Speech and Language Pathology

Doctors Hospital of Laredo is focused on treating patients with disorders of speech, voice, language, cognition, memory and swallowing. Patients may need these services as the result of having a stroke, brain tumor, neurological/post-neurological condition, neuromuscular disease, or head and neck surgery. Outpatient rehabilitation services are provided at the North Laredo Diagnostic and Therapy Center.

The Speech and Language Pathology team provides a range of evaluative, preventative and rehabilitative services to those with disorders, including: 

• Aphasia (language impairment that hampers the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write)
• Apraxia (speech disorder in which a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently)
• Dysarthria (problems with the muscles of the mouth, tongue, larynx, or vocal cords)
• Dysphagia (difficulty or pain swallowing)
• Voice disorders
• Laryngectomy (surgery to remove all or part of the voice box or larynx)
• Glossectomy (removal of part of or entire tongue)

A treatment plan is created for each patient that is focused on re-establishing functional and reliable communication. Treatment goals may also address specific communicative-cognitive deficits through a variety of facilitatory and compensatory treatment techniques.

Patients with swallowing disorders are seen for a comprehensive evaluation which may include a videofluorographic swallowing study or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing to develop a plan for safe swallowing. This is followed by swallowing treatment and diet modification as needed. 

The speech language pathologists at North Laredo Diagnostic and Therapy Center are certified in VitalStim Therapy, the McNeill Dysphagia Therapy Program, and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for individuals with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions.

Outpatient services are available Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Feeding Clinic

Feeding and nourishing your baby is a special bonding time between infants and caregivers. That’s why Doctors Hospital of Laredo Feeding Clinic is dedicated to supporting infants and their families to establish positive feeding experiences. 

The Doctors Hospital of Laredo Feeding Clinic is an outpatient clinic that specializes in therapy services for infants and children who have difficulty with bottle, breast or spoon feedings.

Services are available for infants from birth to 24 months old. Our Speech-Language Pathologists assess and address all aspects of feeding and respond to the child’s individual needs. Patients can be referred from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) following discharge or by their pediatrician.

We provide help to breast- and bottle-fed infants and children experiencing:

• Long, excessive feeding
• Signs of stress with feeds
• Failure to thrive
• Drooling with feeds
• Difficulty latching to breast/bottle
• Difficulty accepting solids/new textures
• Difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia
• Feeding difficulties due to cleft lip/palate
• Tracheostomy tubes

If you have any concerns with your infant’s feeding skills, please speak with your pediatrician to request a referral to the Doctors Hospital of Laredo Feeding Clinic.