Speech Therapy
credit for the report goes to
Kids Health Org
In a recent parent-teacher conference,
your child's teacher expressed concern that your child may have
a problem with certain speech or language skills. Or perhaps
while talking to your child, you noticed an occasional stutter.
You're not sure that your child has a problem - what should you
do?
Whatever your
particular circumstances, it's wise to intervene quickly. A
speech-language evaluation conducted by a certified
speech-language pathologist can help you determine the nature of
your child's difficulties.
What Is Speech-Language Therapy?
Speech-language therapy is the treatment
for most children with speech and/or language disorders. A
speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production
of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty
understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas.
Speech Disorders and Language Disorders
Speech disorders include the following problems,
according to Diane Paul-Brown, PhD, director of clinical issues
in speech-language pathology at the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):
Articulation disorders include
difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words
incorrectly to the point that other people can't understand
what's being said.
Fluency disorders include
problems such as
stuttering, the condition in which the flow of speech is
interrupted by abnormal stoppages, repetitions
(st-st-stuttering), or prolonging
sounds and syllables (ssssstuttering)
Resonance or voice disorders
include problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of a child's
voice that distract listeners from what's being said. These
types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for the
child when speaking.
Language disorders
can be either receptive or expressive. Receptive disorders refer
to difficulties understanding or processing language. Expressive
disorders include difficulty putting words together, limited
vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially
appropriate way.
Specialists in Speech-Language Therapy
Speech-language pathologists
(SLPs), who are often informally
known as speech therapists, are professionals educated in the
study of human communication, its development, and its
disorders. They hold at least a master's degree and state
certification/licensure in the field, as well as a certificate
of clinical competency from the American
Speech-Hearing-Association.
By assessing the
speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills
of children and adults, speech-language pathologists can
determine what types of communication problems exist and the
best way to treat these challenges.
Speech-language pathologists
typically treat problems in the areas of articulation;
dysfluency; oral-motor, speech, and voice; and receptive and
expressive language disorders.
Remediation
Speech-language therapy involves having a speech-language
specialist work with a child on a one-to-one basis, in a small
group or directly in a classroom, to overcome difficulties
involved with a specific disorder. Speech-language therapy uses
a variety of therapeutic strategies, including:
language intervention
activities - These exercises involve having a speech-language
specialist interact with a child by playing and talking to him.
The therapist may use pictures, books, objects, or ongoing
events to stimulate language development. The therapist may also
model correct pronunciation and use repetition exercises to
build speech and language skills.
articulation therapy -
Articulation, or sound production, exercises involve having the
therapist model correct sounds and syllables for a child, often
during play activities. The level of play is age-appropriate and
related to the child's specific needs. Articulation therapy
involves physically showing a child how to make certain sounds,
such as the "r" sound. A speech-language therapist may
demonstrate how a child should move his tongue to produce
specific sounds.
When Is Therapy
Needed?
Children require
speech-language therapy for a variety of reasons, including:
hearing
impairments cognitive (intellectual;
thinking) or other developmental delays
weak oral muscles birth defects
such as cleft lip or cleft palate
autism
motor planning problems
respiratory
problems (breathing disorders)
swallowing disorders
traumatic brain injury
Therapy
should begin as soon as possible. Children enrolled in therapy
early in their development (younger than 3
years) tend to have better outcomes than children who
begin therapy later.
This does not mean
that older children can't make progress in therapy; they may
progress at a slower rate because they often have learned
patterns that need to be modified or changed.
Finding Care for Your Child
It's important to make sure that the speech-language
therapist is certified by ASHA. That certification means the
specialist has at least a master's degree in the field, has
passed a national examination, and has successfully completed a
supervised clinical fellowship.
Sometimes
speech assistants (who have typically
earned a 2-year associate's or 4-year bachelor's degree)
may assist with speech-language services under the supervision
of ASHA-certified SLPs. Your child's SLP should be licensed in
their state, and have experience working with children, and your
child's specific disorder.
To find a specialist for your child, click on the Additional
Resources tab on the right side of this page. You may also find
a specialist by asking your child's doctor or teacher for a
referral or by checking your local telephone directory. The
state associations for speech-language pathology and audiology
also maintain listings of licensed and certified therapists.
Helping Your
Child
Speech-language experts agree that parental
involvement is crucial to the success of a child's progress in
speech or language therapy.
Parents are an
extremely important part of their child's therapy program.
Parents help determine whether their child's experience in
speech-language therapy is a success. Children who complete the
program most quickly and with the most lasting results are those
whose parents have been involved. It is very important that
parents help their child use the stimulation activities that
their speech-language pathologist suggests at home to ensure
continued progress and carry-over of newly learned skills.
Ask your child's
therapist for suggestions on how you can help your child, such
as performing speech-language exercises with him at home. The
process of overcoming a speech or language disorder may take
some time and effort, so it's important that all family members
be patient and understanding with the child.
Reviewed by:
Amy Nelson, MA, CCC-SLP
Date reviewed: June 2005
Originally reviewed by:
Julie Foley, MS