What is Speech Therapy?
Speech Therapy is a modern scientific field dedicated to the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and study of disorders related to language (Oral – Written, Expressive – Receptive), speech, voice, feeding, swallowing, and communication in children, adolescents, and adults, regardless of the cause—whether neurological, developmental, or functional. It has the ability to prevent and address deviations in these areas (according to global skill measurement scales) from infancy through old age. It is considered an essential science in a society where speech is a fundamental means of communication among its members.
The Role of the Speech Therapist
The speech therapist is a professional who informs, assesses, and strengthens language skills while also working to prevent the worsening of dysfunctions caused by neurological conditions that affect both children and adults.
Terminology
Language:
Language is the ability to recognize words/concepts that a person hears in their environment and the capacity to combine these words (nouns, verbs, articles, etc.) to form sentences and use them correctly.
Speech:
Speech is a verbal means of communication or conveying meaning. It requires precise neuromuscular coordination and is the result of specific motor behaviors. Speech consists of combinations of speech sounds, voice quality, intonation, and rhythm. Each of these components is used to modify the spoken message.
Communication:
Communication is the ability to exchange information, ideas, and emotions between people. It requires the skills of understanding and expressing spoken and written language.
Feeding/Swallowing:
Feeding is an essential process for humans, serving a dual role in their lives. An individual's survival, growth, and daily well-being depend on it. Food and liquids provide the "fuel" necessary for daily human function. However, feeding is not solely for survival; it is also a process that contributes to the enjoyment of life itself. Through feeding, which usually takes place in a social setting, individuals interact with others and integrate socially.
Normal swallowing requires a healthy nervous system (involving six cranial nerves) as well as the structural and functional adequacy of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. A child may swallow solids or liquids (such as saliva) up to 1000 times a day. The entire swallowing process is a complex mechanism regulated and controlled by the brain.
Specifically, the Speech Therapist provides specialized clinical services, including assessments for individuals with the following disorders:
- Articulation and Pronunciation Disorders (dysarthria, speech sound disorders, lisping, anarthria, rhinolalia).
- Disorders in Speech Fluency and Structure (stuttering, tachylalia, bradylalia, agrammatism).
- Partial or Complete Oral Expression Disorders (mutism, alalia, hysterical mutism).
- Voice Disorders (aphonia, dysphonia, hoarseness, strain, rhinolalia).
- Abnormalities in Understanding and Expression (aphasia, neurological disorders, brain injuries, and dysfunctions).
- Grammatical/Syntactical Abnormalities.
- Learning Difficulties (dyslexia, dysorthography, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder).
When Does a Child Need Speech Therapy?
According to the Hellenic Association of Speech Therapists, you should seek advice or assistance from your pediatrician or a speech therapist if:
0-6 months:
- Your baby does not respond to sounds.
- Your baby does not make eye contact in their attempt to communicate.
Up to 18 months:
- Your child stops speaking, their speech remains stagnant, or shows signs of regression.
Up to 2 years old:
- Their vocabulary, besides "mama" and "dada," includes very few words.
- Their speech is difficult to understand.
- They do not combine two words to form short phrases or sentences.
What is a Speech Therapist and What is Their Role?
A Speech Therapist is a specialist who assesses, diagnoses, and treats disorders related to language, speech, and voice. The role of a Speech Therapist involves various activities, such as diagnosing language, speech, and voice disorders, consulting with other professionals or members of an interdisciplinary team to evaluate a specific issue, planning the therapy program, implementing the therapeutic plan, and recording the patient's progress. They are also responsible for advising families on prevention related to their field, addressing parents' concerns regarding their child’s language development. During therapy, the Speech Therapist guides the family to encourage cooperation and facilitate the child’s fastest possible language rehabilitation.