Trusted Speech, Language, Swallowing & Voice Services in Southeastern MA
At Southcoast Health, our team of speech and language pathologists offers expertise and therapy in all areas of speech, language, swallowing and voice disorders. Using comprehensive standardized testing and state-of-the-art technology, we provide the highest quality of care to children and adults of all ages to prevent a disorder from disrupting their development or everyday activities.
As part of our rehabilitative services, we provide speech, language, swallowing and voice services in Fall River and Dartmouth, MA that include:
- Speech and language evaluation and customized treatment provided by an expert speech-language pathologist
- Cognitive evaluation and treatment
- Swallowing evaluation and treatment
- Modified barium swallow studies
- Voice evaluation and treatment
- Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for Parkinson’s disease
- Fluency evaluation and treatment
If you are interested in speech-language therapy for yourself or a loved one, reach out to your primary care physician, and they can refer you to a speech pathologist or ENT doctor near you.
Speech & Language Disorders
As communication is essential to learning, working and social interaction, impaired communication impacts every aspect of a person’s world. Speech and language disorders are commonly caused by:
- Birth defects
- Developmental delays
- Autism
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s disease
- Other neurological problems
Our speech and language pathologists can help in the development or retraining of speech and language skills, as well as improve listening and attention skills.
Swallowing Disorders
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a disorder that is usually a sign of a problem in the mouth, throat or esophagus. Swallowing problems are usually caused by premature birth, stroke, cancer or neurological disorders.
Common symptoms may include:
- Difficulty swallowing food or liquid
- Difficulty chewing food
- Gagging, choking or coughing when swallowing
- Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
- Feeling like food or liquid is stuck in the throat or chest
- Heartburn or pain/pressure in chest
- Weight loss or dehydration from lack of food or liquid
- Wet voice quality after eating or drinking
Voice Disorders
Our speech and language pathologists partner with ENTs to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders. Many voice conditions are not serious and can be treated or prevented through careful assessment and therapy. However, voice disorders can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious medical condition.
Symptoms of voice disorders may include:
- Hoarseness or raspiness
- Changes in voice quality or pitch
- Voice loss that persists for longer than three weeks and is not related to a cold or flu
Those who may benefit from our voice services include:
- Individuals experiencing chronic vocal hoarseness and vocal fatigue
- Teachers, lawyers and clergy
- Professional speakers and singers
- Preoperative and postoperative vocal cord surgery patients
- Individuals who have had total or partial laryngectomy
Southcoast Health offers speech, language, swallowing and voice therapy in Fall River, and Dartmouth, MA.