Speech Therapy

Working with the full range of human communication and its disorders, speech-language pathologists evaluate and diagnose speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

Patients range from infants to the elderly. Speech-language pathologists often work as part of a team, which may include teachers, physicians, audiologists, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and others.

Common Speech Issues John Muir Health Can Evaluate and Treat include, but are not limited to:

• Cognitive aspects of communication, such as attention, memory, problem solving, and executive functions
• Speech issues: phonation, articulation, fluency, resonance, and voice, including aeromechanical components of respiration
• Language issues such as comprehension and expression in oral, written, graphic, and manual forms; language processing; preliteracy and language-based literacy skills; and phonological awareness
• Swallowing and other upper aerodigestive functions such as infant feeding and aeromechanical events (evaluation of esophageal function is for referral to medical professionals)
• Sensory awareness related to communication, swallowing, or other upper aerodigestive functions