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PHYSICAL THERAPY

At Oregon Neurology, we are pleased to offer on-site, top-notch, full-range physical therapy (PT) for patients, from pediatric to geriatric. We believe in a collaborative, shared decision-making process among the patient, family, provider and therapist to meet our patients’ needs and help them reach their individual goals. We offer all of this in a warm and inviting, well-equipped environment that’s peaceful yet fun.

  • Highly-trained, skilled and certified physical therapy team
  • One-on-one, individualized therapy for all neurologic conditions
  • Open and private physical therapy spaces for children and adults
  • Rapid access to physical therapy treatment, with minimal wait time
  • Physical and occupational therapy to treat the whole patient
  • Wheelchair fittings and modifications, pressure mapping and splinting

We are dedicated to improving patients’ quality of life by meeting their individual needs, resolving pain and optimizing their function in a caring and collaborative way. Meet our physical therapy team and prepare for your physical therapy visit.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY

Along with specializing in feeding and swallowing disorders, we provide speech, language and communication therapy for adults and children that includes screening, assessment and intervention in early language development, motor speech disorders, articulation, auditory processing, voice, social skills, language and literacy delays and disorders, and cognition. There are various types of speech and language disorders.

In Children

  • Acquired speech and language issues, due to brain injury
  • Articulation issues
  • Communication disorders associated with developmental conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism spectrum disorders or hearing loss
  • Developmental speech and language delays and disorders
  • Fluency disorders (stuttering)
  • Voice problems

In Adults

  • Cognitive disorders: memory problems, difficulty problem solving as part of everyday activities
  • Fluency disorders (stuttering)
  • Language disorders (aphasia): difficulty understanding, speaking, reading, or writing
  • Speech disorders: slurred speech, difficulty pronouncing sounds
  • Swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
  • Voice disorders: hoarseness, loss of voice after prolonged use

Our team focuses on:

  • Fostering cognitive skills (memory, reasoning, etc.) for daily tasks
  • Improving communication
  • Rehabilitating swallow function
  • Restoring vocal quality, pitch and projection
  • Teaching compensatory strategies for effective communication

What do the terms speech, language and communication mean?

Speech is part of language, used on an everyday basis. It is the physical production of sounds; these sounds are joined based on the rules of the language to form words and sentences.

Language, on the other hand, is much more than speech. It is the way we combine words to convey a meaningful message.

Communication is an everyday experience and it includes not only words, but also nonverbal messages, written words, facial expressions and gestures.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy (OT) helps individuals achieve independence in all aspects of their daily lives. At Oregon Neurology, we take a holistic approach and collaborate in a way that best suits the patient by evaluating the individual, their environment, their daily activities and their goals. We then provide treatment to address factors that are limiting independence. Treatment may include therapeutic activities or modifying or adapting the environment or task.

Areas that occupational therapy can address:

  • Upper extremity deficits, including fine motor
  • Sensory processing
  • Cognitive deficits
  • Sleep hygiene
  • Low vision
  • Coping strategies to increase participation in activities
  • Social participation
  • Home safety: aging in place, fall prevention
  • Community mobility: driving, other modes of transportation

Who can benefit from OT?

  • Those who find it hard to get dressed or feed themselves, due to poor coordination.
  • Those who are unable to be at home independently, due to safety concerns or cognitive deficits that create a barrier to performing daily tasks, such as making a meal or calling for assistance.
  • Those who struggle to return to work or school after a brain injury; OT can help patients overcome work-place barriers, regain skills and learn to self-advocate.
  • Those who are unable to sleep, which can lead to decreased participation in meaningful activities in all areas of daily life. OT can provide sleep hygiene, coping tools and address mental health concerns that affect sleep.
  • Those who want to improve their social skills to better interact in the community, self-advocate, acquire a job and build relationships to improve one’s quality of life.

Ask the following questions:

  • Are you able to engage in activities at home and in the community?
  • What do you want to do or need to do that you are currently unable to do?
  • How is your illness or injury impacting your ability to participate in daily activities?

WHEN TO REFER TO A PATIENT FOR OT

If an individual is experiencing a barrier to participating in daily activities, such as self-care, work, school, family, sleep, play/leisure or household tasks, including family roles and community mobility, occupational therapy can help.

Ask the following questions:

  • Are you able to engage in activities at home and in the community?
  • What do you want to do or need to do that you are currently unable to do?
  • How is your illness or injury impacting your ability to participate in daily activities?