Speech Therapy is a treatment that is adopted for children and adults who have a difficulty in communicating through speech. The speech therapist helps the patient improve his spoken communication faculties.

Speech therapy is used to treat both language weaknesses as well as problems with speech mechanics. Children may have abnormal child language or delayed speech. They also generally approach the speech therapist for overcoming the problem of stuttering.

Adults and children may also take this treatment to overcome birth defects like a cleft lip or cleft palate. The therapy can also remedy speech loss and swallowing difficulties that arise as a result of stroke/trauma. Patients who have undergone surgery for cancer of the mouth and throat and hence left unable to speak well after can also obtain the advantages of this therapy.

The speech therapist uses various techniques to help the patient communicate well orally again. The choice of the methods used will depend on the patient’s age, the extent of the illness/ speech disability as well as motivational levels and family support of the patient. For language disabilities the speech therapist will adopt games to promote word reclamation, understanding and conversation. For mechanics disabilities the teacher will use repetitive exercises for toning the tongue and lips which could be licking cheerios, sucking/blowing whistles and so on. Use of devices that make speaking easier is also an option offered here.

The teacher will inculcate receptive language or the ability to comprehend words spoken to the patient. He will also enhance the patient’s expressive language so that he can express himself better through words. Verbalization, pitch, glibness and volume are also focused upon. To overcome stuttering, replacements of problem creating words may be given. Once the condition improves the patient will be made to speak the original words. Another method is the slow motion speech therapy.

Speech therapy helps the patient overcome low self-esteem and socializing difficulties.