Speech Language Pathologists at the Misericordia Community Hospital provide consultation, assessment, treatment and counseling to ADULT inpatients and outpatients with communication and swallowing difficulties.

Such difficulties might be associated with
• Disease (e.g. stroke, cancer, progressive illness)
• Accident (e.g. head injury, damage to the throat)
• Lifestyle (e.g. abuse or misuse of the voice)
• Other (e.g. mental illness, unknown causes) Individuals might have difficulty in one or more of the following areas:
• Language (understanding or expression through use of gestures, words, facial expression, reading, writing, etc.)
• Speech (producing, sequencing and coordinating sounds to form words, phrases, sentences, etc. that are easily understood by others)
• Fluency (speaking in a smooth and well-coordinated manner)
• Voice (using appropriate pitch, loudness and quality of the voice)
• Swallowing (maintaining safe and adequate nutrition and hydration through well-coordinated, efficient movements of the muscles of the mouth, throat and esophagus.)

The purpose of treatment is to improve communication and swallowing or to discover alternate ways of managing permanent communication or swallowing difficulties. Treatment is usually provided on an individual basis with involvement from family members, caregivers (e.g. spouses, children), and other members of the health care team (e.g. occupational therapists, social workers, etc.) when appropriate.

There is no fee for service. Because the program addresses both inpatients and outpatients, outpatients may be placed on a shot waiting list (2-8 weeks) before a scheduled appointment can be arranged. Referrals are accepted by phone, fax or mail from physicians, other health care professionals, individuals and families/caregivers.
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Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders) Outpatient Clinic