Speech therapy helps people who have difficulty using their voice, understanding or producing spoken language, and/or expressing themselves through verbal or non-verbal communication. Through speech therapy sessions, individuals may develop improved communication skills, more confidence in day-to-day conversations and interactions with others, stronger speaking abilities for work and school situations, and better cognitive functioning for overall development.
Goals of a speech therapist may include improving language skills, increasing comfort level in social settings, teaching adaptive strategies to cope with issues such as stuttering or dysarthria (weakness in the muscles used to produce speech), decreasing accent severity or increasing mouth control for improved speech sound production. Speech therapists often work with people of all ages: from young children learning new words to older adults experiencing age-related voice changes. No matter the patient's age or needs, the ultimate goal of speech therapy is always to enhance one's life by helping them make use of their own natural abilities and successfully overcome any existing obstacles they may face on their journey towards improved communication skills.
