Speech-Language Services

Difficulties with swallowing and feeding may stem from a number of conditions. A modified barium swallow study (an x-ray of the swallow) may be done in conjunction with the radiology department to further evaluate function.

Stuttering (dysfluency) is a speech disorder characterized by interruptions in the flow of speech. 

Stuttering may increase based on environmental stressors or language demands. Stuttering may resolve on its own or may persist, requiring speech-language intervention.

Therapy may include fluency shaping, stuttering modification, parent-child interaction, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Symptoms of voice and resonance disorders often include hoarseness, loss of voice, reduced volume, breathy quality or excessively nasal speech. Our speech-language pathologists work closely with the otolaryngology and plastic surgery departments to provide care for conditions including vocal fold nodules, polyps, cysts, and paralysis; paradoxical vocal fold movement; velopharyngeal insufficiency/incompetence; cleft palate/ lip/submucous cleft; and gender transitions.

Treatment for voice and resonance disorders may include vocal hygiene education, direct individualized speech therapy for resonance disorders, and vocal function exercises.

We provide all types of therapy to children whose native language is not English.

Our bilingual speech-language pathologist provides services to Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking children who display communication delays/disorders. The therapist understands both cultural and language differences and the process of normal speech and language acquisition for both bilingual and monolingual individuals.

Cochlear implantation requires an audiological evaluation which includes conventional testing and sedated auditory brainstem response (ABR) and other specialized tests for the diagnosis of hearing loss. Our team will provide an evaluation and fitting for hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.

Speech perception testing, speech-language/communication evaluation, and speech-language and auditory rehabilitation therapy all are part of the services provided to cochlear implant patients.

Brown University Health provides comprehensive audiological services to children with various degrees of hearing loss. We also offer fitting of all types of hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Before dispensing a hearing aid, patients receive an audiological evaluation which includes conventional testing and sedated auditory brainstem response (ABR) and other specialized tests of middle and inner ear function.

Speech-language evaluations will be arranged with our speech/language pathology department.