Neurological Diseases

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy is a disease that causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. There are different types of muscular dystrophy and symptoms can show at different ages and different muscle groups. While there is no cure, therapy and medication can help prevent the disease from spreading faster.

SYMPTOMS

  • Individuals with Muscular Dystrophy may experience difficulties with speaking and / or swallowing and require services provided by a Speech, Language and Swallowing Therapist. An individual with Muscular Dystrophy may experience:
    • Dysarthria: A motor speech disorder that causes slurred speech due to muscle weakness. An individual with Dysarthria may have slurred speech, be difficult to understand, speak slowly or too fast, vocal changes, difficulty with moving lips / tongue / jaw and with coordinating breathing / speaking.
    • Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can be caused by Muscular Dystrophy. An individual with Dysphagia may suffer from weakness of the oral muscles (lips, tongue, jaw) and experience difficulties with chewing food and / or clearing it out of the mouth. Additionally, people may experience frequent coughing and choking while eating and drinking due to weakness of the throat muscles. This can lead to other serious medical conditions including dehydration, malnutrition and Pneumonia, if left untreated.

HOW WE CAN HELP

  • It is essential to be seen by a Speech, Language and Swallowing Therapist when experiencing speech and swallowing difficulties. A speech therapist can assist with improving speech by training in strategies and working on producing sounds more clearly.  In addition, a speech therapist will train in necessary compensatory strategies and modify food textures in order to swallow safely.
  • At Q Enrichment Center, our Speech, Language and Swallowing Pathologist will conduct an extensive comprehensive assessment to determine the type of difficulty, the severity, as well as the diagnosis. A detailed report will be completed along with a treatment plan specific to each individual’s needs.

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis or MG is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes weakness of certain muscles. Muscle weakness worsen after being active. Muscle weakness improves after getting rest. There is no cure for Myasthenia Gravis or MG, but with the proper treatment and therapy, it can be managed.

SYMPTOMS

  • Individuals with Myasthenia Gravis or MG may experience difficulties with speaking and / or swallowing and require services provided by a Speech, Language and Swallowing Therapist. An individual with Myasthenia Gravis or MG may experience:
    • Dysarthria: A motor speech disorder that causes slurred speech due to muscle weakness. An individual with Dysarthria caused by Myasthenia Gravis often sound hypernasal, breathy, hoarse, soft in volume and may have distorted articulation.
    • Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can be caused by Muscular Dystrophy. An individual with Dysphagia may suffer from weakness of the oral muscles (lips, tongue, jaw) and experience difficulties with chewing food and/or clearing it out of the mouth.  Additionally, people may experience frequent coughing and choking while eating and drinking due to weakness of the throat muscles.  This can lead to other serious medical conditions including dehydration, malnutrition and Pneumonia, if left untreated.

HOW WE CAN HELP

  • It is essential to be seen by a Speech-Language and Swallowing Therapist when experiencing speech and swallowing difficulties. A speech therapist can assist with improving speech by training in strategies and working on producing sounds more clearly.  In addition, a speech therapist will train in necessary compensatory strategies and modify food textures in order to swallow safely.
  • At Q Enrichment Center, our Speech-Language Swallowing Therapist will conduct an extensive comprehensive assessment to determine the type of difficulty, the severity, as well as the diagnosis. A detailed report will be completed along with a treatment plan specific to each individual’s needs.

Motor Neuron Disease (MND)

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that affects the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord impacting voluntary muscle movement. As Motor Neuron Disease (MND) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) progresses, it weakens the muscles of the mouth causing speech and swallowing difficulties.

SYMPTOMS

  • Individuals with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) may experience difficulties with speaking and / or swallowing and require services provided by a Speech, Language and Swallowing Therapist. An individual with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) may experience:
    • Dysarthria: A motor speech disorder that causes slurred speech due to muscle weakness. Individuals who have Dysarthria caused by MND or ALS often sound breathy, low-pitched and monotone.  They have poor respiratory control.
    • Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can be caused by MND or ALS. An individual with Dysphagia may suffer from weakness of the oral muscles (lips, tongue, jaw) and experience difficulties with chewing food and / or clearing it out of the mouth.  Additionally, people may experience frequent coughing and choking while eating and drinking due to weakness of the throat muscles.  This can lead to other serious medical conditions including dehydration, malnutrition and Pneumonia if left unchecked
    • It is essential to be seen by a Speech-Language and Swallowing Therapist in order to be trained in necessary compensatory strategies and modify food textures in order to swallow safely.
  • Individuals with MND or ALS may require speech services for the following:
    • Due to MND and ALS being a progressive disease, treatment may focus on augmentative / alternative forms of communication that can used in the later stages of the disease. Speech therapists work with individuals with MND and ALS to help establish strategies for better communication.  In addition, speech therapists also work with family and caregivers in providing better ways to communicate with their family member.

HOW WE CAN HELP

  • It is essential to be seen by a Speech-Language and Swallowing Therapist when experiencing speech and swallowing difficulties. A speech therapist can assist with improving speech by training in strategies and working on producing sounds more clearly.  In addition, a speech therapist will train in necessary compensatory strategies and modify food textures in order to swallow safely.
  • At Q Enrichment Center, our Speech-Language Swallowing Therapist will conduct an extensive comprehensive assessment to determine the type of difficulty, the severity, as well as the diagnosis. A detailed report will be completed along with a treatment plan specific to each individual’s needs.

Testimonials

“What a fantastic team at Q Enrichment Center. I 100% recommend them for any family. They conduct themselves in the most professional attitude all around, they are welcoming and my son enjoyed the service thoroughly. Thanks again.”
– Jean (Mother of child client)

“Q Enrichment Center has “A brilliant speech therapist she single handily helped me overcome the difficulties of dysphagia. Her work truly is a vocation, her desire for me to make a full recovery was just as strong if not stronger than my own. By far the best therapist I was fortunate enough to deal with.”
– Chris (Male adult client)

Contact Us