I have trouble swallowing. Why would I need a speech therapist?

Swallowing disorders fall under the Speech-Language Pathologist’s scope of practice. At Beyond Speech Therapy we will first see you for an in-office consultation to review your medical charts, complete a case history interview, do an oral motor examination to get a better understanding of how your cranial nerves and swallowing-related structures are functioning, and provide you with personalized education regarding your case. Then, we will schedule a Modified Barium Swallow Study (see below for more information). Once that is complete, we can create a personalized plan of care based on what was observed during the study. This includes various combinations of electrical stimulation to the swallowing musculature, exercises to increase strength, postures that improve swallow safety, diet changes, and safe swallow strategies. The goal is to avoid aspirating material into the lungs, choking, and residue being left behind after swallowing.