Speech and Language Therapy

If you’re experiencing speech, language or cognitive deficits, your primary care physician may refer you to a speech and language pathologist for evaluation. Throughout Sutter’s network, speech and language specialists are skilled in assessing, diagnosing and treating adults and children with a variety of communication problems.

On your first visit, your speech therapist evaluates your problem, reviews your medical history and conducts specific tests to assess your current capabilities. Your therapist then creates an individualized treatment plan with specific goals. Depending on your needs, treatment may begin right away or at your next appointment. Common treatments range from physical strengthening exercises, instructive or repetitive practice and vocal drills, to the use of audio-visual aids. Across the Sutter Health network, we offer breathing therapy, swallowing therapy, voice retraining and cognitive reorganization therapy.

We treat the following types of disorders:

• Neurological problems, including but not limited to, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, apraxia and Guillame Barré disease.
• Voice disorders and speech impairments.
• Swallowing problems.
• Stroke-related speech and language problems.
• Communication and cognition (understanding) problems.
• Stuttering and fluency disorders.
• Hearing difficulties.

Across the Sutter Health network, our rehabilitation centers are certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities as adhering to the highest industry standards of excellence. Many of our speech therapists have special training to help Parkinson’s disease patients improve voice strength and volume.