Speech & SWALLOWING therapy services for adults in Carroll, IA
adult Evaluations & Therapy Services
Evaluations
Speech Pathways offers speech, language, swallowing, voice, and cognitive communication evaluations for adults in Carroll, IA. We also offer in-office instrumental swallowing evaluations (FEES) where we pass a thin, flexible endoscope through your nose to visualize your throat as you eat and drink.
We’ll start by asking some questions about you or your loved one. Once we have a foundational understanding of your medical history, symptoms, and concerns, we’ll assess your communication and swallowing skills.
Following the evaluation, we’ll work together to write therapy goals that will improve your quality of life. You will receive a report with our findings, care plan, recommendations, and referrals to other professionals if needed.
Cognitive Communication Therapy
Whether your loved one is experiencing cognitive changes due to age, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, or dementia, we can help! We support adults who struggle with memory, attention, executive functioning, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in daily life.
Our sessions are designed to help your loved one remain as independent as possible at home. That’s why we use real-life activities in therapy, like creating a grocery list, following a recipe, or managing medication schedules. Above all, our goal is for your loved one to safely complete daily activities and maintain their quality of life.
Voice Therapy
At Speech Pathways, we provide voice therapy for adults who experience throat tightness, chronic throat clearing or coughing, and changes in voice quality. We’ll work together to reduce any pain or discomfort you feel and get your voice back to sounding like “you” again!
It’s best practice to see an ENT specialist (Otolaryngologist) before beginning voice therapy. Once you’ve taken that first step, we’ll use a combination of personalized exercises, breathing techniques, manual therapy, and speaking strategies to optimize your voice.
Swallowing (Dysphagia) Therapy
Are you or your loved one avoiding foods you love, coughing or choking at mealtimes, or feeling like something is “stuck” in your throat? In swallowing therapy, we use exercises to strengthen the muscles in your mouth and throat, as well as a combination of strategies to help you eat and drink with confidence.
We are proud to offer in-office FEES swallow assessments for adults with dysphagia or swallowing concerns. FEES uses a small, flexible endoscope with a camera that allows us to see the tissues and muscles of your throat as you eat and drink. This helps us determine the best approach to address your specific swallowing challenges!
Communication Therapy post-stroke or TBI
At Speech Pathways, we know how essential communication is in daily life— and we understand how frustrated and disconnected your loved one may be feeling after their stroke or brain injury.
We work alongside caregivers and family members to support adults with aphasia or acquired language challenges, helping them understand what others say and communicate with confidence.
Our sessions focus on practical, real-life activities to regain language skills related to word-finding, following directions, socially connecting with others, and self-expression. No matter what your communication goals are, we’ll help you reach them through a combination of spoken language therapy and AAC supports.
