How Therapy Can Make a Real Difference: The Story of One Young Woman with MS

A high school student had recently been diagnosed with MS. Her parents did not speak English and had difficulty understanding the diagnosis and how to best support their daughter.

“Our team, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing, stepped in to help the family navigate this challenging and new situation,” recalls Sherry Perucho, DHA, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIST. The speech-language pathologist adds, “When she first came to us, she was dealing with several challenges, including poor balance, difficulty with writing and fine motor skills, low vocal intensity, and getting tired quickly when speaking. She also struggled with schoolwork due to attention issues and occasional difficulty expressing her thoughts, both verbally and in writing. The fatigue she experienced was also a major barrier to her daily tasks.”

Dr. Perucho continues, “Through skilled speech therapy interventions, we were able to address her communication challenges, which were particularly important before her return to school. We helped her improve her ability to organize her thoughts, communicate more clearly, and use strategies to manage cognitive fatigue and the academic demands she faced.”

While other members of the care team focused on various aspects of the young woman’s MS-related needs, speech therapists helped her develop the skills needed to navigate rigorous academic expectations, such as using memory aids and developing effective study strategies.

Dr. Perucho explains, “This was crucial for her success in school, as it allowed her to not only keep up with her studies, but to engage more confidently with her peers and teachers as well. We also assisted her in getting the proper accommodations she needed upon return to school.”

The speech-language pathologist notes, “By addressing these cognitive-communication challenges, we empowered her to return to school with greater independence and confidence, ensuring that she could meet both her educational and personal goals. The improvements in her communication and cognitive function were essential to her overall recovery and helped her successfully finish the school year and graduate.”

While this story of struggle and success focused on enabling a student to obtain her diploma, Dr. Perucho said that its lessons are equally applicable to people with MS facing challenges in the workplace, at home, in their relationships, and in their daily lives.

She explains, “Interdisciplinary care is so important. Neurologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other clinicians must work together to provide person-centered care.”

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