Serving The Greater Los Angeles Area
ph: 323-868-7078
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Speech Production, Language, Voice, Augmentative/Alternative Communication, Reading, Writing, Auditory Comprehension, Passy-Muir/In-dwelling Prosthesis, Alaryngeal/esophogeal Speech Production, Trache/Vent, Swallowing, & Cognition Evaluation/Therapy Services.
Therapy focuses on treatment of voice production, oral motor strength/coordination, word finding, language processing, reading, writing, augmentative/alternative communication strategy & device training/programming, & caregvier education/training.
Therapy is also available for clients who use trache/vent support as well as Passy-Muir Valves, indwelling prostheses, & clients who have had laryngectomy (trache/vent services require medical clearance by the client's doctor, respiratory therapist, &/or ENT specialist).
Therapy focuses on attention, alertness, thought organization, reasoning, problem solving, safety awareness, computations, memory, orientation, & caregiver training/education. Our primary goal is to assist the client to improve functional independence in the performance of daily living tasks to facilitate a successful work, educational, social, &/or community re-entry experience.
Therapy focuses on improvement of acceptance of new textures (for clients who have tactile defensiveness), increasing oral-pharyngeal/laryngeal strength/coordination, & the use of functional strategies to facilitate safe intake of food/liquids &/or improve secretion management.
For clients who are safe for oral intake, food/liquid trials are modified to the least restrictive consistencies judged safest for the client. Optimal safety & a conservative, but agressive approach are taken, including regular monitoring of client temperatures, chest x-rays (when available from the MD), & informally by chest sounds. Food/liquid trials are presented along with caregiver education & training for strategy cuing as well as demonstration of how to prepare recommended consistencies.
Clients who require trache/vent support & or use a G-tube/PEG may also be candidates for oral diets. Evaluation & training to determine the least restrictive diet consistencies safe for oral intake are provided with doctor/respiratory therapist/ENT specialist approval.
For those clients who are still judged high aspiration risks & unable to safely accept oral intake, there are several approaches available to facilitate recovery. Examples of therapy approaches without food/liquid intake include thermal stimulation, gustatory stimulation, & oral motor exercises. Future VitalStim program use of electrical stimulation is expected to also be available by Fall, 2009.
Client skills and goals are broken down into stages for a hierarchy approach to developing & achieving success. Strategy development begins with those techniques that are the most socially acceptable & that the client is able to perform the most independently. Clients are assessed to determine the most functional strategies for him/her & ascertain the level of his/her dependence on cuing. From here, we start a routine of training the client & caregivers to use his/her cuing hierarchy to perform difficult tasks. Clients learn to begin with the most independent strategies & continue attempts when unsuccessful using progressively more dependent strategies until the client is able to successfully perform every trial.
For more information about our services, the use of strategy hierarchies, or how our functional therapy approach can help you meet your goals, please contact us by phone at:
(323) 868-7078
or by email at:
Serving The Greater Los Angeles Area
ph: 323-868-7078
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