Mercer Health is using Speech Month to bring attention to the work of speech language pathologists and the many ways they help patients of all ages communicate, recover and improve quality of life.

Mercer Health speech language pathologists Chelsey Schott and Kailyn Heitkamp joined Spectrum with Mercer Health to discuss the field and explain that speech therapy goes far beyond helping children pronounce words correctly.

Schott said speech language pathologists work with patients from pediatrics through geriatrics. That can include speech sounds, articulation, language development, feeding difficulties, swallowing disorders, cognition, voice concerns, slurred speech and alternative forms of communication.

Heitkamp said one of the biggest misconceptions is that speech therapists only work with children in schools.

She said speech language pathologists also help people who are nonverbal or who need other ways to communicate, including communication devices, sign language, gestures or other tools.

“Everyone deserves a voice,” Heitkamp said during the interview.

Schott also discussed how speech language pathologists can help patients after a stroke or other medical event. That may include working on communication skills, improving safety while eating and drinking, and helping patients use memory strategies such as timers, alarms and calendars to support independence.

Mercer Health provides speech therapy services at the Galleria in Celina, at the hospital for both inpatient and outpatient care, and through home health services. Schott also said Mercer Health performs modified barium swallow studies for patients having difficulty swallowing, working with a radiologist to evaluate how safely a patient is swallowing.

Heitkamp also offered advice for parents looking to support speech and language development at home. She said reading with children, asking questions, playing with them, going outside, and using simple games like scavenger hunts or the ABC game in the car can help build language and vocabulary skills.

For parents concerned about a child’s speech or language development, Heitkamp said families with younger children can start by talking with their primary care provider. For school aged children, parents can bring concerns to a teacher, who can help connect them with the school speech therapist.

Mercer Health officials said patients may call with general questions, but a physician’s order is needed to begin testing or services.