Speech therapy is a treatment that helps people improve their communication and language skills. It is performed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), who are also known as speech therapists. Speech therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of speech and language disorders, including:
- Articulation disorders: difficulty producing speech sounds correctly
- Language disorders: difficulty understanding or using language
- Fluency disorders: stuttering or cluttering
- Voice disorders: problems with the voice, such as hoarseness or weakness
- Cognitive-communication disorders: difficulty communicating due to a problem with thinking or reasoning
- Oral-motor disorders: difficulty coordinating the muscles used for speaking, eating, and swallowing
Speech therapy can be helpful for people of all ages, from infants to adults. It can be used to treat speech disorders that are caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome
- Neurological disorders, such as stroke, brain injury, or cerebral palsy
- Hearing loss
- Cleft lip and palate
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cancer treatment
- Aging
Speech therapy is typically provided on an individual basis, but it can also be provided in groups. The specific goals and activities of speech therapy will vary depending on the individual's needs. Some common speech therapy techniques include:
- Articulation therapy: practicing correct production of speech sounds
- Language therapy: working on understanding and using language
- Fluency therapy: developing strategies for managing stuttering or cluttering
- Voice therapy: learning how to use the voice more effectively
- Cognitive-communication therapy: practicing communication skills in real-world situations
- Oral-motor therapy: strengthening and coordinating the muscles used for speaking, eating, and swallowing
Speech therapy can be a very effective treatment for speech and language disorders. With the help of a speech therapist, most people can learn to communicate more effectively and improve their quality of life.
If you are concerned about your own or your child's speech or language skills, talk to your doctor about getting a referral to a speech-language pathologist.
