Definition
Speech therapy is a medical and therapeutic specialty, which deals with the diagnosis and therapy of speech, voice, swallowing and hearing disorders of patients of all ages. With the help of special exercises speech therapists try to identify the existing complex disturbances and to improve the communication skills and swallowing disorders. Speech therapy is based on the cooperation of the patient to learn and apply specific exercises in regular sessions, which are specifically adapted to the disorder at hand. Drugs are not included in the treatment.
Who benefits from speech therapy?
Within the framework of logopedic treatment, various disorders can be diagnosed and treated. Patients of all ages who suffer from speech, voice, swallowing or hearing disorders benefit from speech therapy. Depending on age and the disorder, the therapy concepts and goals must be individually adapted.
The fields of application of speech therapy can differ significantly between children and adults. Children benefit from speech therapy especially in the context of speech development and articulation disorders. Speech and speech comprehension in children develops in a certain order with special milestones that should be reached within a certain period of time.
If this happens with delay or incorrectly, this can lead to a significant linguistic delay and an increased risk of reading and spelling difficulties. Likewise, children with an articulation disorder, such as lisping, benefit from speech therapy. It is often noticeable in these children that they have an additional swallowing disorder in addition to lisping.
Children suffering from a hearing disorder often develop a delayed speech development in the course of the disease, since their ability to speak as well as their concept formation – and their understanding of language – are affected. They too can improve their communication skills through speech therapy. In addition, speech therapy can also help children with speech flow disorders, such as stuttering, or with speech production disorders due to congenital malformations.
In adults, speech, language and voice disorders occur mainly as a result of brain damage. These can occur, for example, as a result of craniocerebral trauma, a stroke, a tumor or a degenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Logopedic treatment can improve speech production, speech motor skills and any existing swallowing disorders in these patients.
Children suffering from a hearing disorder often develop a delayed speech development over the course of time, as their ability to speak as well as their concept formation – and speech understanding – are affected. They too can improve their communication skills through speech therapy. In addition, speech therapy can also help children with speech flow disorders, such as stuttering, or with speech production disorders due to congenital malformations.
In adults, speech, language and voice disorders occur mainly as a result of brain damage. These can occur, for example, as a result of craniocerebral trauma, a stroke, a tumor or a degenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Logopedic treatment can improve speech production, speech motor skills and any existing swallowing disorders in these patients.
In adults, speech, language and voice disorders occur mainly as a result of brain damage. These can occur, for example, as a result of craniocerebral trauma, a stroke, a tumor or a degenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Logopedic treatment can improve speech production, speech motor skills and any existing swallowing disorders in these patients.
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