What’s The Role Of A Speech-Language Pathologist, (SLP)?

A speech-language pathologist, sometimes known as a speech therapist, is a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats communication and swallowing disorders. They work in clinics, schools, and hospitals with both children and adults.

What Does A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Do?

A Sydney speech pathologist is responsible for a wide range of tasks. They often assess a person’s speech or swallowing abilities, identify underlying issues, establish a personalized treatment plan, conduct therapy, and keep records to track a person’s improvement. Each treatment they provide is referred to as therapy.

What Conditions Does A Speech-Language Pathologist Treat?

SLPs work with patients who have hearing loss, children who have developmental difficulties, and persons who have communication and swallowing issues. They cure conditions such as:

Speech Disabilities

It is tough to make noises under these conditions. Here are a few examples:

• Apraxia – the brain has difficulty controlling the action of the muscles required to talk.

• Articulation problems – the inability to produce specific sounds like “th” or “r”

• Stuttering can be described as a condition that disrupts the flow and speech with repeated repetitions or pauses.

• Resonance disorders, which are caused by an impediment such as a cleft palate

• Dysarthria – caused by brain damage, weakening in the muscles needed for speaking

Language Disabilities

These might be receptive (difficulty comprehending language) or expressive (difficulty communicating) (difficulty making oneself understood to others). Here are several examples:

• Aphasia – trouble speaking or comprehending people due to brain damage

• Auditory processing disorder – the brain has difficulty comprehending the meaning of sounds.

Disorders Of Cognitive-Communication

Cognitive-communication disorders, which are usually the consequence of brain damage that causes issues with memory, attention, organization, or thinking, can make it difficult for a person to talk, listen, read, or write. TBI, stroke, and dementia are all potential causes of cognitive-communication difficulties.

Disorders Of Social Communication

These factors make it difficult to interact socially: greeting, asking questions, participating in conversations, and speaking in suitable situations. Autism spectrum disease or circumstances such as a traumatic brain injury might cause difficulties in social communication.

Disorders Of Swallowing

Swallowing disorders, often known as dysphagia, are issues with eating and swallowing. Coughing or choking during or after eating, food oozing from the mouth, taking considerably longer than usual to finish meals, weight loss, dehydration, and recurrent pneumonia are all symptoms.

Reasons To Consult With A Speech-Language Pathologist

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following issues, you should consult a speech-language pathologist.

Difficulties Communicating Following An Injury Or Illness

Speech therapy can assist some people in regaining the capacity to express desires and needs, form relationships, carry out everyday chores, and thrive in school or at work.

Eating Difficulties Following An Injury Or Illness

Swallowing therapy can assist individuals to reestablish swallowing coordination, improve eating muscles, and teach techniques to limit the danger of aspiration (accidentally inhaling food particles).

Infant And Child Feeding Problems

Babies and toddlers with swallowing problems may exhibit fussiness at mealtimes, avoidance of specific food textures or temperatures (known as sensory aversions), congestion or vomiting after eating, or gagging during meals. Feeding therapy can help youngsters learn to chew, drink, and swallow, overcome sensory aversions, and learn to eat independently and enjoy mealtimes.

Speech Development Delay

If you are worried that your kid is not speaking or comprehending speech at an age-appropriate level, consult with your child’s pediatrician. If your kid requires evaluation, they can send you to a speech-language pathologist. If a child does have a speech or language issue, beginning therapy as soon as possible will assist.