Rehabilitation Health Article

Speech therapy

Speech therapy helps the patient correct speech disorders or restore speech. Speech therapy may be prescribed to rehabilitate a patient after a brain injury, cancer, neuromuscular diseases, stroke, and other injuries/illnesses. The duration of the speech therapy program varies depending on the injury/illness being treated and the patient's response to therapy.

Performed by a speech pathologist, speech therapy involves regular meetings with the therapist in an individual or group setting and home exercises. To strengthen muscles, the patient might be asked to say words, smile, close his mouth, or stick out his tongue. Picture cards may be used to help the patient remember everyday objects and increase his vocabulary. The patient might use picture boards of everyday activities or objects to communicate with others. Workbooks might be used to help the patient recall the names of objects and practice reading, writing, and listening. Computer programs are available to help sharpen speech, reading, recall, and listening skills.

Other types of therapists

Inhalation therapists, audiologists, and registered dietitians are other types of therapists. Inhalation therapists help the patient learn to use respirators and other breathing aids to restore or support breathing. Audiologists help diagnose the patient's hearing loss and recommend solutions. Dietitians provide dietary advice to help the patient recover from or avoid specific problems or diseases.

Rehabiltation centers

Rehabilitation services are provided in a variety of settings including clinical and office practices, hospitals, skilled-care nursing homes, sports medicine clinics, and some health maintenance organizations. Some therapists make home visits. Advice on choosing the appropriate type of therapy and therapist is provided by the patient's medical team.

BOOKS

Hertling, Darlene, and Randolph Kessler. Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders: Physical Therapy Principles and Methods. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1996.

Institute of Medicine. Enabling America: Assessing the Role of Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997.

Myers, Rose Sgarlat. Saunders Manual of Physical Therapy. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co., 1995.

Oxford Medical Publications. Oxford Textbook of Sports Medicine. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Pedretti, Lorraine Williams, ed. Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Disfunction. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1996.

PERIODICALS

Bloom, Marc. "Know Thy Injury." Women's Sports & Fitness (May 1997): 81.

Enderby, Pam. "Speech and Language Therapy: Does It Work?" Student British Medical Journal 4, no. 43 (Aug. 1996): 282.

"Speech After Stroke: Rehabilitation Enhances Recovery and Lifestyle." Mayo Clinic Health Letter (Aug. 1996).

ORGANIZATIONS

National Rehabilitation Association. 633 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 836-0850.

National Rehabilitation Information Center. 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 935, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (800) 34-NARIC.

Rehabilitation International. 25 East 21st St., New York, NY 10010. (212) 420-1500.

OTHER

"Speech-Language Pathology," "Physical Therapy," and "Occupational Therapy." A Healthy Me Page. 27 Feb.1998. 15 Apr. 1998 <http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/topic100587394>.

Lori De Milto

KEY TERMS

Orthotist—A health care professional who is skilled in making and fitting orthopedic appliances.

Physiatrist—A physician who specializes in physical medicine.

Prosthetist—A health care professional who is skilled in making and fitting artificial parts (prosthetics) for the human body.