Speech-Language Services
Speaking is important to us. Everyone’s voice should be heard.
At West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center, we are breaking down communication barriers every day.
What is a speech-language pathologist?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), often informally known as speech therapists, are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. They hold at least a master’s degree and state certification/licensure in the field, as well as a certificate of clinical competency from ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association). Learn more by visiting our page about speech-language pathologists.
By assessing the speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills of children and adults, speech-language pathologists can identify types of communication problems and the best way to treat them.
SLPs treat many speech and language related issues, including the following:
- Articulation
- Dysfluency
- Oral-motor
- Speech, and voice
- Receptive and expressive language disorders
- Cognition
Learn more by visiting our page about speech & language disorders.
Who needs our Help?
The short answer is basically anyone seeking tailored speech therapy to help improve communication skills and overall quality of life. Here are some examples based on the available data:
- The prevalence of speech sound disorders in young children is 8-9%.
- By the first grade, roughly 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders; the majority of these speech disorders have no known cause.
- Between 6 and 8 million people in the United States have some form of language impairment.
- About one million persons in the United States have aphasia (partial or complete impairment of language comprehension and expression caused by brain damage, most often from stroke).
- It is estimated that more than 3 million Americans stutter.
- Approximately 7.5 million people in the United States have a voice disorder.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Speech Therapy Strategies
Speech-language therapy is the treatment for children and adults with speech and/or language disorders. A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas.
Language Intervention Activities:
In these exercises an SLP will interact with a client by playing and talking. The therapist may use pictures, books, objects, or ongoing events to stimulate language development. The therapist may also model correct pronunciation and use repetition exercises to build speech and language skills.
Articulation Therapy:
Articulation, or sound production, exercises involve having the therapist model correct sounds and syllables for a child, often during play activities. The level of play is age-appropriate and related to the childs specific needs. The SLP will physically show the child how to make certain sounds, such as the “r” sound, and may demonstrate how to move the tongue to produce specific sounds.
Oral Motor/Feeding Therapy:
The SLP will use a variety of oral exercises, including facial massage and various tongue, lip, and jaw exercises, to strengthen the muscles of the mouth. The SLP may also work with different food textures and temperatures to increase a client’s oral awareness during eating and swallowing.
Are you struggling with communication or speech difficulties? Consider seeking the expertise of our speech-language pathologists. Contact our office today for info on how to get started.