The Utility of Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy is the diagnosis and treatment for speech disorders and problems in communication. It is conducted by SLPs (Speech-Language Pathologists), who also go by the name of speech therapists.

Speech therapy techniques are utilized to enhance communication. Such therapy includes activities for language intervention, articulation therapy, and some others based on a particular kind of language or speech disorder.

This therapy might be required for disorders of speech that manifest in childhood or development of speech impairments caused by illness or injury like brain injury or stroke. The former may require speech therapy for children.

Need

Speech therapy is required for treating several conditions like:

• Disorders of articulation

Articulation disorder is the disorder of not being able to form some word sounds. Children with such speech disorders may add, distort, swap, or drop word sounds. For instance, a child may say 'thith' in place of 'this'.

• Disorders in fluency

Such disorders impact rhythm, speed, and flow of speech. Acts of cluttering and stuttering are disorders of fluency. People who stutter are unable to articulate a sound. They may have interrupted or blocked speech or may needlessly repeat parts of a word. Persons with cluttering mostly speak very quickly and merge words together in a jumble.

• Resonance disorders

Such disorders occur when an obstruction or blockage of regular airflow in the oral or nasal cavities changes the vibrations responsible for the quality of voice. They can also occur if the velopharyngeal valve does not properly close. These disorders are mostly linked to cleft palate, swollen tonsils, and neurological disorders.

• Receptive disorders

Persons with receptive language disorders find it tough to understand and process what others say. This can result in seeming bored when others speak, having limited vocabulary, and having trouble following directions. Autism, language disorders, head injury, or hearing loss can cause receptive disorders.

• Expressive disorders

This disorder manifests as a difficulty in expressing or conveying information. People with expressive disorders may have trouble forming accurate sentences; for example using verb tenses incorrectly. This condition is linked to developmental disorders like hearing loss and Down's syndrome. It may also stem from a health condition like head trauma.

• Disorders of cognitive-communication

Finding it tough to communicate because of an injury to a portion of the brain which controls capacity to think indicates such disorders. This can cause issues with memory, difficulty in listening or speaking, and problem-solving. This condition is mostly the result of biological problems like a stroke, brain injury, pre-existing or developed neurological conditions, and abnormal brain development.

• Aphasia

This condition is an acquired disorder of communication that impacts the ability of a person to speak to and understand others. It also impacts a person's ability to read and write. The most common factor causing aphasia are strokes, though other disorders of the brain can also be causative factors.

• Dysarthria

Such a condition manifests as slurred or slow speech because of incapacity or weakness for controlling the muscles utilized for speech. It is typically caused by disorders of the nervous system and conditions which cause weakness of the tongue and throat and facial paralysis because of Stroke or Multiple Sclerosis.

Benefits of therapy for child patients

Speech therapy for children has the following benefits:

• Improvement in communication such that they can express feelings and thoughts
• Empowering them to speak so that others can understand what they are speaking
• Getting them ready for school so that they can stay abreast of other children
• Enhances quality of voice
• Improves social skills
• Improves independence and self-esteem.

Speech therapy meant for a child may occur in a small group or classroom or one to one depending on the disorder. Activities and exercises of such therapy differ based on the needs, age, and disorder of the child.

During the therapy sessions, SLPs may:

• Interact with kids through playing and talking, using objects, pictures and books as part of language intervention for helping in stimulating the development of language.
• Demonstrate correct syllables and sounds for children while engaging in play suitable for their age, enabling them to know how to make sounds.
• Offer strategies and homework for the parent, caregiver, or child to instruct the mode to continue speech therapy at home.

In sum, these are the features and uses of speech and language therapy.

London Speech Therapy one of the best centres for dealing with speech therapy and autism, was set up in 2009 by speech and language expert - Chris Wade. It delivers speech and language therapy with its team of 28 professionals.