Adult Needs
Accent Reduction
Although having an accent is not a disorder, many people seek help from a speech therapist in order to modify their accent. When a person moves to a new area, has work contacts in another area, or is learning a new language, an accent can get in the way of communication. While having an accent can be a source of pride for some, others feel that people focus on the accent rather than what is being said.
If you find that having an accent is putting you at a disadvantage in work, school or your social life it is possible to modify your accent. Speech therapists are experienced with teaching people how to change their pronunciation, speech stress, rhythm of speaking and intonation of speech. This can help people who use English as their second language, those who have moved from one region to another, business people who travel and other professionals who want to improve their communication skills. Speech therapists are also available to coach actors learning new accents for performances.
At Dearborn Speech and Sensory Center, our speech pathologists will take your individual needs into account in order to determine the best way to guide you into more effective communication.
For more information, view the Accent Reduction flyer (PDF format).
Stroke
Impairments faced by stroke survivors can include one sided paralysis, balance issues and impairments of vision, speech and hearing. Two of the most common speech disorders in adults who have experienced a stroke are aphasia and dysarthria.
When individuals who previously had communication skills such as speaking, listening, reading and writing experience declines in some or all of these skills, it is called aphasia. This disorder only occurs in those who have previously been able to communicate, and can be either permanent or temporary. Some individuals experience more decline in comprehension while others lose more of their expressive abilities. In other cases there is a notable decline in both sets of skills. In all cases some sort of brain trauma, such as a stroke, brain tumor, head injury or infection causes aphasia.
Some people who have survived a stroke experience difficulty creating speech, a condition known as dysarthria. People who are dysarthric tend to have difficulty producing speech and difficulty with articulation. Hoarseness, change in vocal sound, a slower rate of speech, limited movement of oral muscles, speaking more softly, breathiness, drooling and difficulty swallowing are all symptoms of dysarthria. If someone you know is experiencing dysarthria it is useful to remember that they may begin speaking in small words rather than sentences. It is good for them to avoid speaking when tired. Other forms of communication, such as body language, pointing and pictures can help with communication.
Having a supportive family helps stroke survivors to recover, but the experience and expertise of a speech therapist is necessary to ensure the survivor reaches his or her full potential.
Stuttering
Over three million Americans are believed to be affected by stuttering. For every one female who stutters, there are three male stutterers. Famous people such as James Earl Jones, Winston Churchill, Jimmy Stuart and Carly Simon have all faced the challenge of stuttering and gone on to become successful in careers that require public speaking.
Some adults have tried therapy in the past, but still struggle with stuttering. Previous stuttering therapy may not have been effective or might have been a bad experience, but finding the right therapist can help people of all ages learn to overcome stuttering. Although lifelong stuttering is not likely to ever simply go away, an individual can expect the following outcomes from working with our speech therapists:
- Fewer incidences of stuttering
- Reduced tension and reduction of struggling movements
- Education about stuttering
- Learning communication techniques to reduce avoidance of words and situations
- Help with long and short term communication goals.
Please call our clinic today to make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable therapists!
Voice Modification
Singers, teachers and others who depend on their voices sometimes experience injury to the muscles and tissues that produce sound. Voice rest has been the traditional treatment for these people, but some techniques, such as voice modification, can be just as effective while allowing the patient to continue their livelihood.
Some symptoms of vocal nodules include having a dry, scratchy throat and lack of speaking volume. The tendency to take anti-histamines and cough suppressants to relieve the pain and allow a person to continue working only makes vocal nodules worse. Instead, speech therapists recommend:
- Avoidance of whispering and shouting
- Reducing caffeine, tobacco and alcohol consumption
- Avoidance of coughing and clearing the throat
- Adequate hydration
- Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
- Avoiding unnecessary socialization, speaking and working while recovering from fatigue or illness
It is very important to consult with a speech therapist if your symptoms continue despite following the recommendations above. With the help of a therapist your vocal nodules will heal and you can learn how to avoid behaviors and environments that are damaging to your voice.
Down's Syndrome
Each year an increasing number of teens and young adults with Down's syndrome are graduating from high school and college, finding employment and living independently. Adults with Down's syndrome can expect to live to age 50-60 when they receive the health care, education and social support they need. People with Down's syndrome and people without Down's syndrome are more like each other than different, but there are a few additional things that should be kept in mind regarding the healthcare of adults with Down's syndrome.
In addition to needing the same basic health care as those who are typically developed, those with Down's syndrome should also have additional tests and screenings performed in childhood and through adulthood. Those with Down's syndrome should follow the standard schedules for immunization and dental hygiene.
In order to screen for certain types of heart disease it is important for Down's syndrome affected individuals to be screened by a physician for cardiac problems. Those with Down's syndrome should also be screened for hearing and vision problems every two years to prevent sensory deprivation. Males should be tested annually for certain types of cancer.
Especially in adulthood, a reversible decline in function in those with Down's syndrome is sometimes misdiagnosed as an irreversible decline. Certain conditions, such as vision loss, hearing loss, B12 deficiency, thyroid dysfunction and depression have similar symptoms as Alzheimer's disease does in the Down's syndrome affected population. It is important that those who work with Down's syndrome patients are aware of the unique needs of those they care for.
At the Dearborn Speech and Sensory Clinic, we have experience working with people who have Down's syndrome. Our speech and occupational therapists enjoy helping individuals with Down's syndrome achieve all of their goals.