The focus of the Department of Speech and Hearing Services is to provide the people of our community with the best possible care in communication disorders (speech, language, and hearing) and swallowing/feeding problems. We achieve our goal by providing a variety of quality diagnostic and therapeutic services by qualified professionals in a supportive environment.

Speech-language therapy

1. Pediatrics
We provide outpatient play-based therapy in a caring, family centered environment to children aged infants through teenager. Speech-language therapy addresses any difficulties your child may be having with speech sounds, oral and written language, swallowing, stuttering, auditory processing, or voice.

Our program is successful because our therapists work closely with parents and caregivers to achieve children's goals and to maximize progress in therapy. We provide individualized speech-language therapy for each child in clean, private therapy rooms. We also work as a team with physical and occupational therapists and coordinate our efforts with teachers, home visitors, and school and daycare providers as needed.

2. Adults
For the adult population our focus is on improving and/or restoring our patients' optimum level of function, independence and quality of life. We provide speech-language therapy to patients in our Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit and to acute care inpatients on our medical floors in a caring and supportive environment. We also provide outpatient speech-language therapy services.

Our therapists provide diagnostic and therapeutic services for swallowing, speaking, listening, and cognitive difficulties that may affect adults after a stroke or other progressive illness. We also provide diagnostic x-ray (videofluoroscopic) swallow testing in conjunction with Radiology, as well as, swallowing treatment. Whenever possible, we educate and counsel our patients' families regarding patient care and suggestions for assisting the patient after discharge from the hospital. Additionally, our therapists work closely with physicians, nursing staff, social workers, dieticians, and physical and occupational therapists to optimize quality patient care.

*Additional speech therapy services are provided by our Home Health department and Schuylkill Rehabilitation.

Audiology

Our Speech and Hearing department offers comprehensive audiology services for all ages, infants through adults. Hearing services are provided using state of the art technology:

• Universal newborn hearing screenings
• Pediatric audiology services
• Comprehensive diagnostic testing including:
• Auditory Brainstem Response
• Otoacoustic Emissions
• Vestibular testing (ENG) in conjunction with our hospital's Vestibular Rehabilitation program
• Industrial hearing services
• Central Auditory Processing testing
• Custom ear plugs
• Aural rehabilitation

When eligible, services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and other private insurance companies.

We would be happy to assist you in making an appointment with the Pottsville Hospital Speech and Hearing Department. Please call us at (570) 621-5031 to learn more about our services or to make an appointment.