Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication problems and speech disorders. It is performed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), often referred to as speech therapists.
Speech therapy techniques are used to improve communication and may include articulation therapy, language intervention activities, and other specialized approaches depending on the type of speech or language disorder.
Speech therapy may be necessary for speech disorders that develop in childhood or for speech impairments in adults caused by injury or illness, such as stroke or brain injury.
There are several speech and language disorders that can be treated with speech therapy, including:
Articulation Disorders
The inability to properly form certain word sounds. A child with this speech disorder may drop, swap, distort, or add sounds in words. For example, saying “thith” instead of “this.”
Fluency Disorders
These affect the flow, speed, and rhythm of speech. Examples include:
Stuttering: Trouble getting out a sound, speech interruptions, or repetition.
Cluttering: Speaking very fast and merging words together.
Resonance Disorders
These occur when airflow through the nose or mouth is blocked or disrupted, affecting voice quality. They are often linked to cleft palate, neurological disorders, or swollen tonsils.
Receptive Language Disorders
Difficulty understanding or processing what others say. This may look like limited vocabulary, seeming uninterested during conversations, or trouble following directions. Causes may include language disorders, hearing loss, autism, or head injury.
Expressive Language Disorders
Challenges with conveying information. This might involve trouble forming correct sentences or using proper verb tense. It may result from developmental disorders like Down syndrome or from head trauma.
Cognitive-Communication Disorders
Caused by damage to the brain's communication centers, often due to brain injury, stroke, or neurological illness. It can affect memory, problem-solving, and speaking or listening abilities.
Aphasia
An acquired condition that affects speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. Most commonly caused by stroke, but other brain disorders can also lead to aphasia.
Dysarthria
Characterized by slurred or slow speech due to muscle weakness. Causes include multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, stroke, or other nervous system conditions.
For individuals with limited or no functional speech, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) provides a means to express themselves effectively. AAC includes everything from simple picture boards to sophisticated speech-generating devices.
AAC assessments are conducted by speech-language pathologists and involve a detailed evaluation of the individual's:
Communication abilities and needs
Physical and cognitive capabilities
Daily environments and communication partners
The assessment process may include:
Observations and interviews with the individual and caregivers
Trials with different AAC devices or tools
Collaboration with occupational therapists for motor access
Training and support for successful use
AAC device selection is individualized. SLPs choose the best system based on the user’s strengths, challenges, preferences, and goals. The selected AAC method should enhance the user’s ability to communicate across all environments — at home, school, work, and in the community.
AAC helps foster independence, confidence, and connection by giving individuals a reliable way to communicate their wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings.