Speech and Hearing Center
Project Description:
WIHD speech-language pathologists and audiologists provide a full range of services to the Westchester Medical Center (WMC), a tertiary care teaching hospital. These clinicians are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed by the New York State Department of Education. They provide over 7000 visits annually on all the units including eight intensive care units, the Burn Unit, and the acute rehabilitation unit. Children on the pediatric units at the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital account for over 900 of these visits. Selected graduate students from the program in speech-language pathology at New York Medical College receive training in this program.
The audiologists conduct a universal neonatal hearing screening program in the well-baby nursery and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Over 1000 babies are screened annually. Audiological evaluations are provided to patients with suspected auditory and/or balance disorders. These may include patients who are receiving ototoxic medications or who have suffered major trauma. They also perform testing in the OR on patients who cannot participate in more traditional testing or who are receiving a cochlear implant.
The speech-language pathologists (SLPs) diagnose and treat speech, language, voice, swallowing, and feeding disorders associated with strokes, traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurological diseases, craniofacial anomalies, failure to thrive (FTT) and head and neck cancer. Management of these patients includes consultation to the medical team, counseling and education for the patient and family, referral to other services, and direct treatment.
At WMC the SLPs are the primary providers for swallowing services, and are trained in highly specialized testing procedures which include Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) and Modified Barium Swallow studies (MBS). The purpose of these tests is to promote patient safety in swallowing, eliminate the risk for aspiration pneumonia, and make recommendations for appropriate means of nutrition. The SLPs also place Passy-Muir Speaking Valves on both pediatric and adult tracheostomized patients to provide them with the opportunity for speech production, to facilitate optimal swallow function, and to promote participation in their health care.
Both the SLPs and the audiologists provide consultation to the Craniofacial Team. This interdisciplinary team provides diagnosis and management of children who present with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies.
Keyword(s):
speech and language, audiology, swallowing,
Core Function(s):
Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
