Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy focuses on developing and maintaining an individual’s ability to express thoughts and feelings.

Speech therapists, also known as speech-language pathologists (SLP’s), evaluate and treat speech and language disorders.

A speech disorder (including articulation, intonation, rate and intensity) is a problem of expression characterized by difficulty forming speech sounds or producing voice. A language disorder (including phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics) is characterized by difficulty in both language comprehension and expression, including reading and writing.

Speech-language pathologists provide a wide range of services for all ages, in early intervention (ages 0-3 years), preschool, primary and secondary schooling, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, home care, and nursing homes.

Professionals may work with victims of head injury or stroke, individuals with medical diagnoses including Aspergers syndrome and autism, speech disorders such as lisps and stuttering, and with the deaf and hearing impaired. SLP’s also provide services for individuals with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

Intervention is highly specialized to the individual needs of each client, and is dependent upon the nature and severity of the disorder. Treatments include physical strengthening exercises, instructive or repetitive practice and drilling, the use of compensatory strategies, and the education of caregivers.