A staff of ten Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s (WRNMMC) www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil Audiology and Speech Pathology Center are providing evaluations and treatment for pediatric and adult patients with speech, language, cognitive-communication, along with voice and swallowing disorders, according to Laura Cord, a SLP.
Cord reports that SLPs are incorporated into a variety of multidisciplinary teams including the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) clinic, cleft and craniofacial clinic, and pediatric high-risk clinic. Also, the voice clinic works with ENT partners and other team members at the Brain Fitness Center.
SLPs use computer-based programs to work on attention or memory goals for patients. They also work with the assisted technology team to help patients reach therapy goals using devices or apps.
In addition, Cord said, “She works with music therapists to improve speech clarity, as well as with both the dental and prosthetics teams to improve speech production for wounded service members or other patients with craniofacial injuries.”
As the patients recover, the SLPs follow them medically, which may involve outpatient services such as services provided at WRNMMC’s National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/NICoE/SitePages/index.aspx .
NICoE offers cutting-edge evaluations and treatment planning. Services offered also provides research and education for service members and their families dealing with the complex interactions of mild traumatic injury and psychological health conditions. SLPs at NICoE evaluate and treat service members with attention, memory processing speed, along with speech and language difficulties.
Each service member discharged from the NICoE receives an ongoing treatment plan plus possible recommendations for ongoing speech-cognitive therapy near their home base. The speech pathology department at the patient’s home base is routinely contacted by NICoE’s SLP’s to forward therapy recommendations and/or plans or to answer questions about the patient’s care at NICoE.