Pediatric Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders

Overview

The Department of Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders and Reading Disabilities at Mass General for Children in Boston is committed to ensuring that children and adolescents with speech, language, reading, and swallowing disorders receive services by offering comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and treatment programs in the acute inpatient and outpatient settings. Services we provide include:

Speech-Language Evaluations and Treatment

We evaluate and treat children between ages birth to six years old with an array of disorders in our outpatient setting. Therapy services are intended for short-term intervention and are followed with a transition plan from outpatient hospital services to those within the school systems and/or communities. We routinely evaluate and treat children with a wide variety of strengths and challenges, including the following concerns:

• Expressive (talking) and receptive (understanding) language delays and disorders
• Speech sound production disorders (articulation disorders)
• Social/pragmatic disorders (including autism spectrum disorders)

On the main Boston campus, monolingual English speech-language pathologists work with medical interpreters to evaluate bilingual children.

Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Evaluations and Treatment

Services are provided for evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing problems. Feeding evaluations are conducted either by a speech-language pathologist or multidisciplinary team, depending on the complexity of the feeding concern.

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Evaluations and Resonance Treatment

A velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) study is a multiview radiographic study performed with the speech-language pathologist and pediatric radiology staff. VPI studies evaluate the movement of the muscles for speech to help determine why a child may be experiencing nasal speech for children at least four years of age. In addition, a clinical evaluation of speech and resonance is offered to examine speech development and nasal resonance balance. Short-term resonance therapy is also available.

Our speech-language pathologists also evaluate children as part of the following interdisciplinary clinics and services at MassGeneral Hospital for Children:

• Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic
• Developmental NeuroPediatric Clinic
• Down Syndrome Program
• In-Patient Visits
• Newborn Developmental Follow-Up Clinic
• Pediatric Aerodigestive Center
• Pediatric Therapy Team

Patient Resources

View the full collection of patient resources from Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders at MGfC.