Speech Therapy
Speech and language issues can result from a variety of problems, including hearing loss, brain injury or deterioration, cerebral palsy, stroke, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, or emotional problems.
Speech-Language Pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders. Problems can be congenital, developmental, or acquired. Speech-Language Pathologists use written and oral tests, as well as special instruments, to diagnose the nature and extent of impairment and to record and analyze speech, language, and swallowing irregularities. Speech-Language Pathologists develop individualized plans of care, tailored to each patient's needs. They teach these individuals how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their language skills to communicate more effectively.
Speech Language Pathologists help patients develop or recover reliable communication skills so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles.