20 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) across the MUHC support patients experiencing communication or swallowing difficulties caused by conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Their work spans all stages of life, from helping children with speech and language challenges at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) to supporting adults recovering from illness or injury at other MUHC sites.

To celebrate Speech and Hearing Month and to better understand the role of an SLP working with adult patients, meet dedicated SLP Alena Seresova, who works at the Montreal General Hospital.

Meet Alena Seresova, SLP at the Montreal General Hospital

This year, Alena rings in 20 years at the MUHC. Having grown up in Europe where it’s common for people to speak fluently in multiple languages, Alena has always felt drawn to learning languages. She’s fluent in five of them (Czech, Italian, Spanish, French and English), comfortable speaking Russian and German, and now she’s learning Arabic, inspired by the Arabic patients she serves.

“To greet people in their native language makes a world of difference,” Alena says. “I think my career is an extension of my natural love for languages. I appreciate being able to communicate well with others, no matter their background, no matter their medical condition.”

Alena evaluates patient’s speech, language and communication abilities and is equipped to provide the patient’s care team and family members with suggestions for easier/better communication. She may observe, for instance, that the patient will benefit from repetition, use of short sentences or environment modification.  

“The goal is to spare the patient from unnecessary overload,” she explains. “It’s about pacing communication, because communicating is something physical, cognitive and emotional. These spheres are all affected by an injury, surgery or illness.”  

What does ‘We are the MUHC’ mean to you?

“It means that I am a part of an interdisciplinary identity,” Alena asserts. “My work at the MUHC is meaningful to me because of the close relationships I have with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, neuropsychologists, respiratory therapists, and everyone else within the interdisciplinary team. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with the Traumatic Brain Injury team, the MGH tracheostomy team, and the MGH-ICU team. I truly appreciate working alongside Dr. Judith Marcoux and Dr. Rajeet Singh Saluja, the most supportive and dedicated neurosurgeons one can imagine.  The commitment we all have to the patient makes me a proud medical SLP even after 20 years.”

Every day, she looks forward to interdisciplinary collaboration. She occasionally joins physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions, for example, something known as co-therapy. Her role is to make communication during the session more effective.

“It is very rewarding when you see a fellow colleague use the communication or swallowing strategies you recommended for a patient, or when your expertise as an SLP is requested. There have been situations where a patient cannot advocate for themselves and we are there to help find a solution. We are the MUHC; we change lives together as an interdisciplinary team, with Speech-Language Pathologists standing as proud communication experts!”

Appreciation from managers

“The MUHC is lucky to have such a dedicated group of SLPs who work to improve the communication and swallowing of our patients. Our SLP coordinator, Maia Masuda, helps organize the work of these versatile clinicians across multiple sites and clinical populations. Many thanks to our amazing SLP clinicians.” – Jesse Burns, manager of the SLP and Audiology department for the adult sites

“We are privileged to have such a dynamic and experienced group of pediatric SLPs at the MCH. The department brings together a wide variety of specialized clinical expertise across both inpatient and outpatient services, and their work is thoughtfully coordinated by their professional coordinator, and fellow SLP, Marie-Noel Malo. We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to highlight their important work and contributions!” – Alison Leduc, manager of multi-disciplinary services at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH)