Information about Speech-Language Pathology
Information taken from
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS: HELPING PEOPLE COMMUNICATE
An American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Publication
What do speech-language pathologists do?
Speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat children and adults who have difficulty speaking, listening, reading, and/or writing. They also work with people of all ages who have swallowing disorders. Some variations in speaking may occur because of differences in dialects or accents. These differences are not considered speech or language disorders.
What is a speech disorder?
A speech disorder is a problem with how speech sounds are pronounced (articulation), the rhythm of speech (fluency), the quality of the voice, or a combination of the following:
- Speech sound disorder (articulation/phonological disorder)---difficulty forming and combining sounds when speaking. Typical speech production problems are substituting one sound for another (wabbit for rabbit, datit for jacket) or omitting sounds (ko for coat) or syllables (te-phone for telephone).
- Apraxia of speech---a speech sound disorder that affects the ability to initiate speech; to sequence and say sounds, syllables, or words consistently; and/or to use appropriate syllable stress in speech. The problem is not due to muscle weakness or paralysis, but rather the brain’s ability to plan movement of the body parts needed for speech (lips, tongue, and jaw).
- Fluency disorder or stuttering---an interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech. It is characterized by hesitations, repetitions, or prolongations of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases. Most often, stuttering begins in children ages 2 to 6 years who are developing language skills. It may go away by itself or may last a lifetime.
- Voice disorder---a problem characterized by poor voice quality (harsh, hoarse, breathy, or nasal), inappropriate pitch (too high, too low, never changing, or interrupted by breaks), or inappropriate loudness (too loud or too soft).
- Dysarthria---a combination of speech sound, fluency, and/or voice problems, stemming from weaknesses, paralysis, or lack of coordination among the body parts used for speech. Causes include stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
What is a language disorder?
A language disorder is a problem understanding and/or using spoken or written words or other symbol systems (e.g., sign language) and may involve
- word meaning (reduced vocabulary size or trouble finding words)
- word endings (not using correct plurals, possessives, or tense)
- word order (incorrect grammar)
- word use (not taking turns or staying on topic during conversations, not being able to describe an event in sequence, using slang expressions in formal speaking situations, or making demands rather than asking questions)
With children, a language problem typically involves marked slowness or gaps in the development of language skills necessary for understanding, speaking, reading, and/or writing.
Adults may lose part or all of their language comprehension and expression abilities, a problem known as aphasia, which is usually caused by stroke or brain injury.
What are some related disorders?
Besides helping people with speech and language disorders, speech-language pathologists assess and treat children and adults with
- swallowing disorders (dysphagia)---feeding and swallowing difficulties typically resulting from illness, surgery, stroke, or injury.
- cognitive-communication disorders---difficulty organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, or solving problems, usually because of a learning disability, stroke, brain injury, or dementia.
- tongue thrust (orofacial myofunctional disorder)---(when the tongue moves forward in an exaggerated way during speech, swallowing, or at rest. A tongue thrust may or may not affect speech.
What causes a speech, language, or swallowing disorder?
Speech, language, and swallowing disorders may occur for various reasons, including hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, brain injury, stroke, neurological conditions, cleft palate, oral cancers, or other genetic or medical conditions. The disorders may exist from birth or may result from an illness, accident, or disease. The cause may be unknown.
How can speech-language pathologists help people who use more than one language and have communication difficulties?
Speech-language pathologists are educated to work with people who use more than one language. They are skilled at distinguishing communication disorders from communication differences that may result from being multilingual. Often, when there is a communication disorder, individuals will have difficulties communicating in all the languages they use. In these cases, treatment services from a speech-language pathologist may be necessary.
Do speech-language pathologists work with people who don't have a disorder?
Speech-language pathologists also work with people who want to improve the effectiveness of their daily or professional communication or modify their accent.
- Communication enhancement---improving routine communication skills or public speaking by taking steps such as projecting the voice, modifying pitch, and using gestures. Speech-language pathologists provide such services in various settings, including private practices and corporations.
- Accent modification---working with people who have foreign or regional accents and want to learn another speaking style.
What services do speech-language pathologists provide?
Speech-language pathologists offer a variety of clinical services, depending on the nature and severity of the problem, the age of the person, and the person’s awareness of the problem. Before starting treatment, speech-language pathologists do a thorough assessment of the problem through standardized tests, observations, and informal measures. Treatment approaches are then chosen based on the highest quality of scientific evidence available to
- teach children and adults with speech sound errors to pronounce speech sounds correctly.
- teach people who stutter to use methods for starting speech, modifying speech blocks, and adapting to different speaking situations.
- help people with voice disorders to use different methods of voice production and voice modification and to eliminate environmental and behavioral causes of the disorders (shouting and straining the voice, smoking, or poor hydration).
- assist children with problems in language comprehension and expression (vocabulary, grammar, conversation, and storytelling skills) through modeling and direct instruction.
- help children and adults who struggle with reading and writing to improve their literacy through reading of words, reading comprehension, spelling, and composition skills.
- collaborate with teachers to help adolescents with learning disabilities develop strategies to enhance memory, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- teach adults with aphasia new strategies to improve their speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing skills to function better in daily activities.
- assist people with severe communication disorders by evaluating, selecting, and developing augmentative and alternative communication systems. Such systems include low-tech communication boards with word or picture displays, sign language, and speech generating devices that produce a synthesized voice with a computer.
- counsel people with speech and language disorders and their communication partners to help them cope and develop more effective communication in school, at work, and in society.
- help people improve their ability to swallow by introducing different consistencies of food and drink and teaching techniques to minimize the risk of choking.
- assist people with hearing loss to develop and improve speech sound production and language skills.
- help children and adults who have received cochlear implants to improve their speech and language abilities.
- educate and inform the public about prevention and treatment for speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders.
In addition to clinical services, speech-language pathologists may
- conduct research to enhance knowledge about human communication processes
- develop new and better ways to evaluate and treat children and adults with speech, language, reading, writing, cognitive-communication, and swallowing problems
- manage agencies, clinics, or private practices
- train future professionals in colleges and universities