What is Speech Therapy?
Speech production is dependent on voice, phonation, resonance, fluency, intonation and pitch variation. Manipulation of sound as per language rules, understanding the meanings, syntax, sentence construction using grammar and syllables are also a part and parcel of proper speech generation. In many cases, the awareness about speech and hearing disorders is low. Parents are advised to wait and watch while the time is being lost. Even after the therapy begins, parents often fail to understand what to actually expect from that therapy.
Different children might have a different problem of speech or language skills. There might be stammering or an occasional stutter in one child, while low voice and poor intonation in the other child while he speaks. In these situations, consulting with a language pathologist is a great way to find out if the child is suffering from a speech problem or not. A Language pathologist is also called a speech therapist. These therapists work closely with the parents and train them as well.
Different Speech disorders:
Articulation disorders: This deals with difficulties in producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly. As a result in most cases the listeners can't understand what's being said.
Fluency disorders: This deals with problems such as stammering, in which the flow of speech is interrupted by abnormal pauses or repetitions.
Resonance or voice disorders: When the problems involve the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what's being said. This may cause discomfort to the child while speaking.
What does a speech therapist do?
A speech therapist needs to have a professional degree course done before starting his or her clinic to assist the clients with speech disorders. Parents bring their child to a speech therapist for counseling, where an assessment is conducted. After the assessment, if the therapist suggests, then the child is brought for a regular therapy. They have very important responsibilities towards their clients. In this case, the regular sessions would be conducted by the speech therapist. He or she would use specific techniques and strategies to improve the child’s communication. Generally the parents sit and watch the therapy. Later, they are supposed to practice a set of activities with the child at home. After all, the parents are a child’s first teacher. A speech therapist carries out the sessions through techniques that would attract the interest of the child and then the child would co-operate for the same.
The speech therapy is extended into every part of the child’s day, so that it does not seem like a rule to them.
It involves communication mainly between child and parent. The more the interaction with the child, the better it helps to overcome the disorder the child is suffering from.
It deals with play and daily activities that are familiar and meaningful to the child, instead of unfamiliar clinic-based activities.
It can be carried out in the child’s comfortable surroundings, be it at home or playground or in some cases even in schools with a special permission from the teachers.
This process is motivating and fun. So the speech therapist tries his or her best to make the ambiance into a friendly one.
Speech therapists form an integral part of a child’s development. The earlier they help the child, the better it is for future. However, these therapists aid patients of almost all age groups with different techniques depending on the patient’s age. Adults with eating and swallowing problems, hearing problems, larynx dysfunctions due to illness and mental health problems should also visit speech therapists. Still want to know more then let’s go to the details and get more ideas.
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