Speech therapy is a health care service that involves the evaluation and treatment of speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing and fluency disorders.
A speech therapist (also known as a speech-language pathologist or “SLP”) helps patients who have difficulty with communication or swallowing. Speech therapists work with patients ranging in age from infants to adults. The therapy is focused on improving their functional skills so they can fully participate in life activities at home, school and work.
Speech therapy is designed to help children improve their speech and language skills, and to help them with the mechanics of articulation. The speech therapists at [company name] work tirelessly to maximize the communicative potential of children with all kinds of speech and language problems.
When a child has difficulty communicating, it is important to identify the problem so you can know how best to approach it. A speech-language pathologist can help you determine whether your child is exhibiting traits that are typical for her age or whether she may have a problem that requires treatment.
The goal of speech therapy is to maximize your child’s ability to communicate with others and process verbal information. While the ultimate goal may be to develop speech sounds, there are other aspects of communication that need attention as well. These include understanding what others are saying, responding appropriately and effectively, expressing needs and ideas, getting along in social situations, reading, spelling and writing.
A speech therapist is a highly-trained person who works with people to overcome any speech, language, communication, or swallowing problems they may have. They work with children and adults who have a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to autism, stuttering, stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, a cleft palate (a hole in the roof of the mouth), and hearing loss.
Speech therapists are often referred to as “speech pathologists.” They typically have at least a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (or speech-language pathology). After graduating with that degree, they must also complete 36 weeks of supervised clinical work. To become certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), they must also pass a national exam.
Speech therapy typically takes place at an office or clinic. However, it can take place in other settings such as schools or hospitals if that’s more convenient for the patient. The therapy process involves many factors, including helping patients understand their difficulty and how to deal with it; developing coping strategies for dealing with the difficulty; and providing language tools for communicating effectively.
An SLP’s job is to assess and treat disorders related to speech, language, cognition, voice, swallowing, fluency and more. SLPs are trained to evaluate an individual’s communication skills and diagnose any areas of concern. From there, they develop a treatment plan based on their client’s specific needs. This plan could include training in oral feeding skills or strengthening the muscles needed for speech production. Many people work with an SLP when they are children, but there is no age limit for speech therapy services! An SLP can help children learn how to use toys or play games that will help them develop the muscles needed for speech production. For adults and elderly people who need help with swallowing or eating safely after a stroke or other health event, an SLP can provide exercises and treatment plans that will help them regain their independence.