Speech Therapy
When disability or illness interferes with your ability to speak or swallow, the Northwestern Medicine licensed and certified speech therapists can help you participate fully in life again. Northwestern Medicine speech therapy offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services for speech, language, swallowing, voice and fluency disorders for both children and adults.
One of our speech therapists will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and establish a therapy plan to meet your personal goals for using and understanding language, feeding and swallowing. Our dedicated team provides advanced assessment and therapeutic techniques to return you to the highest level of function possible.
The speech therapy team includes licensed speech therapists who assess and treat people from birth to elder years with diverse communication and swallowing disorders caused by a number of conditions, including:
- Concussion
- Cognitive disorders
- Developmental disorders
- Feeding issues
- Head and neck cancer
- Neurological disorders
- Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Stroke
- Swallowing and voice disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Vocal cord dysfunction
Our speech and language pathologists also are renowned for their capabilities in caring for patients with laryngectomies.
Speech therapists use a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. Your individualized treatment plan will be based on your specific needs and goals, but could include education and training in the following areas:
- Articulation and language rehabilitation
- Voice assessment and treatment
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Head and neck cancer rehabilitation (focused on speech and swallowing)
- Assessment and treatment of swallowing disorders
- Videofluoroscopic swallowing evaluations
- Geriatric feeding rehabilitation
- VitalStim® to stimulate muscle activity necessary for functional swallowing
- Pediatric feeding therapy
- Pediatric screenings for speech development, fine motor skills and sensory processing issues
- Family and caretaker education
Related Resources
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: The section for the public gives helpful information about various speech-related conditions and the benefits of therapy.
- American Stroke Association: A partner of the American Heart Association, this group offers valuable information about life after a stroke.
- Brain Injury Association of America: Learn more about diagnosis, treatment and living with a brain injury.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Research diseases and conditions as well as workplace safety and health.
- Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities: The Public section offers a database of accredited providers.
- Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association: The Consumer Information page includes details on the many varied conditions that speech pathologists treat.
- National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (NAHSA): A consumer service for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, this organization offers helpful publications and information on communication disorders.
- Center for Parent Information and Resources: Learn more about early intervention for babies and toddlers and advocacy techniques for older children.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Certain cardiovascular disorders can put you at a greater risk of a stroke. Learn the warning signs and other important information about strokes.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: A service of the National Institutes of Health, this site offers important news on treatments and clinical trials.
- National Institutes of Health: Check the MedlinePlus page for information on diseases and conditions.
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Get tips on healthy living with MS and promoting function, independence and mobility.
- National Rehabilitation Information Center: The library of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, this site offers information on recovery from and living with a disability.
- National Spinal Cord Injury Association: See what this advocacy group is doing to improve the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries and diseases.
- Speech Language Therapy at Central DuPage and Delnor Hospitals: An individualized approach to collaborative care.
- Social Security Disability Information: Find out what benefits may apply if you have a long-term disability.
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