Article written by Ava Hebert, Recruitment Manager for Therapy Center.

A common misconception about speech therapy is that it only addresses problems with the act of speaking. Not so. As someone new to the therapy industry, I have found it particularly interesting that there are so many facets to speech therapy and what a speech therapist does as part of treatment. My first observation of a speech therapist left me with many questions. I was in the therapy room of a skilled nursing facility and my expectations were blown out of the water. As I quietly watched, I thought to myself, “Why is she asking the patient to give her today’s date? Why is the patient doing a puzzle? Why are they using a deck of cards to play a memory game? What does any of this have to do with speech?” Afraid to ask too many questions, I did a little research of my own and found many things that people may be surprised to learn about a speech therapist.

What is a speech therapist? How can speech therapy benefit me or my loved one?

When trying to educate an individual on therapy services in a skilled nursing facility, there is a good possibility that they may not see the value in working with a speech therapist. In my dealings with case managers and social workers, I understand that they face objections from patients and their families quite often when it comes to seeing a speech therapist. They think, “Why? I already know how to speak.” What most people do not realize is that a speech therapist is a communication specialist; educated in the study of human communication, they are knowledgeable in many different areas. Speech therapists, also known as Speech Language Pathologists, are trained in areas of oral motor skills such as swallowing, cognitive communication and orientation such as memory and problem solving, fluency such as stuttering, literacy, social skills, articulation, and most obviously… speech.  They can treat patients with any condition that could hinder their ability to communicate. A speech therapist working in a skilled nursing facility would be less likely to treat literacy, stuttering, and articulation, yet more likely to treat memory and swallowing problems. They can teach individuals how to improve swallowing by working and strengthening their muscles thereby reducing the chances of choking or inhaling food or liquid, a problem seen frequently within skilled nursing facilities.

I recently visited with one of our own speech therapists, Leslie Lemoine, who works in our partner facility, Courtyard Manor Nursing Home in Lafayette, Louisiana. She has been with Therapy Center for over three years and had some very insightful information about her profession. “We treat patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, stroke patients, and several other diagnoses that can affect the patient’s cognition, memory, and speech. We also treat patients that have swallowing problems, also known as dysphagia. We collaborate with physical therapists, occupational therapists, nursing, and family members regarding ways to improve the patient’s cognition, communication, and swallowing function.” Who knew that you could seek help from a speech therapist for help with cognitive problems? I didn’t.

“The main misconception is that we treat only patients that have speech problems, like stuttering for example. Many people don’t know that we can recommend diet modifications and teach patients ways to increase safety with swallowing to reduce the risk of aspiration. Also, many people are surprised to know that we help to teach patients how to increase their orientation and safety awareness and independence, whether in the nursing home or if they are planning on returning to home,” Leslie explained.

When I asked Leslie about a typical day and the treatment plans for her patients, I learned that there is no cookie cutter treatment plan that can be applied to all patients.  Each patient is different; they each require different levels of care and focus in various areas. Working in a skilled nursing facility, therapists notice that needs change frequently. It is not uncommon for an elderly person to have the occasional bout of confusion, but when a therapist or family member begins to notice a change in behavior, communication, or weight loss, this could be a red flag and a sign that speech therapy is needed.

Weight loss can be a sign speech therapy might be needed? Really?

If a patient shows signs of sudden weight loss, this could indicate that he/she is having difficulty with swallowing, therefore is not maintaining a sufficient caloric intake in order to maintain a healthy weight. Leslie says that she has seen this many times in the nursing home and she “communicates with nursing regarding ways to maintain the patient’s nutrition and hydration when necessary.”  That is why in a skilled nursing facility, it is important for the speech therapist to conduct regular screenings in order to notice if a patient has had a sudden decline of any sort. Sometimes, this may require a little troubleshooting. Leslie, as do many speech therapists, conducts her own assessments using various methods to determine and identify the area in which the problem lies. She then sets a goal and treatment plan. Patients are always treated on a case by case basis, as some may need work on swallowing, others with orientation. The treatment plans are individualized and created to fit the needs of the individual, and a speech therapist focuses a lot of time to developing a treatment plan that is most likely to be successful.

When asked if there was a specific tool or method of treatment that Leslie found particularly helpful, she gave me an answer that I was not expecting to hear. “As a therapist, I often like to use newspapers and magazines as part of treatment to increase my patients’ orientation and knowledge of current events for opportunities for conversation with peers and family members,” Leslie says. Yet again, I was unaware that this seemingly obvious daily activity was something that speech therapists incorporate into treatment.

After learning so much about the profession and expertise of a Speech Language Pathologist, I find myself very impressed with their work and I’m am very happy to know that such a unique and specialized therapist exists. Even Leslie has to educate her patients on what she can do to help them and gaining their trust is typically half of the battle.  “When I am able to create a comfortable, home-like environment for my patients and they begin to trust me and allow me to address their needs, I know that I can make a difference. I feel very rewarded and successful when I see that my patient is following my direction and making strides of improvement for an increased quality of life. It’s a good feeling,” says Leslie.

If you are ever in a position where you’ve got to explain what a speech therapist does, or why someone needs to see a speech therapist, remember, a speech therapist is a communication specialist, trained and educated in the study of human communication.