Speech therapy helps children and adults improve their communication and language skills. No matter what’s affecting your ability to speak or communicate effectively, speech therapy can improve your quality of life. Talk to a healthcare provider about a speech therapy evaluation if you or your child has trouble talking, hearing or using language.

What is speech therapy?

Speech therapy is treatment that improves your ability to talk and use other language skills. It helps you express your thoughts and understand what other people are saying to you. It can also improve skills like your memory and ability to solve problems. You’ll work with a speech-language pathologist (SLP, or speech therapist) to find exercises and treatments that address your specific needs. Some people need help talking and communicating. Others need speech therapy to process and understand language better.

Speech therapy can help you improve your:

• Early language skills (especially children learning to talk and communicate).
• Ability to use your voice.
• Language comprehension (how well you understand words and language).
• Fluency (how well and how comfortably you can use language).
• Clarity and expression (how easily you can communicate what you want to).

Which conditions are treated with speech therapy?

1. Aphasia
2. Apraxia
3. Articulation disorder
4. Cognitive-communication disorders
5. Dysarthria
6. Expressive disorders
7. Fluency disorders
8. Receptive disorders
9. Resonance disorders