Decatur County Memorial Hospital highlights AAC tools for better communication

Decatur County Memorial Hospital is using speech-language pathology to give stroke survivors, children with developmental delays and patients recovering from injury a new way to be understood, through communication tools that range from picture boards to tablet-based devices that speak words aloud.

DCMH says its speech-language pathologists start with a comprehensive evaluation and may trial several devices or communication programs before settling on one that fits the patient. Heather Riga, a speech-language pathologist at the hospital, said there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and therapists work with families, teachers and other caregivers so AAC can be used in the routines that matter most at home and school.

The hospital said many of the patients using AAC are children, and families have reported that children are using the devices both at home and school, with therapists seeing less frustration and better participation. Adults can also benefit after a stroke, traumatic brain injury or a neurological illness such as ALS, making the service a practical option for Decatur County patients who need support after a sudden change in speech or swallowing.

AAC is part of a broader rehabilitation program at DCMH that treats communication and swallowing disorders across all ages, from infants to adults. The department also offers SpeakOUT! through the Parkinson Voice Project, and DCMH says it is the closest provider within a 50-mile radius for people with Parkinson’s-related speech challenges.

The hospital expanded that reach in August 2025 when its Speech Therapy Department completed advanced medical training through the MedSLP Certification Program, adding skills for tracheostomy and laryngectomy care, stroke recovery, safe swallowing after surgery and neurological conditions. Lisa Oldham, DCMH director of rehabilitation services, has said the training investment is meant to strengthen the community, and President and CEO Rex McKinney has tied each new skill to keeping patients connected to the people and places that matter most. Patients are seen on the hospital’s main campus at 720 N. Lincoln St. in Greensburg, where the original facility was built in 1922. Speech therapy appointments require a provider referral, and families can call 812-663-1119 to schedule.