What Is Speech Therapy
Posted on: 8 November 2022
Many people are unaware of speech therapy or what it entails, which is fair. It is not talked about often. Speech therapy is a field of rehabilitation care that helps patients with communication and swallowing disorders. It also supports those who have lost their voice or had a tracheotomy. Speech therapy is vital for many different people, from toddlers to the elderly. Here's a brief overview of how this speech therapy helps every age group.
Who Does Speech Therapy Help?
Speech therapy can help people of all ages, including:
- Toddlers. Speech therapy for toddlers can help them with delayed speech and difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. A speech therapist will work with a toddler on things such as improving their articulation and helping them to create sentences. In some cases, a child may need to use sign language or picture boards to communicate effectively.
- School-age children. Older children may require speech therapy if they have problems with reading or writing. A therapist will help them with fluency, word retrieval, and auditory processing. They may also teach the child breathing exercises and how to use proper mouth muscle movements in order to improve their speech.
- Adults. Rehabilitation care services for adults may include speech therapy for a variety of reasons, including after a brain injury or stroke. A therapist will work with an adult on things such as regaining their previous level of functioning, improving their swallowing skills, and aiding in the management of chronic pain. In some cases, an adult may need to use alternative communication devices if they are unable to speak clearly.
What Are Some Common Speech Disorders?
A speech disorder is any condition that prevents an individual from producing speech sounds correctly or fluently. Some common speech disorders include:
- Apraxia. Apraxia is a speech disorder that occurs when you have difficulty saying what you want to say due to problems with planning or controlling the speech muscles.
- Dysarthria. Another type of speech disorder is dysarthria, which affects the strength and coordination of your speech muscles, making you slur or stutter your words.
- Dysphagia. Dysphagia is a disorder that affects your ability to swallow. People with dysphagia may have trouble moving food or liquid from their mouth to their throat or may experience coughing or choking when they eat or drink.
- Aphasia. Aphasia is a disorder that makes you unable to understand or express speech or language and includes problems with reading, writing, or speaking.
Additionally, some patients struggle with stuttering, lisps, and vocal cord paralysis.
If you or someone you know is having difficulty communicating, it's important to seek out the help of a qualified speech therapist as part of your rehabilitation care.
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