Speech and Language Therapy

What is a Speech Therapist?

It may surprise you to know that more than 42 million people in the United States have speech, language and hearing impairments. Given this number, the need for speech and language services has rapidly increased over the years.

The role of the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is to diagnose and implement treatment plans for those with various communication disorders. This area can be broken down into two major parts: speech and language. Speech disorders include the impairment of a person’s articulation (speech sound production), voice (vocal nodules, polyps, etc.), fluency (stuttering), and/or hearing impairments. Language disorders include the impairment of one’s understanding and/or use of language including vocabulary, grammar, sentence structures, memory and processing skills, and the social use of language.

The Speech Therapist can work with infants through adults in a variety of settings including schools, clinics, and hospitals. The Speech Therapist has the opportunity to work with other professionals on the team including doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, teachers, and social workers. Most importantly, the Speech Therapist has the opportunity to work with the family in order to help them gain a greater understanding of the client’s needs, and to teach them strategies to promote carryover in the home setting.

In sum, the Speech Therapist has an important role in helping individuals communicate to the best of their ability.