News
Beebe Adds Speech Therapy for Children
12/12/02
Beebe Medical Center’s Baylis Rehabilitation Center has expanded its outpatient rehabilitation services to include speech and language pathology for children. Beebe has offered speech and language services to adults for more than eight years, and has been able to expand these services to young children with the addition of another speech pathologist.
“Typically parents of a young toddler or preschooler are referred to us through their pediatrician or family practice physician because there is a concern that the child may be delayed in language,” explains Michele Poynton-Marsh, MA, CCC, SLP, of Beebe’s Baylis Rehabilitation Center. “School-aged children are sometimes identified as needing speech therapy as well, however, school speech therapy programs have extremely heavy caseloads. Beebe is pleased to offer supplemental therapy for these families.”
To evaluate young children and stimulate language, Beebe’s speech and language pathologists utilize standardized testing and “play therapy” through imitation, modeling, and reinforcement of age-appropriate sounds. Incorporating fun encourages language in a non-threatening way, so children often regard therapy as playing.
Beebe encourages parents who have concerns about their children’s speech and language development to contact their pediatrician or family practitioner first. A physician referral is required for treatment, which is often covered by insurance - especially if the cause for concern is associated with a medical diagnosis. Chronic ear infections, for example, can cause language delays. For more information about Beebe’s speech and language therapy services for children, parents should call 645-3235.
The speech and language pathologists at Beebe’s Baylis Rehabilitation Center provide speech therapy services to adult patients as well, including patients who have suffered stroke, respiratory disorders associated with swallowing dysfunction, or who have undergone laryngectomy (removal of the larynx). Beebe’s speech pathologists support and work closely with patients at the Lewes Convalescent Center, Beebe Home Health, and the Tunnell Cancer Center, and have recently resumed a monthly Laryngectomy Support Group. The group meets at the Tunnell Cancer Center on the third Thursday of each month from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
In addition to speech therapy services, the Baylis Rehabilitation Center at Beebe Medical Center provides outpatient physical and occupational therapy Monday through Friday by appointment. The Baylis Rehabilitation Center is capable of providing a full range of customary treatment interventions associated with these professional services as well as having special rehabilitation programs in urinary continence retraining, lymphedema reduction, hand therapy, and functional capacity testing. For more information about Beebe Medical Center’s rehabilitation services and speech therapy, please call 645-3235.
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