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Speech therapy is treatment for problems with speaking, language, and swallowing. It is given by a speech therapist, also called a speech-language pathologist. Speech therapy helps with using the voice properly and using the muscles to make the right sounds. It helps people understand language and express themselves.

Speech therapists assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders. Speech disorders include problems with articulation (making the speech sounds correctly) and motor speech disorders like apraxia and dysarthria, which are related to motor movements and muscle strength and coordination. Language disorders include problems with the expression or understanding of spoken or written language. Among disorders treated are: language learning disorders, autism, stuttering, and voice disorders. SLPs also treat swallowing and feeding disorders. Among children, these are most common in preterm infants and children with sensory based or aversive feeding problems. SLPs

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What is done during Speech Therapy

During speech therapy for children, the SLP may: interact through talking and playing, and using books, pictures other objects as part of language intervention to help stimulate language development. model correct sounds and syllables for a child during age-appropriate play to teach the child how to make certain sounds.

At what age should speech therapy begin?

most children understand more than 300 words. If your child has trouble understanding simple sentences, such as “get your coat,” it may be time to see a speech therapist.

At what age should I be worried about my child's speech?

Call your doctor if your child: by 12 months: isn't using gestures, such as pointing or waving bye-bye. by 18 months: prefers gestures over vocalizations to communicate. by 18 months: has trouble imitating sounds.

Is it unusual for a 2 year old not to talk?

You may notice that your child's development goes at its own unique pace. And that's OK — at least most of the time. Still, if you're worried that your 2-year-old isn't talking as much as their peers, or that they're still babbling versus saying actual words, it's a valid concern.

How long does it take for speech therapy to work?

The bottom line is that it is very hard to definitively say how long it takes speech therapy take to work. It depends from child to child as per one's individual capacity.

      Is speech delay common?

A speech and language delay is when a child isn't developing speech and language at an expected rate. It's a common developmental problem that affects as many as 10% of preschool children

Can a teen or an adult do speech therapy?

Speech and language therapy provides professional treatment and support for young children, teens and adults who have difficulties with communication. Regular therapeutic intervention can improve communication as well as positively impact both social and academic behaviors.

​Does delayed speech mean autism?

Parents of young children with autism often report delayed speech as their first concern, but speech delay is not specific to autism. Delayed speech is also present in young children with global developmental delay caused by intellectual disability and those with severe to profound hearing loss.

Can a child with speech delays catch up?

They may receive a diagnosis of language disorder. Between 70–80% of Late Talkers seem to catch up to their peers by the time they enter school. Sometimes these children are called “late bloomers” because they eventually seem to catch up to other children their age. Correct Speech Therapy on time helps them to catch up faster.

     Can speech disorders be cured?

Mild speech disorders may not require any treatment. Some speech disorders may simply go away. Others can improve with speech therapy. Treatment varies and depends on the type of disorder.

How long do kids go to speech therapy for?

It depends on the problem a kid is working on. Kids might see a speech therapist twice 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.

Is speech therapy considered a disability?

The act explicitly identifies speech and language impairments as a type of disability and defines them as “a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child's educational performance.

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