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Parkinson’s

What is Parkinson’s? The Parkinson Society for British Columbia defines Parkinson’s disease as a progressive neurological disorder resulting from the loss of dopamine in the brain. It affects both motor and non-motor functioning, and after Alzheimer’s disease, is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Good sources for more information are the Parkinson Society BC or…

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Written Language Disorders (Reading, Writing)

What is Written Language Disorders (Reading, Writing)? Some children have difficulty learning to read and write. Usually, this is a result of difficulties in some areas of oral language development. Dyslexia may be diagnosed in children when they have difficulty with reading. They may also have problems with understanding what they read (reading comprehension). Other…

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Voice Disorders

What is Voice Disorders? Everyone has experienced temporary loss of voice or hoarseness after a cold or after talking in a noisy place. Voice problems (dysphonia) can affect children and adults. Voice problems result when the vocal mechanism is used inefficiently or the vocal cords (folds) are damaged due to surgery, misuse of the voice…

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Vertigo (Balance Disorders)

What is Vertigo (Balance Disorders)? Vertigo is a kind of dizziness. Dizziness is a very common condition: 20-30% of people experience the sensation of lightheadedness, feeling unsteady or losing one’s balance. Vertigo is a specific kind of dizziness – a sense that you or your environment is moving or spinning when there is no movement.…

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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)? Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a sudden trauma to the head (a bump, blow, jolt or sharp object) that causes damage to the brain. TBI can be a result of falls, motor vehicle accidents, violence, or sports injuries. Sudden trauma can cause extensive brain damage due to a…

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Tongue Thrust/Oral Myofunctional Disorder

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder? In typical development, infants and young children have a forward tongue position and swallow with a tongue thrust. As the child gets older, the tongue moves back and the child swallows with a more mature swallow, with the tongue tip behind the teeth. For some children, the tongue continues to…

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Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

What is Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)? Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears but the sound may also be swishing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling, hissing, or squealing that appear to be originating in the ear or head, when no sound is actually present. Tinnitus can be heard in one ear or…

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Stroke – Child

What is a Stroke? A stroke results in damage to the brain if an artery is clogged, stopping the blood flow, or if there is a break in the walls of a blood vessel that causes a bleed. We often think about strokes in adults, but children and teens can also have strokes. This can…

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Stroke – Adult

What is a Stroke? Strokes can have a significant impact on the activities of daily living, including difficulty communicating with others. Depending on the area of the brain affected, stroke survivors may have difficulty with listening, talking, reading and/or writing. There are different names for these language difficulties, such as aphasia or dyphasia. After a…

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Stuttering/Fluency of Speech Disorder

What is Stuttering/Fluency of Speech Disorder? Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by difficulty producing easy, smooth speech. Stuttering is a “disorder of the rhythm of speech in which the individual knows precisely what he wishes to say, but at the time is unable to say it because of involuntary, repetitive prolongations or cessations of…

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