Speech-Language Pathology

What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
A Speech-Language Pathologist (S-LP) is a health professional who helps people with difficulties related to communication and swallowing.

What We Do
S-LPs provide assessment, therapy, and consultation services for pronunciation, language, stuttering, swallowing and voice concerns. Areas of concern that S-LP may be able to help with include:
• Saying words and sentences clearly
• Learning new vocabulary, or recalling the names of things
• Putting words together to make sentences
• Understanding the meaning of words and sentences
• Using your voice box (e.g. voice box removed, vocal nodules, hoarse voice)
• Stuttering
• Swallowing (adults only)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who do we see?
Pre-school children (birth to school entry) and adults. School-aged children are seen by S-LPs in the school system.

Who can refer?
For speech and language concerns:
• Clients can refer themselves
• Parents and caregivers can refer their children
• Health care professionals such as physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, audiologists, child management specialists, nurse practitioners, etc.

Download Speech-Language Pathology brochure (pdf)

For swallowing concerns, a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required.

Pre-school referrals are only accepted through the Developmental Health Central intake process - down the referral form here. For adults referrals, download the Speech-Language Pathology referral form - Adults here.

How long will I have to wait for service?
At sites where the wait time for therapy exceeds six months, clients are seen for an initial consultation within several weeks from the date the referral is received. The S-LP will complete an initial assessment during this first visit and provide recommendations based on the assessment outcome. Referrals are then prioritized based on need and waitlisted for therapy as required. Therapy sessions are provided as soon as a S-LP has a time slot available for the client.

What are some causes of speech, language, and swallowing difficulties?
• Autism
• Down Syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cleft Lip or Palate
• Family History
• General Delay in Child’s Development
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• Stroke
• Head Injury
• Hearing Loss
In many cases, there is no known cause.

OFFICE LOCATIONS
Staff are located in Corner Brook, Stephenville, Port- aux- Basques, and Deer Lake. Travelling clinics to the Northern Peninsula are offered periodically. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Western Memorial Regional Hospital    
Corner Brook, NL
A2H 6J7
Telephone: 709-784-5374

Rehabilitation Annex
127 Montana Drive
Stephenville, NL
A2N 2T4
Telephone: 709-643-8690

MP Place
3-9 Bar Haven Dr.
P.O. Box 100
Port-aux-Basques, NL
A0M 1C0
Telephone: 709-695-6250

20 Farm Road
Deer Lake, NL
A8A 1J3
Telephone: 709-635-7894

LINKS

Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC)

NL Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists