Speech Therapy Comes to Putnam Hospital Center

From Health Quest: After relocating to Mahopac from the Bronx about a year ago, Alice Maniotis began experiencing cognitive and memory issues from what she called a traumatic move.

Following a neurological evaluation, Manioitis, 82, started receiving speech therapy at the Putnam Hospital Center Rehabilitation Center in Jefferson Valley a month ago. The twice-per-week sessions, she said, have made a positive difference in her life.

“Everyone notices the improvement,” Maniotis said. “The therapy is pleasant. We laugh, we joke. It’s not arduous.”

Speech language pathologist Irene Pieza joined the Jefferson Valley office in September, adding speech therapy to their already robust physical and occupation therapy programs.

Pieza works with adults who have had strokes or other neurological episodes. The role of the medical speech language pathologist includes but is not limited to helping patients regain word pronunciation, thought organization and vocabulary recollection through a series of exercises. Speech language therapy is also used by people who have acquired or progressive swallowing disorders.

“We hope to grow the practice here and give northern Westchester and Putnam residents a place closer to their homes to receive excellent therapy,” Pieza said.

To learn more about Putnam Hospital Center’s Rehabilitation Therapies, call 845-279-1785 (TTY 1-800-421-1220) or visit here.

Photo courtesy of Health Quest: Patient Alice Maniotis at a recent speech therapy session with speech language pathologist Irene Pieza.