Communication is a part of everyday life, at every stage of life. Whether it’s a baby learning their first word or an adult ordering at a cafe, speech and language play a vital role. So when someone has trouble communicating, where can they turn? This is where speech therapy can help.
Why Speech Therapy Matters
Speech therapy is a form of therapeutic care that helps patients who have lost the ability to communicate. Sometimes there is confusion about the purpose of speech therapy, unlike physical therapy, which people tend to better understand. Physical therapy treats a part of the body that isn’t working, where a therapist physically helps the patient regain use. Similarly, speech therapy helps patients who can no longer communicate regain these skills.
Understanding Speech Therapy
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are licensed, trained professionals in speech therapy who assist patients with any type of communication issue. Speech therapy can help someone:
- Regain speech after a stroke or brain injury
- Communicate effectively in daily life
- Understand and use language more clearly
- Swallow safely and correctly
It encompasses all disorders involving speech, the mouth, and the throat, and can help patients of all ages regain the quality of life they deserve.
Speech Therapy for Adults
In adults, speech therapy is used to restore or maintain speech and communication skills that were lost. Speech therapy can also help adults struggling with swallowing (dysphagia), dementia, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injuries or stroke.
The treatment is typically administered in a hospital or outpatient setting and is functional and goal-oriented in nature, incorporating exercises such as memory drills, conversational practice and muscle strengthening.
Speech Therapy for Children
In children, speech therapy is used to develop communication skills that are not yet fully formed. Unlike adults, who are regaining something that was lost, for children, speech therapy is developing the building blocks upon which their language skills are built. Common issues include stuttering, cluttering or articulation problems, difficulty with pronouncing sounds and sound patterns and difficulty understanding or using language.
Children are usually treated in school settings or pediatric clinics with a structure that is much more play-based and interactive than the adult version. Their version may include games, books, pictures and activities to keep the child’s interest while still making progress.
Benefits of Speech Therapy
It’s estimated that 40 million Americans have communication disorders, with about 8% of children having a communication or swallowing disorder. Speech therapy offers numerous benefits, depending on the issue it addresses. This can include improved communication, safer swallowing and nutrition, boosted confidence and independence, educational development and reduced caregiver burden. In real-world examples, the benefits can look like a loved one being able to speak aloud their needs, a child who was shy because of stuttering being able to speak complete sentences and go to school with confidence or a patient with a traumatic brain injury able to communicate with a gesture.
Integrating Speech Therapy into Care Plans
Integrating speech therapy into a care plan helps your loved ones access all the specific support they need. Depending on the patient’s age, condition and setting, speech therapy can be delivered in many forms.
- Home health services: Therapists visit patients in their homes, working with their living environments and tailoring care to the patient’s specific needs.
- Outpatient clinic support: The patient attends regular therapy sessions with a therapist at an outpatient clinic to achieve long-term communication goals.
- Hospitals: Typically, therapists assist patients after a stroke or surgery to facilitate swallowing and early communication recovery, often from the hospital bed.
- Nursing care or skilled nursing: Speech therapy is an integral part of a daily routine, alongside any other necessary therapies.
- Group speech therapy: The patient attends regular sessions in a group setting, where they work alongside others to enhance their social communication skills.
- Speech therapy at school: Speech therapists can visit the school directly to work with them one-on-one on speech issues during the school day.
- Home-based therapy for children: Much like adults, a therapist can visit a child at home to offer even more tailored speech therapy than in a school-based setting, as it may make the child more comfortable to be in a familiar home environment.
- Preschool intervention: This early intervention program identifies and addresses speech issues as early as possible, targeting them in preschool before the child enters kindergarten.
Whether for short-term recovery or long-term support, integrating speech therapy into a care plan can help your loved one achieve independence and confidence.
How to Get Started with Speech Therapy
Finding a trusted speech therapist can be an overwhelming task, but the compassionate care team at ACV Health, an outreach of Advent Christian Village, is here to help. Our team is always available to answer any questions you might have and direct you toward the therapy your loved one needs.
Our services range from primary and specialty care to rehabilitation and home health care. Through our partner providers at the Copeland Medical Center, we also offer family dentistry, audiology, podiatry and more. Request an appointment today to get started.
We are currently accepting new patients in Live Oak, Florida. Our mission is to provide comprehensive care in a convenient and familiar environment. You are welcomed with the warmth of a small-town doctor’s office backed by the resources of a larger provider.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is not intended as medical advice. If you have questions related to your health, please speak with a healthcare professional. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
