Speech Therapy

October 13, 2011

The posts on therapy prompted me to write.

First, my DH was riding our exercise bicycle with great results to

his health. Recently, he has been working on jobs required around

our mini farm, and has not had the time to keep that up. I see a

difference in him. The only way to assess the change is for him to

get back on that bicycle. Hopefully, with the shorter days and

changing weather, he will have time and energy to do so.

Secondly, DH started Speech Therapy this week with an LSVT certified

improve his mumbling and soft voice.

When I brought up Speech Therapy with my husband's doctor a couple

years ago, she was hesitant to discuss it. This is a newer style of

therapy that she learned about more recently than my inquiries with

her. She recommended this particular approach to us.

In talking with the therapist, she reported good results with longer

lasting retention, as did a former co-worker of mine who is also a

Speech Therapist. The therapist he is seeing stated that the

treatment is designed to retrain the brain to use different neural

paths for the nerve signals. She also added that there usually is

carry over into other areas, such as balance, gait, facial

expression, and swallowing. After 3 sessions, I see some difference

in his speech. I am not saying " What did you say? " near as

often. Ah... what a treat that is. One of his customers also

commented on it being easier to hear him. <big smile> Yes, he is

still working.

The therapy is intensive, in that it is an hour a day, several times

a week, for four weeks. It is a 45 minute drive, one way, so it is a

big chunk of time out of our day/week, but well worth it to us.

This therapy probably is not the answer for late stage patients, but,

it is well worth talking to the doctor about.

I will post more on his progress as the weeks go by.

I am not going to have much time during the next few weeks to tend to

my computer, so please excuse me if I don't get back to any

questions. I am also on digest, which takes more time to receive and

thus, reply.

Bonnie

Recommended Posts