Debunking the Myths of Speech Therapy: What do Speech-Language Pathologist really do?
If I had a DOLLAR for every time someone said one of the following when they heard "speech therapy," I’d be lounging on a beach somewhere, toes in the sand, sipping a drink with an umbrella in it. It’s interesting people’s views of speech therapy and specifically what speech-language pathologist do is extremely limiting. There are many misconceptions about what speech therapy really involves. Let’s debunk the myth and take a look at what speech-language pathologist really do and how they can help you.
“I can talk just fine, so why do I need speech therapy?”
“We don’t always understand her, but I’m sure she’ll grow out of it.”
“He has ‘quirky’ speech, but he’s always sounded that way.”
“Mom keeps forgetting things, but she’s just getting older.”
“My son reads and writes just fine, he’s actually super smart. I just don’t get why he can’t communicate in school.”
“I know I had a stroke, but I think my speech will improve on its own.”
“She doesn’t really talk but we figured she was super shy. Speech therapy won’t help that.”
“I lose my voice quickly, but it’s probably because I talk too much.”
“’I’ve been having difficulties swallowing, but I was hoping they would just go away.”
“I’m really too old for speech therapy now.”
“My son is so forgetful, I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t think speech therapy can help with that, his speech is fine.”
Any of these sound familiar?
Read on….
What is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)? A highly educated, knowledgeable, and trained healthcare professional who can diagnose, treat and help with a long list of disorders involving speech, language, voice, cognition, communication, and swallowing.
SLP’s help children, adolescents, and teenagers with:
Articulation and Phonological Processing
Fluency and Stuttering
Apraxia
Language
Comprehension including understanding and following directions
Expression
Cognition including working memory, thought organization, reasoning, attention, and problem solving
Social Skills and Communication
Reading
SLPs help Adults with:
Cognition including working memory, thought organization, reasoning, attention, and problem solving needed for work, home, and in the community.
Voice
Aphasia
Comprehension including understanding and following directions
Expression
Visual Perceptual Disorders
Dysarthria (slow slurred speech)
Apraxia
Dementia
Swallowing Disorders (dysphagia)
FACT: Working with a speech-language pathologist can be life changing.
Regardless of your age or your disorder, please visit my home page for more information and to request an appointment. I can’t wait to hear from you and am excited to help you on your journey.
Brittney Buller, M.S.,CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Legacy Speech Solutions
A legacy is built not by what we achieve, but by how we communicate and inspire others along the way.
