Speech & Language Therapy
The speech therapy department of the rehabilitation Center "Kentavros" evaluates and provides therapeutic treatment to adults with neurological or degenerative diseases and in elderly patients who have suffered strokes or CNS degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.
The evaluation of a disorder involves the record of a patient’s detailed case-history, conducted by the speech therapist, who then assesses any difficulties with specialized techniques (such as oral diagnosis), sets the diagnosis and recommends better therapeutic intervention.
The range of disorders which can be dealt includes:
Communication - speech disorders (aphasia, inactivity and confused speech). The patient cannot express or understand oral or written speech. Such disorders usually exist in the cognitive field, memory, attention, concentration, problem solving, space and time orientation, especially in patients who have had a stroke or suffer from Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
Speech - flow disorders (dysarthria). A disturbance of breathing, articulation, resonance, introspection or flow of speech is present.
Voice disorders (dysphonia, speechlessness). Voice disturbances in intensity, duration, and voice quality are observed, particularly in patients who have had laryngectomy or glossectomy.
Chewing and swallowing disorders (dysphagia). There is difficulty in chewing and swallowing solids and / or liquids. Also, serious difficulties are caused about the patient‘s safe feeding and drinking.
The most frequent interventions used in the Center for patients with brain damage are oral exercises, followed by facial massage, the naming cards which are used to re-educate the patient on cognitive functions, memory, understanding, attention and expressive speech, and finally by the swallowing test which helps to design the optimum diet for each patient.