Consult Speech Therapist Online (6 doctors)

Who is a speech therapist?

Speech therapists specialise in treating children & adults with speech disorders. They provide screening, consultation, examination, detection, treatment, management, and counselling for people with special requirements. Speech therapists are also known as speech-language pathologists. Speech therapy plays an integral role in the holistic development of children diagnosed with issues like autism disorder, which enhances overall communication and social skills in children. Speech therapists help patients to cope with social interactions and functions of daily life.

What is meant by speech therapy?

Speech therapy provides appropriate support and treatment for people with speech disorders and communication issues. This approach is effective for treating several speech disorders in children and adults. Speech therapy is the examination and treatment of all communication and speech-related disorders. It is majorly performed by a speech-language pathologist. Some speech therapy methods that are used to improvise communication include: 

• Language invasion activities
• Articulation therapy

When should you consult a speech therapist?

Children with speech disorder have noticeable but subtle symptoms that include:

12-15 months children

• Unable to wave or point out.
• Making minimal sounds.
• Have not spoken their first words.

18-24 months children

• Point and grunt rather than communicate what they want.
• Not using combinations of words properly.

2-4 years children

• Cannot phrase a sentence.
• Saying less than fifty words at a time.
• Mostly opaque speech.

4-5 years children

• Repeating words and sounds.
• Stammering or stuttering.
• Unable to follow directions.

Roles and responsibilities of a speech therapist

Some of the roles and responsibilities of speech therapists include:

• Speech articulation by promoter exercises for the lip and facial muscles.
• Teaching gestural communication, PECS training with the help of non-verbal communication and other electronic talking devices.
• The speech therapist indulges the child in functional language activities, including social interaction and cognition.

What conditions do speech therapists treat?

A speech-language therapist treats several conditions such as:

• Stammering: a speech disorder that the specialists categorise by the repetition of sounds, words, or syllables. A person with this disorder often repeats words, phrases, or syllables. A person who stammers knows what he wants to convey but has trouble speaking clearly.
• Aphasia: a disorder in which a person has trouble with speech or language. Stroke is the main cause of this condition in adults. A person with aphasia is unable to understand and express language and may have difficulty writing and reading.
• Articulation diseases: it involves people who are experiencing issues with sound production and coordinating movements of the teeth, lips, palate, tongue, and respiratory system. People detected with articulation disorders usually mispronounce words and have issues with other areas of language development.
• Developmental language disorders: a disorder that causes problems in language skill development. It affects the way a child listens, speaks, reads, and writes. Specific language impairment, language delay, developmental dysphasia are the other names.
• Resonance disorders: an obstruction or blockage of the daily airflow through an individual’s mouth as they talk. These diseases modify the vibrations that assist in speaking and lead to unclear speech.

An examination is conducted by a speech pathologist to begin with speech therapy. They identify the types of communication disorders and suggest the appropriate way to treat them.

Speech therapy treatment for children

Speech therapy usually takes place in a classroom or a small group, depending on the disorder. The activities and exercises majorly depend upon a child’s needs, disorder and age. 
A speech-language pathologist may:

• Interact with children by talking or playing, using pictures, books or other objects as part of the language invasion process to encourage language development.
• Teach a child how to make sounds by planning an ideal plan for syllables and sounds for children during age-appropriate play.
• Provide homework and basic strategies for the child development and parents on how to perform speech therapy easily at home.

Speech therapy treatment for adults

Speech therapy for adults begins with various examinations to diagnose the problem. Speech therapy exercises and activities for adults may help them with language, speech, and cognitive-communication. It can include retraining of the swallowing function after a medical condition or injury.

Exercises include the following:

• Problem-solving, organization and other activities focused on enhancing cognitive-communication.
• Conversational tactics enhance social interaction and communication.
• Breathing exercises for resonance and strengthening of oral muscles.

There are many other resources available if you are looking for speech therapy exercises at home, including:

• Speech therapy apps and workbooks.
• Language development games, toys like flashcards, and flip cards.

Where to find a speech therapist?

Search for the best speech therapists that can help you manage and treat speech disorders. Book an appointment from the comfort of your home and consult the best speech-language therapist online using the Apollo 24|7 app or website.