Treating a range of illness- or injury-related speech, language, cognition, voice, and swallowing conditions to support comprehensive rehab and recovery.
Improve functional abilities, regain independence
At Sheltering Arms Institute, our team of speech-language pathologists develop individualized therapy plans to treat communication, cognition, voice, and swallowing impairments caused by injury or illness.
We understand the impact these challenges can have on overall health and quality of life and are committed to helping patients achieve meaningful progress.
Speech therapy can play a role in recovery across a variety of illnesses and injuries, including stroke, brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease among others. Working in conjunction with interdisciplinary rehab teams, our licensed speech-language pathologists combine therapeutic knowledge, evidence-based care, and patient goals to achieve optimal outcomes.
Difficulty understanding and/or expressing language.
Difficulty forming words and sounds to express thoughts.
Difficulty with memory, problem solving, and other thinking skills.
Difficulty with speech clarity.
Difficulty swallowing foods or liquids.
Difficulty with voice quality, volume, and/or pitch.
Inpatient and outpatient treatment options
Sheltering Arms Institute offers speech therapy in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
A key component of rehabilitation from a significant accident, injury, or illness that requires an extended stay at our rehabilitation hospital, inpatient speech therapy at Sheltering Arms Institute is individually tailored to optimize patient outcomes.
Conveniently located throughout Richmond and Central Virginia, outpatient speech therapy services at Sheltering Arms Institute help people recover from a wide range of injuries and conditions. Outpatient therapy can help patients continue to progress after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation or can be the starting point of recovery for less severe injuries or illnesses.
Speech therapy technology
To evaluate the swallow, Sheltering Arms Institute speech-language pathologists utilize the modified barium swallow (MBS) and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES) tests to determine the appropriate technology and/or treatment plan for each person.
A modified barium swallow is performed in the radiology lab. Patients with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) consume various food consistencies mixed with barium so the speech pathologist can assess swallow safety and efficacy to determine diet and a treatment plan.
This technology is utilized to strengthen oral muscles—the tongue and lips—to improve speech intelligibility and/or swallow efficacy. It provides biofeedback to enhance patient performance.
A FEES is typically performed in the patient’s room. Patients with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) consume various food consistencies mixed with food-safe dye while the swallow mechanism is viewed endoscopically. The speech pathologist can assess swallow safety and efficacy to determine diet and a treatment plan.
NMES utilizes surface electrodes to provide electrical stimulation to the muscles of the throat and face to improve swallow function.
Patients can improve the muscles involved in coughing, speaking, and swallowing by inhaling and exhaling with force through these calibrated devices.
Speech therapy has been integral. I now can write complex documents for work and express myself. I would recommend Sheltering Arms Institute because everyone has been so encouraging, so kind, and so willing to go with me on my journey.
Speech therapy, also known as speech-language therapy, is the assessment and treatment of not only speech impairments, but also challenges with communication and swallowing. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), also known as speech therapists, perform speech therapy treatments.
People may need speech therapy due to a variety of conditions, including stroke, brain injury, progressive diseases, pulmonary dysfunction, or general debility—anything that could affect an individual’s ability to communicate, think, or swallow falls under speech therapy.
The term speech therapy can be misleading, as speech-language pathologists assess and treat all areas of communication, including verbal and written expression, auditory, and reading comprehension, along with impaired speech production, swallowing difficulty, voice disorders, and cognitive impairment as they relate to the ability to communicate.
Sheltering Arms Institute delivers the same services across our continuum of care. Typically, inpatient speech therapy is delivered five times a week while outpatients will have speech therapy appointments one to three times per week. Additionally, inpatient therapy requires two or more types of therapy while in outpatient, a physician may order one or more types of therapy as needed.
Several common types of speech therapy include treatment for aphasia (difficulty understanding and/or expressing language), apraxia (difficulty forming words and sounds), dysarthria (difficulty with speech clarity), and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) as well as trouble with cognition and voice.
Start your Journey
Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.
