Speech Therapy

Helping you communicate and swallow more efficiently

Our team of board-certified speech therapists is here to help you with swallowing, speech and communication. Speech therapy is part of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Services, which also includes physical therapy and occupational therapy and pediatric rehab

What does a speech therapist do?
A speech therapist is a healthcare professional who helps people with a wide range of issues connected to swallowing and communication.

What can a speech therapist treat?
Our speech therapists can diagnose and treat the following:

• Aphasia
• Apraxia
• Articulation
• Chronic neurological conditions (e.g., TBI, ALS, or Parkinson’s disease)
• Concussion
• Cognitive delays
• Changes in memory or cognition
• Executive functioning and problem-solving
• Expressive communication
• Hearing rehabilitation
• Hoarse voice or poor vocal quality
• Infant swallowing disorders, including difficulties breastfeeding or bottle feeding
• Oral motor skills
• Pediatric issues (e.g., communication delays, stuttering, feeding, etc.)
• Post-stroke care
• Reading and listening comprehension difficulties
• Social interaction
• Stuttering and fluency
• Slurred speech or speech that is difficult to understand
• Tongue, lip or buccal ties
• Vocal cord nodules

What specialized speech therapy does St. Luke’s offer?
St. Luke’s speech therapists

• VitalStim® Therapy for swallowing, including use of surface EMG and visual feedback
• Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) for Parkinson's patients
• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device assessments
• Infant breastfeeding evaluations completed by a certified lactation consultant

What does treatment look like?
Treatment can be broken into 3 steps:

1. A 60-minute initial assessment. In this first step, you and your speech therapist will develop a treatment plan. This plan will be custom-made for your individual needs and goals.
2. Appointments with your speech therapist for 4 to 6 weeks. Treatment plans will vary, but typically look like meeting with your speech therapist 1 to 2 times a week for 4 to 6 weeks. These meetings can include hands-on care, exercise, education and learning activities for you to do at home. Each appointment lasts about 45 minutes.
3. At-home activities and long-term recovery. Your success will largely depend on your commitment to doing the at-home activities you are given. This will require some effort and dedication on your part, but the outcome is always worth it. With these activities, you will be able to manage your condition long-term on your own.

How do I know if I should see a speech therapist?
Are you having difficulty expressing yourself, being understood, eating or drinking? Our goal is for you to be able to do the things you love and to be as functional as possible in your daily activities. If you are wondering if speech therapy can you help you, call 218.249.6040.

Do St. Luke’s speech therapists work with children?
Yes, our team is able to care for a wide range of ages, from newborns to adolescents

Referral required for this service. If you need one, talk to your primary care provider.
To establish care with a St. Luke’s primary care provider, call 218.249.4000 or find a clinic near you.