Speech Therapy Can Help With Speech and Language Problems

By Karen Barta

Elmer Fudd may get a laugh every time he hunts for that "wascally wabbit", Bugs Bunny, but speech-language disorders are not laughing matters. It can be painful to not be understood or to be ridiculed for voice problems. It is estimated that 5% of school-age children have some type of language disorder. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association breaks disorders into two types, speech disorders and language disorders.

Understanding Speech Disorders

When talking about speech disorders, the areas that normally are discussed are the following: articulation, stuttering, pitch problems, volume, slurred speech, and vocal quality.

Language Disorders - What Are They?

There are two categories for language disorders: receptive and expressive. If there are problems with understanding language it would fall into the receptive disorder category. For those that have a hard time putting words together, struggle with using language appropriately, or developing vocabulary, then it would fall into the expressive disorder category.

There Is Help

The best source of help is to contact a professional speech-language therapist. They have the training and knowledge to not only identify what the problems are, but they can use various testing methods to identify the communication problems.

So, What Will A Therapist Do For you?

One-on-One sessions are typical and will include the use of proven techniques that improve language, cognitive capabilities, and voice abilities. The therapist will typically use teaching methods that encourage and develop correct pronunciation. This is done through modeling, exercises, and repetition. For maximum value and success, it is good to start working with a therapist early and to continue until maximum results have been acquired.

Yea - But Is It For Me?

There are countless reasons that a speech and language problem may have developed. Even if your situation is not listed here, there may be a way for a speech therapist to help you. Just to get you an idea, here are some areas that a speech therapist will typically help: cleft palate, autism, deaf or partial hearing problems, learning disabilities and developmental delays, weak or under-developed oral muscles, and even brain injuries. - 30540

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