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If you have been diagnosed with ALS, it is very important to find and attend an ALS clinic if possible. During clinic visits, you will meet individually with specialists who can help you address challenges in areas like communication.
If you are noticing changes to your speech and swallowing, your team’s speech language pathologist (SLP) can help you problem solve and guide you every step of the way. Over time, be sure to report any changes to your speech and swallowing as soon as you notice them. You should not wait until your next appointment to address new challenges. |
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If you are unable to attend an ALS clinic, ask your local ALS organization if they can recommend a neurologist or medical team in your area. Ultimately, you will want to find a speech language pathologist who specializes in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC)—and ideally one who also has experience working with ALS.
Bulbar Onset ALS
For most people, ALS symptoms first appear in the arms or the legs. But for roughly one third of all cases, ALS begins by affecting the muscles around the lower face that control speaking and swallowing. Early signs of bulbar onset may include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, choking on liquids, hoarseness, drooling, and episodes of uncontrollable laughing or crying.
AAC communication options range from lite-tech solutions like writing on a dry-erase board to high-tech solutions like using a speech-generating device that speaks for you. You may need to use a combination of the following:
