If someone faces difficulty in uttering certain words, speaking clearly, or is not able to communicate then they may be in need of Speech therapy. It is also useful in cases where an individual is not able to understand what is being said to them or is unable to respond to a question appropriately.
Speech therapy refers to the process of diagnosis and treatment of language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, swallowing disorders, etc. This Service is provided by a professional known as a Speech-Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist. An SLP has a degree in Speech-language pathology and audiology (BALSP). In India, these professionals are registered under the Rehabilitation Council of India.
The first session will focus more on assessment and gathering information. It will be a one-to-one session. Always remember to get all the medical reports. This helps in getting a good case history. Try and keep information handy regarding the milestones of your child ie when he/she started walking or uttering words. Make a note of all your observations regarding the speech and language-related behaviors of your child that you are concerned about. Also, be prepared with the queries you may have about the treatment or about the disorder in general. All this information cumulatively aids in understanding the issue. A few formal tests will be conducted in order to establish a baseline.
Once the type of disorder is identified, a treatment plan has to be prepared specific to the client. Usually, therapy sessions are scheduled once or twice a week depending on the feasibility. The home training program can also be given in cases where travel is too tedious due to distance or the general condition of the person.
The SLP makes a list of goals that need to be achieved over a specific interval of time. Progress of the individual is monitored by regular assessment.
A typical speech therapy session would be one-to-one and includes building rapport with the child and doing a few activities that are focused on certain goals. This is followed by a small interval of counseling or explanation given to the caregiver. Initially, the sessions are more about getting to know the child, understanding his likes and dislikes, judging if he is friendly or open. The therapist helps the parent understand what the issue is and what should they focus on. The parents are given tasks to carry out at home.
Only attending Therapy will not be enough, it is very important that they practice at home regularly and they do not miss sessions. The skills acquired in the therapy sessions need to be used and put to practice in real situations, only then will it become a habit.
Speech therapy is time-consuming in most cases. The number of sessions that are required depends on a number of reasons. The factors include the severity of the disorder, the attitude of the client, age, the onset of the disorder, presence of comorbidities, etc. However, having a good attendance record.