Speech Therapy
Pediatric Speech therapy
What is speech therapy?
Speech therapy is treatment that improves your ability to talk and use other language skills. It helps you express your thoughts and understand what other people are saying to you. It can also improve skills like your memory and ability to solve problems.
You’ll work with a speech-language pathologist (SLP, or speech therapist) to find exercises and treatments that address your specific needs. Some people need help talking and communicating.
Others need speech therapy to process and understand language better.
Speech therapy can help you improve your:
- Early language skills (especially children learning to talk and communicate).
- Ability to use your voice.
- Language comprehension (how well you understand words and language).
- Fluency (how well and how comfortably you can use language).
- Clarity and expression (how easily you can communicate what you want to).
What is speech therapy?
Speech therapy can benefit anyone with a communication disorder. A healthcare provider might also suggest speech therapy if you have a hearing impairment or health condition that makes swallowing difficult. Your healthcare provider may recommend speech therapy to help with:
Aphasia
People with aphasia can have difficulty reading, writing, speaking and understanding language. It often develops after a stroke or injury damages the area of the brain that processes language.
Apraxia
People with apraxia know what they want to say, but have trouble forming the
words. They may have trouble with reading, writing, swallowing and other motor skills.
Articulation disorder
People with articulation disorders are unable to produce certain word sounds. For example, they may substitute one sound for another — like saying “wed” instead of “red” or “thith” instead of “this.”
Cognitive-communication disorders
You might have difficulty communicating if the area of your brain that controls your thinking ability is damaged. People with cognitive communication disorders may have issues with listening, speaking, memory and problem-solving.
Dysarthria
People with dysarthria may have slow or slurred speech. It happens when the muscles that control your speech become weak. Common causes include stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other nervous system disorders.
Expressive disorders
People with expressive disorders may have difficulty getting words out or conveying their thoughts. Expressive disorders are linked to stroke or other
neurological events, developmental delays and hearing loss.
Fluency disorders
Fluency disorders disrupt the speed, flow and rhythm of your speech.
Stuttering (speech that’s interrupted or blocked) is a fluency disorder. So is cluttering
(speech that’s merged together and fast).
Receptive disorders
People with receptive disorders have difficulty comprehending or
processing what others are saying. They may have a limited vocabulary, trouble
following directions or seem uninterested in conversations.
Resonance disorders
Resonance disorders are health conditions that affect your oral or nasal cavities. They can block airflow and alter the vibrations that help you hear sounds. Cleft palate, swollen tonsils and other conditions that affect the structure of your mouth and nose can cause resonance disorders.
What activities are done in speech therapy?
- Tongue and mouth exercises: Your speech therapist will show you exercises and motions that will strengthen your mouth and tongue. These exercises help train your tongue to move in coordinated patterns.
- Facial movements: Controlling the expression on your face can help improve your motor skills. Your therapist might have you smile or pucker your lips, then relax your face.
- Reading out loud: If your speech disorder prevents you from moving your mouth and tongue properly, reading out loud can strengthen the connection between your brain and mouth.
- Playing word games: Studies have shown that memory games, word searches and crossword puzzles can maintain cognitive function and improve thinking skills.
What are the benefits of speech therapy?
Speech therapy offers a number of benefits, including:
- Improved self-esteem.
- Increased independence.
- Improved ability to comprehend and express ideas, thoughts and feelings.
- School readiness for young children.
- Enhanced vocal quality.
- Early language skills.
- Better swallowing function.
- Improved quality of life.
