Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Services

Speech-Language Pathologists at Michigan Medicine provide education, tools, and speaking opportunities to practice communication styles in a supportive clinical setting. Interested individuals should obtain a referral from their physician and check with their insurance provider for coverage.

Designed to rehabilitate voice and prevent further injury to the vocal cords. A Speech-Language Pathologist trained in singing also participates in the interdisciplinary Vocal Health Program through the Department of Otolaryngology.

An augmentative/alternative communication (ACC) evaluation assesses children or adults who cannot make their needs understood through speech. When speech is not easily understood, options are available to promote effective communication. 

These options may include dedicated augmentative communication devices or computer programs that produce speech or provide a visual display of a person’s thoughts and ideas. 

Various devices, such as switches and eye-gaze systems, are explored when a client is unable to directly access the communication system. 

The pediatric augmentative/alternative communication program provides a comprehensive assessment of communication and communication options. 

The Speech-Language Pathologist will coordinate the evaluation; the expertise of an Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Engineer may contribute to recommendations for specific communication systems. 

Prior to scheduling an augmentative/alternative communication assessment, please provide the AAC Speech-Language Pathologist with records of past device use and school program information, which are important for ensuring that the assessment is both efficient and effective. 

Adult augmentative-alternative communication assessment is focused on assisting adults with acquired communication disorders (for example, ALS, traumatic brain injury, stroke) to adopt an effective communication method. When the evaluation is complete, results are reviewed with the client and family/caregiver and recommendations are offered. 

Recommendations may include a specific speech generating device or other methods to enhance communication.

Speech-Language Pathologists evaluate adults who are experiencing difficulties with communication. The typical evaluation will be performed in a quiet office and may include assessment of: 

Results of the speech-language evaluation can be used to formulate an individualized treatment program, if appropriate. Results of the evaluation will be sent to you and your physician; communication difficulties may reflect specific medical diseases and test information may contribute to formulation of the medical diagnosis/treatment plan.

When a person experiences a brain injury, memory and thinking processes may be affected. Cognitive skills include the ability to focus and sustain attention, store and retrieve new information, analyze and organize information, problem-solve and initiate plans of action. Impairment in cognitive skills impact a person’s communicative effectiveness. 

Cognitive-communicative therapy follows an evaluation that identifies cognitive areas of strengths and weaknesses. The therapy plan will address specific components of cognitive functioning, building on cognitive strengths and working with the patient to develop strategies to compensate for remaining areas of weaknesses.

If your physician has referred you to Speech-Language Pathology for a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) we will complete this study in conjunction with the GI Radiology Department. 

The VFSS is a quick and painless x-ray procedure, which examines the oral (mouth) and pharyngeal (throat) stages of the swallow system in order to assess the nature of the swallowing difficulty. 

Typically, a patient is given different types of food and liquid from a spoon, cup and /or straw, as if eating a meal. The foods involved may include applesauce, pudding, fruit cocktail, a graham cracker or a cookie. The food is coated with a small amount of barium. 

Each swallow is watched on a monitor while being recorded digitally. The Speech-Language Pathologist will then identify problems in the swallowing process and make appropriate diet recommendations, swallowing strategies or referral recommendations to your physician. 

These procedures are used to view the larynx (voice box), swallowing mechanism (throat) and velopharyngeal port (the area between your nose and throat that regulates the amount of nasality present in speech). 

As part of the diagnostic or therapeutic process, your referring physician may ask an SLP to complete either of these procedures. 

Nasoendoscopy is completed using a flexible endoscope that   is placed through the nose.  

For more detailed viewing of the vocal folds during voice production, a stroboscopic light is used to evaluate vocal fold movement and closure patterns. Breathing patterns may also be observed, in conjunction with vocal fold movement. 

The type of endoscope used for the procedure depends on the evaluation’s purpose and the patient’s tolerance for a particular endoscope.  

In assessment of velopharyngeal functioning, the flexible endoscope is inserted along the floor of the nose to the junction of the posterior nose and throat. 

The patient is then asked to speak and the movement and closure patterns of muscles are observed.  Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) involves insertion of the endoscope through the nose into the upper throat by the SLP who then observes the throat and larynx while the patient swallows foods of various types.

Endoscopic evaluation of voice, breathing patterns, swallowing and velopharyngeal functioning is completed by a SLP who has been trained in the performance of endoscopy evaluations. 

Read: What to expect during your child’s speech and language evaluation 

Voice is produced when the vocal folds are set into vibration by air passing through them during exhalation. The sound produced is then shaped into words, phrases and sentences by structures contained within the throat and oral cavity to produce speech. 

A voice disorder may exist when the pitch, loudness or quality of the voice is atypical for the age or gender of an individual. Symptoms of vocal difficulties can include hoarseness, breathiness, vocal fatigue, increased vocal effort, inappropriately high- or low-pitched voice, and pain with voicing. 

Associated laryngeal issues that can be included in the spectrum of voice disorders include chronic non-productive cough and upper airway respiratory difficulties (paradoxical vocal fold motion). 

