An Integrative Approach to Speech Therapeutic Services in Adult Populations

with Neurological Disorders

DysphasiaPragmatic Communication

Cognitive Impairments

Integrative Approaches

• Medical Integrative Therapies– History and development– Research Basis– Used to call it Holistic Medicine, now we integrate

and synthesize our approaches to incorporate all areas of treatment into our Speech Therapy treatment approaches.

Neurological Basis

• Speech Evaluation Includes an assessment of– Overall Neurological functioning (TBI, Stroke,

Dementia, Progressive Neuro)– Feeding and Swallowing Function– Cognitive Ability– Language Ability , Receptive/Expressive/Pragmatic

Neurological Fx

• Neuro report • Observation: Hemiplegic? Do they walk? How

do they walk to the therapy room? With assistance? Ataxic? Rate?

• Handedness and dominant for writing?• Hemianopsia or other visual field disorders?

Feeding and swallowing

• Diagnostic Screening• FEES• Approaches

Cognitive Functioning

• Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test

Language Ability

• Tests to use