What is Speech Therapy and How does it work as Treatment

Speech Therapy helps people who have communication or swallowing difficulty. It consists of various evidence-based exercises and activities. It is also called Speech and Language Therapy.

A professional who conducts therapy sessions is a Speech Therapist or Speech Pathologist. He/she is an expert in managing related disorders. This professional holds a license and a proper degree in a relevant program.

In this article, you are going to know about the various aspects of a session.

• Overview
• Therapy Setting
• Duration and Number of Sessions
• Resources
• Styles of Learning
• Role of the Patient's Family
• Outcomes
• Who should consult?

Before therapy, the therapist assesses the patient. The next step is to create a management plan on the basis of diagnosis. This plan has short-term and long-term goals.

1. Overview of Speech Therapy

In short words, it is like training. The therapist and client work together to deal with an impairment. Read two examples below to understand this process.

• Let's take another example of a patient who has difficulty pronouncing /t/ sound. The therapist will teach the right way to pronounce it. Also, he will design activities for practice. This activity may have a list of words having a target sound. And the client will speak those words as per instructions.  
• Take an example of a patient with Dysarthria, who has weakness in tongue muscles. Speech Therapist will teach him some muscle strengthening exercises. The patient will repeat those exercises under supervision.

This process moves forward strategically. Therapists choose one or more targets and train the client. They write notes about every activity in the session. This record helps them to go ahead with a strategy.

Some clients need short-term intervention for a few days. While some of them need long-term services which can take months or years.

Read More: Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2. Therapy Setting

Different work settings have different therapy environment. Hospitals have proper therapy rooms with a couple of resources. Therapists also work in Inpatient Ward or ICU of hospitals. They have to adapt to different environments.

Sometimes a clinician conducts group therapy. In this case, more than one patient attend the session. Group intervention to enhance social skills in patients is an example.

3. Duration and Number of Sessions

Usually, a session consists of 30 to 40 minutes. But it may vary according to the situation. A patient may need multiple Speech and Language Therapy sessions if required.

The number or duration of sessions depends on various factors. These factors are as follows.

• Type of impairment
• Medical Condition 
• Severity
• Age
• Education
• Cooperation 
• Miscellaneous.

4. Resources Used By a Speech Therapist

Therapists use various tools to facilitate clients. They are very effective and helpful for both clinician and client. Examples are as follows.

• Toys
• Modern-day equipment e.g., a sound measuring apparatus
• Electronic gadgets e.g., tablets or computer
• Specific apps or software e.g., text to speech app
• Flashcards
• Whiteboard 
• Books
• Mirror 
• And Others.

The clinician uses them for special purposes. For example, they use flashcards for naming activity with children. These tools have brought a positive change in the process.

5. Styles of Learning

Every client is different from others. They have the same problems, but their way of learning may differ. That is why various learning styles come to facilitate their needs. Therapists can use multiple modalities to train clients.

They include;

• Verbal: Use of speech and writing. 
• Visual: Use of pictures, videos, shapes, and paintings. 
• Kinesthetic: Use of Gestures, body movements, and positioning. 
• Aural: Use of sounds and music. 
• Social: Sessions in groups. 

The clinician observes a patient's condition, interest, or response. These factors can help them to choose one or more modalities.

6. Role of Family

The role of the parents and siblings in Speech and Language Therapy is important. Speech Therapists may involve the client's attendant during the session. They may give some home-based tasks. In this way, the client can do practice in the home environment. That is why the role of parents and siblings is important. 

The results of this approach always help to get better results. The clinical environment is different from real life. This helps the client in overcoming its weaknesses in a relatively short period. 

7. Outcome

The outcome of professional intervention is extremely positive. Some medical conditions like Down Syndrome or Autism need long-term services. While some conditions like functional articulation disorder, need a few sessions.

I have seen hundreds of patients who got benefit from this. It helps patients to improve their skills. And make them capable of using those skills in daily lives. There is no reason to doubt its effectiveness.

8. Who should consult?

A person with swallowing or communication problem should go for Speech Therapy. Keep in mind that communication is a broader concept. It includes sounds, language, voice, fluency, cognitive process, and social interaction. This intervention covers every aspect but in distinct ways. It also deals with learning disabilities like dyslexia or dysgraphia.

Age does not matter in this regard. If you are going for a consultation, consult with a qualified clinician.

Ending Note

Speech Therapy is a very important part of healthcare services. It's a blessing like any other treatment methods. Most importantly, this intervention is enhancing the quality of life throughout the world. It is the only way to manage related impairments.

If you have experience of getting Speech and Language Therapy, share it in comments. And if you are a Speech Therapist or a trainee then you should add some valuable information below.