Speech Therapy

Fitzgibbon Hospital Rehabilitation Services
2305 S. Highway 65 | Marshall, MO 65340
(660) 831-3236

Speech Therapy is the discipline that assesses and treats speech and language disorders as well as swallowing disorders.  The section of speech therapy that focuses on language is looking at receptive language (the ability to understand words spoken to you and expressive language (the ability to express yourself).  It also deals with the mechanics of producing words, such as articulation, pitch, fluency and volume.  Adults may need speech therapy after a stroke or traumatic accident while for children it usually involves pursuing milestones that have been delayed.

Speech Therapy also treats people experiencing swallowing disorders (dysphagia).  These disorders occur at different stages of the swallowing process.

Oral Phase - Sucking, chewing and moving food or liquid into the throat.

Pharyngeal Phase - Starting to swallow, squeezing food down the throat and closing off the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway (aspiration) or to prevent choking.

Esophageal Phase - Relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding tube in the throat and squeezing the food through the esophagus into the stomach.

For questions or additional information about the Speech Therapy program at Fitzgibbon Hospital, please call our Rehabilitation Services department at (660) 831-3236.