What Is Speech Therapy?

What Is Speech Therapy?

Some kids have trouble saying certain sounds or words, speaking smoothly, or swallowing. Speech therapists, also called speech-language pathologists, can help.

Who Needs It?

Speech therapists help people of all ages with different speech and language problems. Many kids see speech therapists – it’s a great way to learn to speak more clearly. Kids may need speech therapy if they have:

• hearing problems
• weak mouth muscles
• cleft lip or palate
• vocal nodules/hoarseness
• autism
• problems with breathing or swallowing 

What Do Speech Therapists Help With?

Speech therapists can help kids with speech and language disorders, including:

• Articulation (ar-tik-yuh-LAY-shun) disorders: This is when a kid has trouble saying certain sounds or words correctly. "Run" might come out as "won." Or "say" may sound like "thay." (When you can’t say the letter S, this is called a lisp.)
• Fluency (FLOO-in-see) disorders: Kids who repeat certain sounds and have trouble saying complete words may have a fluency disorder. For example, a kid trying to say "story" might get stuck on the "st" and say "st-st-st-story." (This is also called a stutter.)
• Resonance (REZ-uh-nunce) or voice disorders: Kids who have trouble being understood may have a voice disorder. A sentence that starts loud and clear might be quiet and mumbling by the end. Sometimes kids with voice disorders sound like they have a cold or like they're talking through their noses.
• Language disorders: A kid who has trouble understanding people or has trouble putting words together to express thoughts might have a language disorder.

What Happens in Speech Therapy?

When you visit a speech therapist for the first time, you’ll do a speaking test. You’ll be asked to say certain sounds and words which may be recorded. This helps the therapist figure out what sounds or parts of speech you need to work on. After that, the therapist will come up with a plan that may include:

• Practicing certain sounds. Practice makes perfect! The therapist will make certain sounds and ask you to try to copy them. That means copying the way the therapist moves the lips, mouth, and tongue to make the right sound.
• Practicing with a mirror (so you can see your lips moving!). You might look into a mirror while making the sounds so you can see exactly what you’re doing with your mouth. This helps you learn how to make the right shapes and movements.
• Practicing patterns of speech. If your therapist is helping you with a language disorder, your sessions may focus on grammar — how to put words together to form clear statements and thoughts. If you have trouble understanding what you hear, you may play games that work on these skills, such as Simon Says.
• Exercises to strengthen your muscles. Your therapist might give you exercises to do that help strengthen muscles needed for speech and swallowing. The therapist will let you know how often you should practice these exercises at home.

How Long Does Speech Therapy Last?

It depends! Some treatments are quicker than others. Kids might see a speech therapist once a week or a few times a week. Treatment can take a few weeks, a few months, or a few years.

If you have speech problem, the best advice is to practice, practice, practice. Find time to work on the skills your therapist has shown you. Maybe spend some time before bed practicing in front of a mirror, and ask family or friends for help.