What to Expect: Assessment and Treatment at the Speech-Language Institute
The Speech-Language Institute (SLI) of Salus University serves patients with a wide-variety of speech, language, communication, feeding and swallowing disorders. Individuals who receive treatment at SLI can rest assured they are receiving the highest-quality care from specialists in the field. As the clinical facility for Salus University’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), the staff, clinical educators and SLP students utilize some of the latest approaches and techniques to ensure disorders are addressed effectively.
Here’s what most clients can expect when they choose SLI:
Scheduling an Appointment
Patients can schedule an appointment online through a form or by calling 215.780.3150.
SLI treats:
- Articulation disorders
- Voice and resonance disorders
- Fluency (stuttering) disorders
- Receptive and expressive language (reading and writing) disorders
- Feeding and swallowing disorders
- Cognitive disorders – affecting memory, attention, reasoning, problem solving, orientation, judgment, or executive functioning
- Social communication disorders – affecting one’s ability to use and interpret language in social situations
- Accent modification – modifying or reducing accented speech for non-native English speakers or speakers with regional accents
The office manager will call to confirm your appointment time and review your (or your child’s) case history. You will be asked various questions about your/your child's symptoms so you can be paired with the appropriate clinical educator to supervise your evaluation. SLI has a team of clinical educators (professional SLPs), each specializing in various areas of speech-language pathology. The office manager will also direct you to the “What to Bring to an Appointment” section of SLI’s website where there are forms to be filled out prior to your appointment. If you prefer, she can also email them to you directly. Please complete any required forms prior to your appointment.
Finding Our Office
SLI is located on the Elkins Park campus of Salus University in the Breyer Office Park Building. Patients can park in any spot labeled “Breyer Office Park” or any available spot on campus. There are two entrances to the building – one is on the right side of the fountain as you face the school; the other is located around the side of the building, closest to Township Line Road. Our office is located on the second floor of the building. As you exit the elevator, it will be on your left-hand side.
Directions to our location
Checking In For Your Appointment
When you enter our office, please check in with the front desk. They will record you are present and review your paperwork. If you did not complete a form properly or if you are missing any forms, you may have to fill them out prior to being seen. SLI does not require any insurance information as it is a complimentary clinical facility. Then, you will wait for your clinical educator and SLP student to bring you back to an exam room.
During Your Appointment
SLI is first and foremost a clinical training facility for Master of Science SLP students at Salus University. As a result, most assessments are performed by the SLP student. The student has had extensive training prior to working in the clinical facility and is under the supervision of a professional, credentialed SLP the entire time.
The student will review your case history and provide a few assessments to identify your needs/treatment options. After evaluating your current status, the student and clinical educator will review what treatment options are available to you and explain how they may help. Each treatment plan is tailored to the patient’s individual needs and goals.
All sessions are recorded with your consent. As a training facility, SLI uses the recorded sessions as educational materials for the students working in the clinical site. After each session, the student and clinical educator will review the tape to evaluate techniques used and to help them plan for your next session. If you consent, the tape may also be shared with other students in the class for educational purposes and in research contexts. Patients have the option to opt out of being recorded entirely if they are uncomfortable.
At each subsequent session, you will receive treatment from the same clinical educator. The student will also remain the same, but may switch after their academic semester is complete. By working with the same team each time, it ensures your treatment is focused on your specific needs.