THERAPY AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPEECH DISORDERS

Dearborn County Hospital’s Speech Therapy Department is reminding parents to be aware of potential speech problems in children, including articulation disorders, language disorders, stuttering, swallowing difficulties and selective mutism.

“Children with speech and language disorders may feel insecure in interacting verbally with others,” explained Lissa Dillon, MA, CCC-SLP, Director of the DCH Speech Therapy Department.  “This in turn can affect the way they develop social skills and even affect their level of participation in the classroom.

“We encourage the parents of a child who speaks only a few words, has unclear speech or exhibits other related oral-motor problems to talk to their child’s doctor about a speech therapy referral,” Mrs. Dillon added.

As an added tool, parents may request a complimentary speech disorders checklist.  Produced by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the list serves as an additional way for parents to review their children’s hearing and speech patterns. 

Speech Pathologists are trained to deal with a wide range of speech and language disorders in both children and adults, including:

• articulation disorders including apraxia of speech

• swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia

• stuttering

• selective mutism

• language disorders such as aphasia

• medical conditions; for example, stroke or traumatic brain injury

• developmental conditions including autism or Down’s syndrome

DCH’s Speech Therapy Department is comprised of three Speech/Language Pathologists:  Mrs. Dillon; Lori Schroeder, MS, CCC-SLP; and Sarah McMullen, MS, CCC-SLP.  Each has earned a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.  The Speech Pathologists are available to see outpatients Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Private insurance and Medicaid are accepted.

For more information on services available through the Dearborn County Hospital Speech Therapy Department or to request a free checklist, please call the Speech Pathologists’ offices at (812) 537-8208 or (800) 676-5572, ext. 8208.