What is Speech Therapy?
Understanding speech therapy, common disorders, and how speech therapy can help
Speech therapy focuses on assessing and treating communication problems and speech disorders. This discipline is practiced by a speech-language pathologist (SLP), which is often referred to as a speech therapist.
Speech therapists use techniques to improve communication, including articulation therapy, language intervention, and other exercises depending on the kind of speech impairment. Speech therapy is helpful for patients who developed problems during childhood or adulthood from an injury or illness.
Are you, your child, or someone else you know struggling with a speech disorder? If so, it’s time to seek help from (practice name) in (town). Our experienced speech therapists are licensed to treat a wide range of speech disorders in both youthful patients and adults.
To get started at our practice, give us a call today!
Who Benefits From Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy treats a wide range of conditions including :
- Receptive disorders. Receptive language disorder makes it difficult for the patient to understand and process what others are saying. This can cause them to seem confused or dazed when someone is speaking or have a much more limited vocabulary than their peers. Other language disorders, autism, hearing loss, and a head injury can also cause receptive disorders.
- Expressive disorders. Expressive language disorder is when someone is unable to convey or express information. You may find it difficult to form clear sentences if you have an expressive disorder. This condition is often associated with developmental impairments, such as Down syndrome and hearing loss. It can also be caused by head trauma or a medical condition.
- Cognitive-communication disorders. A cognitive communication disorder is characterized by communication difficulties caused by damage to the affected area. The condition can lead to memory problems, trouble-solving problems, and difficulty communicating. Biological issues, neurological diseases, brain injury, or stroke may also cause cognitive-communication disorders.
- Apraxia. Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a neurological disorder that impacts the brain pathways involved in producing speech. People with apraxia understand what they want to say but cannot plan and sequence the necessary speech-sound actions. Apraxia also causes delays with reading, writing, swallowing, and other motor skills.
- Aphasia. Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and understand others. It can typically affect a person’s ability to read and write. Aphasia is an acquired condition, meaning it is brought on by sudden issues like a stroke.
- Dysarthria. Patients with dysarthria often display slow or slurred speech due to a weakness or inability to control muscles used for communication. The condition is primarily caused by nervous system disorders or conditions that interfere with facial muscles.
- Articulation disorders. An articulation disorder occurs when a patient is unable to properly form certain word sounds. This speech problem can cause a kid to omit, switch, distort, or add word sounds.
- Fluency disorders. Fluency disorders make it difficult for patients to speak without stuttering or incorrectly to produce sounds. Those with a fluency disorder may also combine words, speak quickly, or communicate with a disordered rhythm, pace, or fluency.
What to Expect During Treatment
Speech therapy is different for children and adults. This is because of age, maturity, and developmental factors. However, both children and adults will be provided with specific exercises to improve fluency, muscular function, and cognitive communication.
Whether you’re a youthful or mature patient, each treatment will begin with a comprehensive assessment, which allows the therapist to collect details about your medical history, general health, and current difficulties with speaking. We will address the root cause of your speech impairment and then develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your condition and current symptoms.
Book an Appointment Today!
Speech disorders can be complicated and frustrating, often affecting our social relationships, work, school, and even daily activities. Fortunately, our licensed speech therapists have all the tools you need to succeed in recovery and overcome your speech impairment!
Integrity offers Speech Therapy at our Killeen West, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove clinics. Call our team at Integrity Rehab to get started today!