|
|
|
|
|
School of Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences
Speech-Language Services to Adults in Demand
|
A rehabilitation session at the SDSU-CC
|
San Diego State University (SDSU) graduate students in the Speech-Language Pathology MA program in the School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (www.slhs.sdsu.edu) are putting their skills in action at the San Diego State University Communications Clinic (SDSU-CC), by providing assessment and treatment services to children and adults who have speech and language disorders. These students are supervised by speech-language pathology clinical faculty who are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
The Clinic has recently experienced a substantial increase in the number of adults seeking services following acquired neurological deficits caused by strokes, tumors, traumatic brain injuries and degenerative disorders. These disorders can cause aphasia (problems with comprehension and production of language), dysarthria (speech problems caused by muscle weakness or incoordination), apraxia (difficulty with motor planning for speech production) and cognitive deficits affecting memory, reasoning, and judgment.
There are many reasons for the increase in the numbers of adults seeking services. First, the population is getting older, and seniors are most at-risk for strokes. According to the National Aphasia Association, 25 to 40 percent of people, or approximately 1 in 250 Americans, who have had a stroke will experience aphasia.
"As population increases and people are living longer, certainly there will be more and more individuals living with communication problems," said Sharron Turner, coordinator of the Neurogenic Communication Disorders program for the SDSU-CC. "However, strokes can happen to anyone at any age. We are currently treating young adults in their 20s and 30s, and most of our clients who have experienced strokes are under the age of 55."
Another reason for the increase in services to adults is the collaboration between the clinical and academic faculty to provide the clients with the most effective and beneficial treatment possible. Clients and their families know that by coming to the SDSU-CC, they are receiving the most up-to-date intervention that has a strong research base to demonstrate efficacy. Referrals to the program are received from health care providers and speech-language pathologists in the community who recognize the outstanding services the program provides.
In addition to individual speech and language treatment, the Neurogenic Communication Disorders program also provides group treatment that serves to improve the clients' ability to communicate in social contexts. Currently, there are groups for adults who have had either a stroke or a brain injury, and the treatment focuses on the particular challenges faced when individuals are attempting to communicate in social situations.
Finally, as resources in the community become more limited due to cutbacks in HMOs, Medi-Care and Medi-Cal programs, clients who require more services than can be provided through health insurance are referred for the continuation of their rehabilitation programs. Speech and language services can be provided at SDSU-CC on a sliding-scale basis for individuals with low-incomes and the fees are a fraction of what is paid for in the community. For more information about speech, language or hearing services at the SDSU Communication Clinic, please call (619) 594-7747.
http://slhs.sdsu.edu
|
|
 |
