• What Is Speech-Language Therapy?

    Speech-language therapy is the treatment for most children 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.

    COMMUNICATION is the FIRST BASIC SKILL

    Speech Disorders and Language Disorders

    1.  Speech disorders include the following problems

    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 a child's voice that distract listeners from what's being said. These types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for the child when speaking.

    2. 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.

    (Speech-language pathologists typically treat problems in the areas of articulation; dysfluency; oral-motor, speech, and voice; and receptive and expressive language disorders).

    Helping Your Child

    Parents are an extremely important part of their child's therapy program. Parents help determine whether their child's experience in speech-language therapy is a success. Children who complete the program most quickly and with the most lasting results are those whose parents have been involved. 

    It is very important that parents help their child use the stimulation activities that their speech-language pathologist suggests at home to ensure continued progress and carry-over of newly learned skills.