Language is our most human characteristic. It is essential to learning, working, and enjoying family life and friendships. There are many ways to express language. Speaking, using sign language, writing, and using computerized communication devices are some of the most common ones.

The professionals who are educated to assess speech and language development and to treat language and speech disorders are speech-language pathologists (sometimes informally referred to as speech therapists).

Speech-language pathologists can also help people with swallowing disorders.

SWALLOWING

Swallowing is as necessary to your life as breathing. Under normal circumstances, we depend on swallowing in order to get the nutrients we need to live. In addition, disorders of swallowing, particularly following surgery or stroke, can lead to a life-threatening infection in the lungs.

Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia (dis FAY juh), can occur at different stages in the swallowing process.

Some causes of feeding and swallowing problems in adults are:

• Damage to the nervous system,
• Problems affecting the head and neck,
• Many other diseases, conditions, or surgical interventions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR THE AMERICAN SPEECH AND HEARING ASSOCIATION