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Speech, Language & Swallow Therapy

Speech, Language and Swallow Therapy treats your difficulty with speech, social communication and language processing, as well as swallowing difficulties which may follow surgery, stroke, injury, or other conditions. Inpatient and outpatient services are provided for all ages at both Cape Cod Hospital, Falmouth Hospital as well as across our Behavioral Health services. This also includes pediatric therapy needs.

In addition, outpatient video-based swallow studies are available at both hospital locations. Our Speech Language Pathologists work closely with the Oncology teams at both hospitals to address swallowing and speech disorders resulting from treatment of head and neck cancers.

Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs)

Our SLPs specialize in treating speech, language, and cognitive-linguistic dysfunction. SLPs are also the preferred providers of dysphagia services and are integral members of an interprofessional team to diagnose and manage oral and pharyngeal dysphagia. SLPs recognize causes and signs/symptoms of esophageal dysphagia and make appropriate referrals for its diagnosis and management.

Expert therapists evaluate and develop personalized treatment plans to address the following:

  • Swallowing disorders (dysphagia), including exercises to strengthen muscles involved in swallowing, training in compensatory swallowing strategies, and caregiver/patient education. Diagnostic swallowing assessments may include the use of Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBS)and/or Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
  • Difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently, including stuttering or problems with voice
  • Difficulties with word-finding or speaking the correct words
  • Difficulty understanding others or expressing thoughts to others via language
  • Challenges with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication
  • Cognitive-communication challenges: organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving

Outpatient services are offered in both Hyannis and Falmouth and the Falmouth program provides LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Therapy) designed to aid patients with Parkinson's Disease. SLPs at both locations are trained in use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation as part of swallowing therapy. At-home Speech, Language and Swallow Therapy is also provided through the VNA of Cape Cod

International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is an evidence-based means of standardizing dysphagia diets worldwide. Historically, texture modified diets were crafted by individual healthcare entities or relied on the National Dysphasic Diet (NDD) as a guide. These diets are not standardized across facilities and therefore patients may encounter inconsistent guidelines when shifting from one healthcare facility to another.

As of October 2021, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) stopped recognizing NDD and other diets, and IDDSI is now the only texture modified diet in the United States.

Cape Cod Healthcare is fully IDDSI compliant, and our speech therapy specialists work with our patients to ensure all nutritional needs are met while at our facilities or when transitioning to a home-care setting.