SPEECH & SWALLOWING THERAPY

Speech therapy is a treatment that can help improve communication skills. It’s sometimes called speech-language therapy. Many people think that speech therapy is only for kids with speech disorders that affect pronunciation. But it also helps kids who struggle with spoken and written language.

Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication problems and speech disorders. It is performed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), which are often referred to as speech therapists. Speech therapy techniques are used to improve communication. These include articulation therapy, language intervention activities, and others depending on the type of speech or language disorder. Speech therapy may be needed for speech disorders that develop in childhood or speech impairments in adults caused by an injury or illness, such as stroke or brain injury.

The process of speech-language pathology involves the diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, and communication disorders. The first step to treatment is to identify the challenge, which will vary between adults and children. For adults, the need for speech-language pathology will oftentimes be caused by another medical condition. For children, the process to identify a need for specialized treatment is much more elusive. Children will demonstrate a series of “clues” that suggest a need to seek assistance from a qualified professional. Once the challenge is identified, a speech-language pathologist will provide a diagnosis and develop an individualized therapy plan to attain the highest level of function possible in areas such as speech, language, cognition, or swallowing. The process for undergoing therapy for speech-language communication and swallowing includes some universal stages that we have outlined, to help guide you through the treatment process.

Here are some types of speech therapy techniques and approaches that are used for various issues:

Articulation therapy: This type of therapy helps people who have trouble pronouncing certain sounds. The therapist will work with the patient to help them produce the sound correctly.

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Language intervention activities: This type of therapy helps people who have trouble understanding or using language. The therapist will work with the patient to help them understand and use language correctly.

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Fluency therapy: This type of therapy helps people who stutter or have other fluency disorders. The therapist will work with the patient to help them speak more fluently.

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Cognitive-communication therapy: This type of therapy helps people who have trouble communicating because of an injury to the part of the brain that controls their ability to think. The therapist will work with the patient to help them improve their memory, problem-solving, and communication skills.

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Swallow therapy, also known as dysphagia therapy, is a type of therapy that helps people with swallowing disorders. With swallow therapy, a speech-language pathologist will work with a patient to help improve their ability to swallow safely, reducing the risk for aspiration. Techniques may include a combination of the following: swallowing exercises and maneuvers, positioning strategies, modifications of foods and liquids.

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Swallowing disorders can occur at any age and can be caused by a variety of factors, including neurological disorders, head and neck cancer, and aging. Swallow therapy is tailored to the individual needs of the patient and may include a combination of the following techniques:

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Swallowing exercises and maneuvers: These exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles involved in swallowing and improve coordination between the muscles and nerves involved in the process. Examples of exercises include the Shaker exercise, the Mendelsohn maneuver, and the Masako exercise.

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Positioning strategies: These strategies involve adjusting the position of the head, neck, and body during meals to make swallowing easier and safer. For example, a speech-language pathologist may suggest tilting the head forward or to the side, or sitting upright during meals.

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Modifications of foods and liquids: These modifications may include changing the texture or consistency of foods and liquids to make them easier to swallow. For example, a speech-language pathologist may suggest pureeing foods or thickening liquids to make them easier to swallow.

Swallow therapy can help improve swallowing function and quality of life for people with swallowing disorders. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty swallowing, it is important to seek medical attention. A speech-language pathologist can help determine the cause of the swallowing disorder and develop a treatment plan to improve swallowing function and quality of life.