WHAT IS SPEECH THERAPY?

Speech therapy can help children and adults with disabilities communicate more effectively. Speech therapists are experts in communication who diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders. These include problems with:

  • Speech Sounds: Words are made up of sounds. Some individuals may develop phonological disorders (difficulties learning developmentally appropriate sounds), apraxia of speech (difficulties with motor planning for speech) or dysarthria (weakness of speech muscles).
  • Language: Receptive language is how we understand verbal information, while expressive language is how we relay thoughts and ideas. Language delays happen when children fall behind the typical language development. Language disorders are caused by atypical language development often related to underlying developmental disorders.
  • Literacy: Communication also includes comprehension and expression of written language. Persons with language disorders can have difficulties with reading, spelling and writing. Persons with dyslexia have difficulties with decoding, reading fluency and spelling, but have strong verbal comprehension and expression.

  • Social Communication: When interacting in social settings, there are often rules and expectations that are followed that allows us to have meaningful interactions with each other. Persons with autism are characterized by unique their unique needs in social communication.
  • Voice: Healthy vocal behaviors allow us to communicate verbally with ease. Voice disorders can have organic (anatomical or neurological) or functional/behavioral origins.
  • Fluency: Fluency pertains to the flow of speech. Stuttering happens when a person has disruptions in speech marked by repetitions, prolongations and blocks.
  • Cognitive-Communication: Because we think in words, there are also other mental processes that we use related to language such as attention, memory, problem solving, and organization. Executive function disorders can make it difficult for a person to manage themselves in day to day activities.
  • Feeding and Swallowing: Feeding and swallowing share many structures and processes with speech. Feeding disorders may result in poor nutrition and other health problems.

Source: Who Are Speech-Language Pathologists, and What Do They Do? (ASHA)