Motor Speech Disorders

speech-language pathologists demonstrates speech therapy practices to motor speech disorder patient.

Motor Speech Disorders Treatment

The Eric Sorensen Motor Speech Program at Brooks Rehabilitation features a team of highly trained Sorensen Integrated Motor Speech (SIMS) speech-language pathologists. The treatment program is available through Brooks’ outpatient clinics and home health division and supports adults (18+).

Types of Motor Speech Disorders Served

Our program serves multiple types of motor speech disorders, including:

• Apraxia of speech
• Primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS)
• Oral apraxia
• Velar insufficiency
• Hypernasality
• Hyponasality
• Dysarthria
• Acquired neurogenic voice disorders
• Acquired neurogenic stuttering

Request Services

Clinicians and physicians can request an evaluation of a patient with speech issues from our expert clinicians to determine the type of disorder and treatment plan.

Depending on the patient’s care setting, please send a patient referral to:

Outpatient Clinics

Phone: (904) 345-7277
Fax: (904) 345-7280
Email: [email protected]

Home Health

Phone: (904) 306-9729
Fax: (904) 306-0110

Resources for Patients and Families

Patients and their families can request more information by visiting our Request Care page and selecting either outpatient therapy or home health as “type of care” and appointment type “motor speech.” Patients seeking care will need a referral from a doctor.

Support Group

Brooks hosts two motor speech support groups for adults with motor speech disorders and their families. Visit our support group page to learn more.

Treatment Services Provided

Patients can expect a variety of treatment services to treat their particular disorder. Treatments include, but are not limited to:

  • Augmentative alternative communication (AAC)
  • Phonomotor treatment
  •  Sound production treatment
  • Respiratory muscle strength training (EMST/IMST)
  • Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI) treatment
  • Voice therapy
  •  Speak OUT & LSVT trained clinicians
  • Speech Vive for Parkinson’s disease

Electropalatography (EPG) available for severe motor speech cases

Neurologic Disorders Associated with Motor Speech Disorders

Motor speech disorders result from neurologic impairments affecting the planning, programming, control or execution of speech. The two primary diagnoses are apraxia of speech and dysarthria.

The most common disorders that cause motor speech issues include:

However, motor speech disorders are not limited to the above disorders. Other diagnoses are also linked to motor speech.

SIMS Program Experts

Brooks Rehabilitation worked with doctorate-level speech-language pathologists at the University of Florida, University of Central Florida and Jacksonville University to develop this evidence-based SIMS program for adults.

Collaborators include:

  • Lauren Bislick, PhD, CCC-SLP, assistant professor, director of Aphasia House at the University of Central Florida.
  • Karen Hegland, PhD, CCC-SLP, associate professor and director of the Master of Arts degree in communication sciences & disorders at the University of Florida.
  • Bari Hoffman, PhD, CCC-SLP, professor, associate dean of clinical affairs, University of Central Florida.
  • Christine Sapienza, PhD, CCC-SLP, professor, executive vice president of the Office of Partnerships & Development and dean of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences at Jacksonville University.
  • Jackie Hurst, CCC-SLP, program manager, Eric Sorensen Motor Speech Program at Brooks
  • Jodi Morgan, manager, Brooks Rehabilitation Aphasia Center and clinical assistant professor at Jacksonville University.

More Information

For more information about the Eric Sorensen Motor Speech Program and support group, contact Jackie Hurst, program manager, at [email protected].

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