Pediatric Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders
The Department of Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders and Reading Disabilities at MassGeneral Hospital for Children diagnoses and treats children and adolescents with speech, language, reading and swallowing impairments and disorders.
Meet the Team
The Department of Speech, Language and Swallowing Disorders and Reading Disabilities at MassGeneral Hospital 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:
MGHfC Speech Language Swallowing DisordersMGH Professional Office Building
275 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Public Transportation Access: yes
Disabled Access: yes
Chelsea HealthCare Center Phone: 617-887-3527 | Fax: 617-889-8503
Revere HealthCare Center Phone: 781-485-6125 | Fax: 781-485-6106