Alyssa Bergen, a speech-language pathologist based in Sanford, is broadening her scope of practice to cater to adults. Among her services will be post-stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson’s disease symptom management, and adult accent modification.
Bergen has been living in Sanford for the past 15 years. Initially, she worked in a more traditional setting in Winnipeg, and about 10 years ago, she began offering speech therapy services from her home on a part-time basis.
In the past two years, Bergen has noticed a rising demand for speech therapy services within the community. As a result, she decided to establish a permanent location. This decision led her to rent a dedicated space for children and adult clients, as well as their families, to work on their speech and language goals consistently and in a welcoming atmosphere.
Bergen first became a speech and language pathologist because she’s always been fascinated by how children grow and develop their communication skills.
“It’s incredible to watch their progress, but I also understand how frustrating it can be for both the child and their family when they have difficulty being understood,” said Alyssa Bergen. “Helping children overcome those challenges and seeing their joy when they can communicate effectively is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. It is so inspiring to empower voices by helping individuals communicate with confidence and clarity.”
Bergen has been a speech-language pathologist for 18 years, with a focus on working with preschool and elementary-aged children and, more recently, expanding to include adult services.
“Working with children over the years has been incredibly rewarding,” said Bergen. “It’s exciting to watch them succeed and see how improved speech and language skills positively impact their relationships with their families and their peers. Strong communication skills not only help children express themselves better but also enhance their connections with teachers and can ultimately support their academic growth. Seeing these improvements in all areas of their lives makes the work so fulfilling.”
Bergen offers a range of speech and language therapy services for children, including treating speech sound errors, language delays or disorders, stuttering/fluency issues, and impaired social communication skills.
If your child’s speech or language development is a concern, reach out to Bergen to schedule an appointment. She has availability for speech therapy and assessments, including a few before-school options and flexible morning/lunchtime slots.
Bergen has also recently decided to expand her services to include adults because she believes communication is a lifelong skill that plays a vital role at every stage of life.
“I want to help individuals of all ages be successful in their communication. Unfortunately, conditions such as stroke and diseases like Parkinson’s can impact speech and language abilities. Still, with the right support, those skills can be enhanced, helping individuals regain their quality of life and return to the activities they enjoy in their daily lives. My services for adults include post-stroke rehabilitation, addressing speech difficulties like dysarthria and apraxia, as well as providing accent modification coaching to help individuals achieve their personal and professional communication goals.”
Bergen can be reached through her website, www.ajoyofspeaking.ca, where they can send her a message directly or contact her via email at alyssa@ajoyofspeaking.ca. You can also find her on Facebook under the page Alyssa Bergen, Speech-Language Pathologist.
“I’m always happy to answer any questions to help you or your loved one get on the right path to improved communication.”
