Speech therapy can help children and adults to improve communication and language skills. No matter what affects your ability to speak or communicate effectively, speech therapy can improve your quality of life. If you or your child have difficulty speaking, talk to a healthcare provider about a speech therapy evaluation.
What is speech therapy?
Speech therapy is a treatment which can improve your ability to speak. It helps you to express your thoughts and understand what others are saying to you. It also improves skills such as memory and problem solving skills.
What activities are done in speech therapy?
For children, speech therapy involves a series of activities or language board games.
For adults, speech therapy typically focuses on improving specific skills such as strengthening the connection between the brain and mouth.
Some exercises are given below :
- Tongue and mouth exercise: Speech therapists will demonstrate exercises and movements that can strengthen your mouth and tongue. These exercises help train your tongue to move in a coordinated manner.
- Facial movements : Controlling facial exercises can help improve motor skills. Therapists may ask you to relax your face by smiling or curling your lips.
- Play word games : Research shows that memory games, word searches and crossword puzzles maintain cognitive function and improve thinking skills.
Which conditions are treated with speech therapy?
Speech therapy can help people who suffer from communication disorders.The Doctor may recommend if you have :
Aphasia: People with Aphasia may have difficulty with reading, writing, speaking and understanding language. It often occurs after a stroke.
Articulation disorder : People with articulation disorder are unable to say certain words. For example, you can replace one sound with another such as “wed” instead of “red” or “thith” instead of “this”.
Cognitive Communication disorders : People with cognitive communication disorders may have problems with listening, speaking, remembering and problem-solving. This disorder occurs because of damage to the area of the brain.
Dysarthric : People with dysarthric may speak slowly. It occurs when the muscles that control speech become weak. Common causes include strokes and other neurological diseases.
Benefits of Speech Therapy :
Improving Communication: Working with a speech therapist can expand the range of communication methods ,your child uses. These methods include words, gestures, facial expressions and many more. All of these methods improve your child’s ability to communicate their wants, needs, feelings and more.
Improving social skills: Learning social skills helps improve a child’s ability to interact with peers. Whether through play or conversation, speech therapy can give your child the tools to interact with the people around him.
Improving Understanding: By paying attention to the complexity of language, a child can better understand questions, instructions and conversations. These skills are important for the progress of your child.
Better Expression: As a child’s vocabulary develops, so does their ability to express themselves. This helps them to talk about their feelings, thoughts etc.
Speech therapy takes time, effort and practice. Be patient and praise yourself for all the progress you make. Speech therapy can increase your independence, self-confidence and quality of life.
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Writer
Anamika Ghosh Shreya
Content writing department
YSSE