Geriatric speech-language pathologists is someone that is well-versed in the management of chronic diseases that relates to communication, cognition, and swallowing.
Geriatric speech-language pathologists work with a variety of diagnosis including cognitive decline. Often time SLPs will assess an individual’s cognitive functioning through a variety of different tests and measures to support individual’s needs to perform certain everyday activities. This will help that person ultimately improve their ability to function within their environment. Therapy can be done through specific hands-on one-on-one interventions with the patient, or through caregiver education. Furthermore, the development of home exercise programs and compensatory strategies may assist in progress as well.
Another area that the geriatric speech-language pathologist will treat within is the treatment of language and speech. Oftentimes after an individual has suffered a stroke or a CVA and it can be detrimental to that person’s overall quality of life and ability to communicate their wants and needs. A geriatric speech-language pathologist will target deficit areas to help a person either regain or compensate for the deficits that they present with. This includes aiding an individual to be able to communicate their wants, needs, and thoughts to their loved ones, friends, and medical staff.
Another area that SLPs work with is voicing, as vocal quality can decline as individuals age. Volume can reduced, especially with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, which makes it very difficult for that person to communicate.
Swallowing difficulties in the geriatric population is assessed and treated by a speech-language pathologist. After a comprehensive swallowing evaluation, SLPs assess different food consistencies an individual’s ability to transfer and swallow, diet modifications that may need to happen to help keep that individual safe, as well as implement any swallowing exercises that may help improve that individual’s ability to swallow stronger and safer. Therapy for swallowing difficulties work to obtain the goal of sustaining nutrition and hydration in a safe way.
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