Speech therapy

What is speech therapy?

Speech therapy, also called speech and language therapy, is treatment that helps you communicate more effectively. It can improve your ability to talk and understand language, and in some cases also helps with related skills such as memory, problem-solving, or eating and swallowing safely.

What conditions does speech therapy treat?

Speech and language therapists support children and adults with a wide range of difficulties, including:

• Aphasia (difficulty reading, writing, speaking or understanding language, often after a stroke or brain injury)
• Apraxia (knowing what you want to say but having trouble forming the words)
• Articulation and speech sound difficulties (trouble producing certain sounds)
• Dysarthria (slow or slurred speech caused by weak speech muscles, for example after a stroke)
• Stammering and other difficulties with the flow of speech
• Developmental language disorder and other difficulties understanding language
• Autism and other social communication differences
• Eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.

What are the benefits of speech therapy?

Speech and language therapy can improve your self-esteem and independence, and help you comprehend and express your ideas, thoughts and feelings more easily. For children, it can also help them get ready for school.

It can improve your voice, your early language skills, and how safely you're able to swallow. Overall, many people find it improves their quality of life.

Are there different types of speech therapy?

There are many different speech and language therapy approaches, and your therapist will choose the ones that work best for your specific needs and goals. Which approach is used depends on your age and the particular speech, language or communication difficulty you have.

Some programmes are designed for a specific group. For example, some therapists offer parent-led programmes for young autistic children, teaching parents how to build on everyday moments to support their child's communication and play.

What happens before speech therapy?

If your GP, health visitor or teacher is concerned about your or your child's speech, language or communication, they can refer you to a speech and language therapist. Some difficulties, such as hearing problems, may be checked first, for example with a hearing test, since this can be an underlying cause.

Your first appointment is usually an assessment. This often involves a play or interaction-based session for children, or a discussion of your concerns and medical history for adults, so your therapist can understand what's going on and plan the right support for you.

What happens during a speech therapy session?

What happens in a session depends on your age and your specific needs. Sessions for children often involve play, such as sequencing games or language-based board games, while sessions for adults tend to focus on rebuilding specific skills.

Common activities include tongue and mouth exercises to strengthen coordination, facial movements such as smiling or pursing your lips, reading out loud, and word games such as memory games or crosswords. For an initial assessment, your therapist may also watch how you or your child interact and communicate, to understand your specific difficulties.

What does progress with speech therapy look like?

How long you need speech and language therapy for varies a great deal from person to person. It depends on your age, the type of difficulty you have, how severely it affects your communication, and how often you attend therapy.

If an underlying health condition caused your speech or language difficulty, your skills may also improve as you recover from that condition. Speech and language therapy takes time, effort and practice, so it's worth being patient with yourself and recognising the progress you make along the way.