What is a Speech Pathologist?
Speech Pathologists provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services for speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. Patients may require speech pathology services after a stroke, head injury, or cancer of the head and neck. Other patients have progressive diseases such as Parkinson's or Multiple Sclerosis (MS). They may have voice problems as a result of improper use of the voice or due to reflux disease.
What are the Signs/Symptoms of a Voice Disorder?
Difficulty in producing normal sound with the vocal cords can occur at any age and for many reasons. Unhealthy vocal cords can cause you to sound old when you are young, tired when you are rested, and ill when you are healthy. The voice can be over used, misused, and abused with predictable consequences. Some symptoms of a voice disorder include: hoarseness, breathiness, loss of pitch range, change in pitch where voice sounds either too high or too low, running out of breath, and breaks or strain in the voice.
What are the Signs/Symptoms of a Swallowing Disorder?
Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia. It can involve both the mouth and the throat. Some symptoms of a swallowing disorder include: drooling, sensation of something stuck in the throat, frequent choking episodes, chronic cough, postnasal drip, excessive phlegm, and frequent regurgitation of food or liquid. Dysphagia can lead to aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs as a result of food, liquid, or saliva passing into the lungs (aspiration) instead of into the stomach. This can be a life threatening condition.
Most insurance plans cover rehabilitative services. Our business office will complete insurance authorization prior to your visit to determine your exact benefits and any out-of-pocket expenses you might be responsible for.
How Do I Get an Appointment to See the Speech Pathologist?
Individuals who have suffered a stroke or have a progressive neurological disease (Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, etc.) commonly have some difficulty with speech and/or language. Speech or articulation problems may include slowness in producing words, weak voice or volume, or difficulty producing specific sounds. Primary signs of a language disorder include difficulty in expressing oneself, difficulty speaking or "finding" words, trouble understanding speech, and difficulty with reading and writing.
What are the Signs/Symptoms of a Speech or Language Problem?
Please discuss your signs or symptoms with your physician. Your physician will conduct an examination to determine the nature of your complaint and provide a referral to the speech pathologist if determined necessary.
Will My Insurance Cover Speech Pathology Services?
What Happens on My First Visit?
Please contact any one of our three offices for referral instructions and appointments. Offices, addresses, and phone numbers are listed on the Locations and Contact Us links on this website. Our business office will assist with insurance authorization prior to booking of your appointment.
The first visit to the speech pathologist will be to evaluate the nature of your complaints. Your physician will explain the diagnostic tests that will be completed. The receptionist should also provide you with a handout explaining the exam. Most initial visits are approximately 1 hour in length.
How Often Do I Have to Come for Therapy and for How Long?
If it is determined that therapy would be beneficial, the speech pathologist will discuss your plan of care with you. She will explain the goals of your therapy and the recommended frequency and duration of treatment. Most therapy visits are 30 minutes in length. Frequency is usually once to twice weekly. Duration is dependent on the severity of your problem.
What Speech Pathology Services does Alamo ENT Provide?
Alamo ENT Associates provides a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options for speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders. This allows for direct and timely communication between the doctor, patient, and therapist.
Our Speech Pathologist
Chantal Jarzombek is a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist. She received her Master's of Science Degree in Communication Disorders from Southwest Texas State University in 1989. She specializes in medical speech pathology with primary interests in swallowing and voice disorders and speech and language rehabilitation.
Appointments
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website