Speech-language pathologists identify, diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. The human experience, if nothing else, is to share a meal and conversation with family and friends. At any age, communication and swallowing difficulties can negatively impact self-esteem, confidence, relationships, vocational aspirations, education and health, as well as family, workplace, and community participation. 

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Communication disorders commonly experienced by adults include:

• Language Disorders - Difficulty formulating, expressing and/or understanding language in any modality (i.e., speaking, understanding, reading, and/or writing).

• Cognitive-Communication Disorders - Difficulty with communication as a result of underlying cognitive deficits, (i.e., as a result of decreased attention, memory, reasoning and/or executive function skills).

• Speech Disorders - Impaired or unintelligible speech production due to misarticulation of speech sounds and/or dysprosody. 

• Fluency Disorders (Stuttering) - A disorder of speech production in which the natural flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions, prolongations, and/or pauses. 

• Voice Disorders - An abnormality of pitch, volume and/or vocal quality. 

• Resonance Disorders - A dysfunction of oral and nasal airflow affecting verbal communication. 

• Hearing Disorders - An impairment in the auditory system affecting the perception of sounds, including speech sounds, in the environment.

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In addition, dysphagia is an impairment or disorder of the process of deglutition affecting the oral, pharyngeal and/or esophageal phases of swallowing.

 

Speech-language pathologists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who aim to maximize life participation for adults with communication and swallowing disorders. If you’ve experienced a change in your ability to communicate or swallow as a result of an underlying medical condition or as a part of aging, contact us today. 

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Adapted from the Practice Standards and Guidelines for the Assessment of Adults by Speech-Language Pathologists published by CASLPO, 2018.

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