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Speech Therapy (Inpatient)
Speech therapy, or speech and language pathology, is designed for individuals who have disorders that affect such things as speech, language, cognition, or swallowing. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) will provide rehabilitation or corrective treatment for those disorders. A physician’s referral is usually required for speech therapy, and insurance reimbursement typically requires verification of medical neccesity. Pre-certification of speech therapy services may be required for third party reimbursement.
There are different purposes for speech therapy which may vary based on the patient’s diagnosis. The speech therapist is trained to assess, diagnose, and treat difficulties with communication and swallowing. The therapist, in addition to improving individual abilities through rehabilitation, will also work in conjuction with other health providers and disciplines to improve the overall quality of life of the patient. The therapist will typically interact with family members or caregivers regarding behavior modification or compensation techniques to cope with a disorder.
The therapy program will be directed by a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). Following an initial interview and consultation, a plan of care will be outlined with expected outcomes. The plan of care may include such things as short and long term goals, reasonable estimates of when goals may be achieved, specific methods to be used for treatment, and frequency and duration of treatment. Treatment methods may be restorative in nature with a goal of restoring or improving function, or may be compensatory in nature with a focus on modifying or compensating for difficulties related to a specific communication or swallowing disorder.
- Nutritional counseling
- Educational programs
