Speech & Swallow Center Chicago

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Downers Grove, IL
Speech & Swallow Center Chicago

Speech-language pathology services specializing in infant, pediatric and adult feeding and swallowing

09/24/2023

New on the blog | Hear from pediatric feeding expert and pediatric occupational therapist, Marsha Dunn Klein, on pediatric feeding with empathy, and eight ways to think through a compassionate lens.

Hear more directly from Marsha Dunn Klein here: https://bit.ly/3Rj5iYU

07/03/2023

Let's Discuss Feeding vs Swallowing for a moment.

According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), "Feeding disorders include problems with sucking, eating from a spoon, chewing, or drinking from a cup.

In contrast, swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh) are difficulties with moving food or liquid from the mouth, throat, or esophagus to the stomach.

Feeding and swallowing disorders are often related to other medical conditions but may also occur without a known cause."

Typically, we think of feeding as being part of a developmental skill set where as dysphagia can be an impairment in swallowing at any age or stage of life.

At Speech & Swallow Center, we treat feeding and swallowing problems throughout the life-span: from breast/bottle feeding issues in infancy, to difficulty transitioning to solids and various pediatric feeding disorders; all the way through swallowing issues that tend to occur in adulthood. These may include swallowing difficulties related to stroke, neurological disease, the presence or treatment of head and neck cancers and other various causes of feeding or swallowing disorders.

07/01/2023

I would be remiss if I let June pass us by without acknowledging Dysphagia Awareness Month. So...What is Dysphagia and what do we do about it?

Quite simply, dysphagia means "difficulty swallowing." This is wide-ranging and can include anything from difficulty chewing or moving the food around your mouth, to difficulty swallowing the food through your throat and can sometimes lead to food or liquids "going down the wrong pipe."

Signs of Dysphagia Include:
- coughing when eating/drinking
- recurring pneumonia or chest infections
- unexplained chronic cough
- a voice that sounds wet or gurgly after you eat or drink
- weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat/drink enough
- sensation of foods sticking in the throat when eating

A speech-language pathologist can be influential in working to evaluate and treat swallowing difficulties

This may include working to strengthen muscles that are weak, to teach compensatory strategies for difficulties with swallowing, to recommend modifications to diet consistencies or some combination of these therapies.

05/03/2023

It's our favorite month of the year!

May is PFD Awareness Month! Join us all month long as we raise visibility for children with pediatric feeding disorder. We will share ways that you can spread the word, get involved, and change the landscape of care for PFD.

Learn about PFD Month here: https://bit.ly/3nd3u6Z

04/23/2023

Hello Chicago’s Western Suburbs!

Let me introduce myself and the Speech and Swallow Center!

I am a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with almost 13 years of experience (whoa! How did that happen?!). I have worked in MANY different settings but have spent the vast majority of my time as an SLP working in acute care. I specialize in feeding and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. I have worked in several neonatal intensive care units in the Chicagoland area, helping babies develop feeding skills in order to discharge home. I have worked with young children with pediatric feeding disorders and adults with swallowing disorders (specializing in head and neck cancers).

Speech and Swallow Center is a home-based private practice - that means WE WILL COME TO YOU! You or your loved one can receive specialized feeding or swallowing therapy in the comfort of your own home, in your most natural environment.

Please reach out - send us a message, visit our webpage, send an email or place a phone call if you think we may be of service to you or someone you love. We would love to provide a 15 minute free consult over the phone to see if we are a good fit for you!

Address

Downers Grove, IL
60516

Telephone

+16302169616

Website

http://speechandswallowtherapychicago.com/

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