speech therapy for neurological conditions
Registered Speech Language Pathologist · Virtual Across Ontario · No referral needed
Thinking and Talking Shouldn't Take This Much Effort
Conversations take more effort than they should. Words don't come as easily. You lose the thread of what someone just said, or what you were about to say yourself. These changes are real, and there's a clear way to work with them.
Common Communication Changes With Neurological Conditions
Whether it's Parkinson's, early dementia, Long COVID, or another neurological condition, you or someone close to you might notice:
Word finding under pressure
Words come easily when you're calm, but not when tired or stressed
Brain fog
Thinking feels slow and cloudy, and concentration doesn't last
Losing track of conversation
You lose track of what someone just said, or what you meant to say
Slower processing
Conversations move faster than you can keep up with
Talking in circles
It's harder to get to the point or keep a story on track
Mental fatigue
Talking and listening drain your energy faster than they used to
Repeating questions
You ask the same thing again without realizing it
Quieter, less clear speech
Your voice is quieter, or speech less clear, than it used to be
Family members and caregivers are welcome throughout this process, and often play an active role in it. Whether you're supporting a partner, parent, or yourself, understanding what's happening and what actually helps makes a real difference.
Understanding Cognitive-Communication Changes
Neurological conditions like Parkinson's, dementia, and Long COVID can affect attention, memory, processing speed, and organization, which then shows up in how you communicate day to day. This falls into a clinical area called cognitive-communication, and it overlaps closely with changes some people also experience after a stroke or brain injury. Whatever the underlying condition, the same careful, evidence-based approach applies.
reach out when you’re ready
getting start is simple
No referral needed
You don't need a referral or a diagnosis to receive speech therapy.
Start whenever you're ready.
Direct Billing Available
Cognicare direct bills most major insurers, including Canada Life, Manulife, Desjardins, and Beneva, so claims go straight to your insurer.
How Speech Therapy Helps
Here's what therapy can target:
✓⃝ Attention: Maintaining focus in busy or demanding settings
✓⃝ Memory supports: Systems that fit how you think, such as notes, routines, or phone reminders
✓⃝ Organized communication: Keeping conversations and stories on track
✓⃝ Energy and pacing: Managing conversational engagement to your energy in the moment
✓⃝ Speech and voice: Volume and clarity when Parkinson's is making your voice softer
✓⃝ Caregiver strategies: Ways for family to support conversation at home
This work draws on structured memory-support techniques and communication-organization strategies like "headline first" speaking, matched to the demands of your actual daily routine.
Related Conditions
These presentations are often complex and you may find that the information on the following pages also resonates with you:
what happens next
Free consultation
15 minutes. No obligation.
Assessment
A clear picture of your strengths, challenges, and goals
Treatment plan
Built around your actual energy, routines, and daily life
Functional application
Strategies carry over into daily life through home practice, applied to the routines and conversations that matter most to you
Progress and taper
Sessions ease off as you meet your goals and work towards independence. You leave with a toolkit that's yours to keep and an open door to return to if needed.
why virtual speech therapy?
Online speech therapy offers the convenience of receiving personalized treatment straight into your home. It offers increased flexibility in your schedule, removes the commute time, and accommodates your abilities and energy.
With Cognicare:
No downloads or subscriptions required
One click access. You receive a personalized link to your session in your inbox
Sessions are safe, secure, and private
Mariya treats communication, attention, memory, fatigue, and mood as connected parts of the same picture, not separate problems to solve one at a time. Meet your provider.
who you’ll work with
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime!
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Brain fog with Long COVID often affects attention, memory, and word-finding, which speech-language pathologists work with. Sessions focus on pacing and strategies that fit your energy, as overexertion can make fatigue worse for some individuals with Long COVID.
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Speech therapy focuses on practical supports for daily conversation, such as memory aids, simple routines for appointments, and strategies family can use. Goals are set around what matters most to your parent right now.
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A softer or lower voice is common in Parkinson's due to progressive weakness. Speech therapy can work on vocal control, along with speech clarity and any thinking changes. People often don't notice their own volume has dropped, which is why others tend to notice first.