In a recent parent-teacher conference, the 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. Could your child have a problem? And
if so, what should you do?
It's wise to intervene quickly. An evaluation by a certified
speech-language pathologist can help determine if your child is
having difficulties.
What Is Speech-Language Therapy?
Speech-language therapy is the treatment for most kids 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
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 the voice that distract listeners from
what's being said. These types of disorders may also cause
pain or discomfort for the child when speaking.
- Dysphagia/oral feeding disorders, including difficulties with
eating and swallowing.
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), 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
ASHA.
By assessing the speech, language, cognitive-communication, and
swallowing skills of children and adults, speech-language
pathologists can identify types of communication problems and the
best way to treat them.
SLPs treat problems in the areas of articulation; dysfluency;
oral-motor, speech, and voice; and receptive and expressive
language disorders.
Remediation
In speech-language therapy, an SLP will work with a child
one-to-one, in a small group, or directly in a classroom to
overcome difficulties involved with a specific disorder.
Therapists use a variety of strategies, including:
-
language intervention activities.
In these exercises an SLP will interact with a child by playing
and talking. 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. The SLP will
physically show the child how to make certain sounds, such as the
"r" sound, and may demonstrate how to move the tongue
to produce specific sounds.
-
oral motor/feeding therapy.
The SLP will use a variety of oral exercises, including facial
massage and various tongue, lip, and jaw exercises, to strengthen
the muscles of the mouth. The SLP may also work with different
food textures and temperatures to increase a child's oral
awareness during eating and swallowing.
When Is Therapy Needed?
Kids might need 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 those who begin therapy later.
This does not mean that older kids can't make progress in
therapy; they may progress at a slower rate because they often have
learned patterns that need to be changed.
Finding a Therapist
It's important to make sure that the speech-language
therapist is certified by ASHA. That certification means the SLP
has at least a master's degree in the field, and has passed a
national examination and 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 your state, and
have experience working with kids and your child's specific
disorder.
You might 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, and help determine whether it is a success. Kids
who complete the program quickest and with the most lasting results
are those whose parents have been involved.
Ask the therapist for suggestions on how you can help your
child. For instance, it's important to help your child do the
at-home stimulation activities that the SLP suggests to ensure
continued progress and carry-over of newly learned skills.
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: October 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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