Speech therapy
WHAT IS SPEECH THERAPY
Speech–language pathology is a specialty practiced by a clinician known as a speech–language pathologist or a speech and language therapist, each of whom can be referred to as “speech therapist.”
Speech–language pathologists (SLPs) provide a wide range of services, mainly on an individual basis, but also as support for individuals, families, support groups, and providing information for the general public. SLPs work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.[2] Speech services begin with initial screening for communication and swallowing disorders and continue with assessment and diagnosis, consultation for the provision of advice regarding management, intervention, and treatment, and providing counseling and other follow-up services for these disorders. Services are provided in the following areas:
speech – phonation, articulation, fluency, resonance, and voice including aeromechanical components of respiration
language- phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatic/social aspects of communication including comprehension and expression in oral, written, graphic, and manual modalities; language processing; preliteracy and language-based literacy skills, phonological awareness.
sensory awareness related to communication, swallowing, or other upper aerodigestive functions.
That is attention, memory, problem solving, executive functions.
swallowing or other upper aerodigestive functions such as infant feeding and aeromechanical events (evaluation of esophageal function is for the purpose of referral to medical professionals);