Speech therapy is the evaluation and treatment of communication and speech disorders. It is usually performed by speech-language therapists (SLPs).
Communication is improved by speech therapy techniques. These include articulation therapies, language intervention activities, etc., depending on the type and language disorders.
Speech therapy may be needed to treat speech disorders developed in childhood or language impairments suffered by adults after an injury or illness (stroke/brain injury).
When Do You Need Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy can help with many language and speech disorders.
Articulation Disorders: Inability To Form Certain Words Correctly. This speech disorder could cause children to drop, swap or distort word sounds, or even add them. One example of distorting words would be to say “thith”, instead of “this”.
Fluency Disorders: The flow, speed, rhythm, and quality of speech are affected by fluency disorders. Fluency disorders are stuttering and cluttering. People with stuttering may have trouble making out sounds and may have trouble speaking. Persons with cluttering can speak very fast and combine words.
Related Disorders: A resonance condition is a blockage of normal airflow in the oral or nasal cavities that alters the vibrations responsible for voice quality. It may also occur when the velopharyngeal tube doesn’t close correctly. Many resonance disorders are associated with congenital disorders, such as the cleft palate and neurological disorders.
Receptive Disorders: An individual with receptive speech disorder has difficulty understanding or processing what others are saying. This can lead to a lack of interest in speaking and difficulty following instructions. Another language disorder, autistic, deaf, and head injuries can cause a receptive-language disorder.
Expressive Disorders: Having difficulty communicating or expressing information. An expressive condition may cause you to have difficulty forming sentences. It is associated with developmental impairments like Down syndrome or hearing loss. You may also experience it due to head trauma or another medical condition.
Cognitive-Communication Disorders: It can lead to memory issues, problem-solving, and difficulty talking or hearing. It can also be caused due to neurological conditions, abnormal brain development, brain injury or stroke.
Aphasia: It is an acquired communication disorder that affects the person’s ability to speak and understand others. It often impacts a person’s ability of reading and writes. Aphasia is the most common cause of stroke, although other brain conditions could also lead to it.
Dysarthria: The condition causes slow speech or slurred speech. It’s most common in people with neurological conditions and those who have facial Paralysis or throat or tongue weakness (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS (ALS)), and stroke.
How Does Speech Therapy Work?
An SLP usually conducts an assessment to determine the type of communication disorder and how best to treat it.
Speech Therapy For Children
Speech therapy can take place in a classroom, small group, one-on-one or in a group setting depending on your child’s speech disorder. Your child’s needs, age, and disorder will all affect the speech therapy activities. The SLP may use the following:
Talking and playing with other people, as well as using books, pictures, and other objects in language intervention to encourage language development.
Use age-appropriate play and modelling to show children how to make certain sounds.
Offer strategies and homework for parents or caregivers on how to perform speech therapy at home.
Adult Speech Therapy
Assessment is the first step to speech therapy for adults. It will help you determine your needs, and recommend the best treatment. Speech therapy exercises are designed to assist adults in speech, language, and cognitive-communication.
Rehabilitation may include retraining the swallowing function for an injury, condition or illness such as Parkinson’s Disease or Ovarian Cancer that has caused swallowing difficulty.