages of MD, weak muscles can make swallowing or speaking more difficult. This is where a speech therapist (also called a speech-language pathologist) can be an important part of your health-care team.
If you’re newly diagnosed with MD, you should keep a look out for potential swallowing disorders (dysphagia), according to Dr Jeri Logemann, who heads the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois USA.
This is very important – having increasing difficulties in swallowing can increase your risk of choking or developing a chest infection if liquid and food enters the lungs.
If you have MD, see your doctor immediately if:
• You’re coughing during or immediately after drinking or eating.
• You have difficulty in managing saliva.
• Your voice seems “wet” or “gurgling” during or after eating.
• You need extra effort or time to chew or swallow.
Dr Logemann also stresses the importance of being monitored “at least every six months to identify any problems or changes in swallowing” that may occur as MD progresses.
Role of speech therapy
Speech therapists assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent speech, language and communication disorders. These can include the following:
• Difficulty saying words correctly or producing sounds in syllables to the point that others. cannot understand what you're saying (articulation disorders).
• Difficulties with eating, swallowing and choking (dysphasia).
• Stuttering and speech-rhythm problems (fluency disorders).
• Problems with voice quality, volume or pitch that distracts listeners from what you're saying (resonance disorders).
What speech therapy entails
Depending on the cause, symptoms and type of speech or swallowing problem you're experiencing, a speech therapist will assess various functional abilities. These include swallowing, communication, oral-motor and cognitive-linguistic functions.
Since some types of MD result in difficulties with chewing and swallowing, a speech therapist will focus on doing a complete evaluation using various techniques and radiography examinations.
Note: If you're experiencing drinking or eating problems, make sure your speech therapist specialises in swallowing disorders.
A speech therapist’s evaluation may include any or all of the following:
• Obtaining a history of your symptoms and specific type of dystrophy.
• Examining the strength and movement of the muscles involved in swallowing.
• Observing you while you eat/drink to study behaviour, posture and oral movements.
• Performing special tests to evaluate swallowing such as endoscopic assessments and modified barium X-ray.
Once the evaluation is completed, the speech therapist will use specific techniques and exercises to treat the problems. Treatment could include:
• Applying compensatory strategies, e.g. showing you how to position your body or how to put food in your mouth so you can eat, drink and swallow safely and more easily.
• Educating yourself about specific food and liquid textures that are easier to swallow.
• Special exercises to improve muscle movement, help tongue movement and other aspects of swallowing.
• If muscle weakness has resulted in difficulties in speaking, the speech therapist will show you techniques to help you communicate more effectively.
Sources:
1. http://mdasa.org.au/get-support/speech-therapy/
2. http://muscle.ca/living-with-muscular-dystrophy/your-healthcare-team/
3. Speech-Language and Audiology Canada. Website: www.caslpa.ca
4. American Speech Language Hearing Association: http://www.asha.org/policy/KS2002-00079/Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) in Adults
5. http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/Article/Muscular-Dystrophy-Specialized-Care-Needed-For-Speech-Swallowing.aspx
There are many conditions and illnesses that can cause difficulties in speaking and swallowing. These include weak oral muscles, cognitive or other developmental delays, respiratory problems and damage to the nervous system, seen in illnesses such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and certain forms of muscular dystrophy (MD).
In the later stages of MD, weak muscles can make swallowing or speaking more difficult. This is where a speech therapist (also called a speech-language pathologist) can be an important part of your health-care team.
If you’re newly diagnosed with MD, you should keep a look out for potential swallowing disorders (dysphagia), according to Dr Jeri Logemann, who heads the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois USA.
This is very important – having increasing difficulties in swallowing can increase your risk of choking or developing a chest infection if liquid and food enters the lungs.
If you have MD, see your doctor immediately if:
• You’re coughing during or immediately after drinking or eating.
• You have difficulty in managing saliva.
• Your voice seems “wet” or “gurgling” during or after eating.
• You need extra effort or time to chew or swallow.
Dr Logemann also stresses the importance of being monitored “at least every six months to identify any problems or changes in swallowing” that may occur as MD progresses.
Role of speech therapy
Speech therapists assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent speech, language and communication disorders. These can include the following:
• Difficulty saying words correctly or producing sounds in syllables to the point that others. cannot understand what you're saying (articulation disorders).
• Difficulties with eating, swallowing and choking (dysphasia).
• Stuttering and speech-rhythm problems (fluency disorders).
• Problems with voice quality, volume or pitch that distracts listeners from what you're saying (resonance disorders).
What speech therapy entails
Depending on the cause, symptoms and type of speech or swallowing problem you're experiencing, a speech therapist will assess various functional abilities. These include swallowing, communication, oral-motor and cognitive-linguistic functions.
Since some types of MD result in difficulties with chewing and swallowing, a speech therapist will focus on doing a complete evaluation using various techniques and radiography examinations.
Note: If you're experiencing drinking or eating problems, make sure your speech therapist specialises in swallowing disorders.
A speech therapist’s evaluation may include any or all of the following:
• Obtaining a history of your symptoms and specific type of dystrophy.
• Examining the strength and movement of the muscles involved in swallowing.
• Observing you while you eat/drink to study behaviour, posture and oral movements.
• Performing special tests to evaluate swallowing such as endoscopic assessments and modified barium X-ray.
Once the evaluation is completed, the speech therapist will use specific techniques and exercises to treat the problems. Treatment could include:
• Applying compensatory strategies, e.g. showing you how to position your body or how to put food in your mouth so you can eat, drink and swallow safely and more easily.
• Educating yourself about specific food and liquid textures that are easier to swallow.
• Special exercises to improve muscle movement, help tongue movement and other aspects of swallowing.
• If muscle weakness has resulted in difficulties in speaking, the speech therapist will show you techniques to help you communicate more effectively.
Sources:
1. http://mdasa.org.au/get-support/speech-therapy/
2. http://muscle.ca/living-with-muscular-dystrophy/your-healthcare-team/
3. Speech-Language and Audiology Canada. Website: www.caslpa.ca
4. American Speech Language Hearing Association: http://www.asha.org/policy/KS2002-00079/Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) in Adults
5. http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/Article/Muscular-Dystrophy-Specialized-Care-Needed-For-Speech-Swallowing.aspx