The Otolaryngologist diagnoses the voice disorder and refers the patient to Speech-Language Pathology for voice therapy. A variety of medical professionals may be involved in assessment and treatment of voice disorders. 

There are several techniques used to evaluate a person’s voice. The speech-language pathologist interviews the patient to obtain insight into the individual’s perception of their voice. 

A perceptual analysis is completed, with the clinician analyzing the quality of the voice in various contexts. Specific computerized testing provides objective data regarding the perceptual attributes of the voice and airflow used during voice production. 

Finally, imaging of the larynx (voice box) with either a flexible or rigid endoscope under halogen or stroboscopic light (videostroboscopy) supplies valuable information as to how the larynx functions when in use. 

The diagnosis of head and neck cancer is a significant life challenge, and speech-language pathologists specializing in this area of care will work closely with your medical team to provide you with communication and swallowing options. 

Head and neck cancers may occur in areas that are important to speech and swallowing. The lips, upper or lower jaw (maxilla and mandible), alveolar ridge, hard or soft palate, tongue, tonsil, thyroid gland, parotid gland, pharynx or larynx. 

The tumor itself, or the required surgery, chemo or radiation therapies, may affect a person’s ability to speak or swallow. 

Referral for evaluation of communication and/or swallowing disorders is generally made by one of the Oncology team members: Otolaryngologist, Radiation Oncologist or Medical Oncologist. 

We also accept referrals from other members of the treatment team, including the Primary Care Physician. 

Formal and informal assessment measures are used during the initial communication skills assessment. Informally, voice, resonance (nasality) and speech intelligibility are evaluated during spontaneous and structured speech tasks. 

A formal assessment of voice uses measures including computerized analysis of key voice components (pitch, loudness, quality) and/or imaging of the larynx with either a flexible or rigid endoscope. 

For further information on voice assessment, please refer to information on Voice Disorders on this website. 

Use of nasoendoscopy (flexible scope inserted through the nose) may be required to assess resonance (nasality) via assessment of the soft palate’s function. 

A computerized assessment of speech resonance, using a Nasometer, may also be useful in establishing the level of nasality present in speech. 

The Resonance section on this website provides additional information on resonance evaluation/treatment. 

Speech evaluation includes assessment of how clear speech sounds to a listener. Objective test measures may be used to isolate imprecise production of specific speech sounds or clusters of sounds. 

In individuals with laryngeal cancer, use of an alternative means of communication may be necessary. Therefore, evaluation for use of an electronic communication device, an artificial larynx, or TracheoEsophageal (TE) voice, may be indicated. The artificial larynx generates sound. 

This sound is transferred into the oral cavity and the patient shapes the sound into words. TE voice is generated by air flow from the lungs through a voice prosthesis placed into the esophagus. 

Once the air enters the esophagus it passes through a muscular segment, the PE segment, causing it to vibrate and produce sound. The sound travels into the oral cavity and the patient shapes this sound into words. The Speech-Language Pathologist provides instruction in how to use the artificial larynx and how to produce TE voice. 

Following treatment for head and neck cancer, individuals who have trouble swallowing (dysphagia) will benefit from a clinical evaluation of swallowing. 

When food or liquid is not swallowed safely, it can result in airway and medical problems, including pneumonia. Speech-Language Pathologists assess swallowing, examining the safety of various types of food consistencies (solid, semi-solid, liquid). 

They may schedule, upon physician referral, and based on the initial clinical swallowing test, either a Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) or a modified barium swallow study (often called a VFSS, or 3- Phase swallow study). 

The FEES is an evaluation in which a flexible endoscope is placed just below the base of the tongue to visualize the pharyngeal structures before and after the swallow. 

The 3- phase (VFSS) swallow study is completed with GI Radiology. It involves eating or drinking food or liquid mixed with barium. 

The barium allows the radiologist and SLP to view the food or liquid as it moves from the mouth to the stomach, essentially a “moving X-Ray” of the swallow. Please refer to the Dysphagia section for additional details on these studies. 

The need for speech or swallowing therapy following a head and neck cancer diagnosis will be based on the results of the evaluation. Therapy may include oral motor exercises, speech drills, swallowing exercises and training on strategies to improve speech and/or swallowing. 

The length of therapy will vary depending upon the type and severity of the disorder. However, in most cases therapy is short term (4-8 weeks). 

The exception to the rule is management of TracheoEsophageal (TE) speech and the TE voice prosthesis. 

This generally requires continued evaluation and management for the duration of a patient’s life. Treatment intervals vary.

After a full swallow evaluation, speech-language pathologists may find that a specific group of patients do benefit from a thickener to make their liquids thicker. These patients are carefully monitored and the thickener is discontinued as soon as possible. However, in most of our evaluations, we find that a thickener is not needed. 

We avoid thickeners whenever possible, given that there is a risk of dehydration. Occasionally, thicker liquids can be more difficult to swallow if there is any weakness in the throat.