Speech Language Pathology

Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults who are experiencing speech, language, communication, and/or certain types of swallowing problems. Speech-language pathologists in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation hold national certification and evaluate and treat patients at Mott Children's Hospital, University Hospital, and at our outpatient site, MedRehab. In children, speech and language skills may be delayed for a variety of reasons. The speech-language pathologist evaluates your child's current speech and language skills, and develops a treatment plan to improve acquisition of more age-appropriate skills. The speech-language pathology staff are also members of the Craniofacial Anomalies Program.

In some children and adults, a disease or injury may cause a new onset of speech, language, or communication problems. Traumatic head injuries, encephalitis, or stroke may affect the individual's ability to understand speech, to read, to speak, or to write. The speech-language pathologist will assess strengths and weaknesses in each of these areas, and will design a treatment plan to remediate weaknesses and to compensate for remaining areas of difficulty. Some children and adults may not regain intelligible speech, or may require tracheostomy or ventilator support which interferes with voice production. The speech-language pathologist will provide technological options, from recommendation to your physician of "talking" tracheostomy tubes to computerized communication devices. The Speech-Language Pathology Division leads an Alternative/Augmentative Communication Clinic which evaluates and treats individuals for whom speech is not an effective means of communicating.

Speech-language pathologists also participate in a joint program with occupational therapy to evaluate and treat oral-pharyngeal swallowing disorders. An x-ray study of swallowing, called a three-phase videoflouroscopy, may be requested by your physician to evaluate swallowing and to assess techniques that may improve swallowing. Referrals for speech-language evaluation or treatment are accepted from any source. The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Speech-Language Pathology Division is nationally accredited by the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

For further information about Speech Language Pathology services at the University of Michigan Health System, please call (734) 936-7080.

To find a doctor, call 1-800-211-8181


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