Speech therapy is a field of medicine that revolves around the diagnosis and treatment of speech disorders and communication problems. The professionals that perform speech therapy are known as speech therapists, or more commonly, speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

The goal of speech therapy is to improve how individuals communicate. It addresses various speech and language disorders using methods such as articulation therapy and language intervention. 

Speech therapy helps resolve speech disorders that develop naturally during childhood and speech impairments that arise from brain injury and illnesses like stroke.

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession centered on helping people with various disabilities live everyday, productive lives. O.T. is important for people who need help when it comes to performing multiple daily activities at work, school, home, or in social settings.

Occupational therapy benefits people born with disabilities and those recovering from significant medical events like surgery or illnesses like stroke. This field of medicine aims to improve the health and quality of life of people who struggle with daily activities.

In essence, occupational therapy helps individuals learn or re-learn the necessary skills to live a happy, healthy life.

During speech therapy for children, SLPs adopt various interaction methods, including playing, reading books, or describing pictures and objects. It can be conducted one-on-one or in a group session and will include various activities and exercises depending on the child’s needs in question.

The reason they use these methods is to stimulate language development in children with speech disabilities. The therapist may also go as far as to model sounds and syllables during playtime so that the child learns how to make those sounds.

It is a process that works through consistency and repetition, which is why parents and caregivers are essential participants in speech therapy for kids. They are required to carry on speech therapy at home by following the strategies and ‘homework’ provided by SLPs.

Like with any form of therapy, speech therapy for adults starts with evaluating the individual to determine the best course of treatment. The therapy exercises done here focus on improving speech, cognitive-communication, and language.

Exercises that improve cognitive-communication may include memory, organization, and problem-solving skills. Conversational tactics are used to improve how individuals communicate in social settings, while breathing exercises may be included if they lack enough resonance to communicate effectively.

Speech therapy for adults may also include muscle-strengthening and swallowing exercises, which address the oral problems that arise due to injury or medical illnesses like oral cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

In-home speech therapy, other in-home services like physical, occupational therapy, speech teletherapy has gotten very popular in recent years. The rise of these services has shown that patients feel more comfortable in their environment and settings. The patients are more receptive and progress much faster than going into a clinic where they don’t feel as comfortable because of the sterile environment.

Another reason why in-home speech therapy is getting popular is because of the travel time. In metropolises like Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Houston, the traffic can be very congested, and it takes a long time for the patients to get to their therapist or doctor’s office.

Speech pathologists can use language development games, flashcards, and for in-home speech therapy. SLPs recommend the best language development tools to be used at home, depending on the child’s disorder.

Speech therapy improves articulation, fluency, and resonance

Speech therapy teaches how to properly form various word sounds (articulate), speak with a consistent rhythm and speed (speak fluently), and project the voice for clear communication (resonate). Articulation, fluency, and resonance are the cornerstones of effective speech.

It helps with receptive disorders

People who struggle to understand and process what other people say is said to have a receptive disorder. Speech therapy helps resolve sensory language disorders caused by hearing loss, Autism, head injuries, and other language disorders.

It teaches people how to express themselves effectively

Expressive language disorders, which may be characterized by difficulty forming proper sentences and incorrect verb tenses, make people incapable of expressing and conveying information. Speech therapy can successfully treat expressive disorders, often caused by down syndrome, hearing loss, head trauma, and illnesses.

It can restore communication abilities after a brain injury

An injury to the part of the brain responsible for your ability to think can result in a cognitive-communication disorder, which is manifested through speaking difficulties, memory issues, and poor problem-solving skills. Speech therapy is one way to restore cognitive-communication abilities following a brain injury, brain abnormalities, illnesses like stroke, and neurological conditions

It helps stroke patients to recover their communication abilities

Aphasia is a communication disorder that prevents people from speaking, reading, and writing and also makes it harder for them to understand others. Aphasia is most commonly caused by stroke, but even when it arises from other brain disorders, speech therapy can be used to restore the patient’s communication abilities.

It helps M.S. and ALS patients that develop facial paralysis

Multiple sclerosis (M.S.) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are nervous system disorders that often cause facial paralysis, which leads to slow or slurred speech (dysarthria). Speech therapy can help M.S. and ALS patients overcome the difficulties caused by this inability to control speech muscles.

Melissa Peters and her Team of trained M.S., CCC-SLP are speech and language therapists who have worked with many different demographics from babies, adolescents, adults, and seniors. SpeaklivePlay.com is a proponent of treating speech and language disorders by adopting an evidence-based approach that focuses on every individual’s specific needs.

Our Team (Melissa Peters, Crystal Manlapas, Elizabeth Wagner, Janet Reyes, Kimberly Henck, Molly Zuelke, Sara Lewandowski, Shabnam Banafsheha, Tatiana Maldonado) is experienced in treating voice disorders, articulation disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders (and delay), and developmental speech disorders caused by conditions like Autism. They have also handled cases of Apraxia, disabilities and are well-versed in the provision of early intervention services like swallowing and feeding disorders, which benefit people who develop speech problems at birth.

Melissa Peters and her Team are also PROMPT Level 1 trained. They are qualified to administer Oral Placement Therapy and DIR-Floortime, which aids in the treatment of articulation disorders. She believes in providing therapy in a child-centered environment, which may encourage faster development of speech capabilities.

They have recently added an occupational therapist in Sara Lewandowski & Shabnam Banafsheha, which will work for hand in hand with their current speech and language services.

SpeakLivePlay aims to improve the lives of those living with speech impairments and disabilities (both physical and mental) that make it hard to live an everyday life. With qualified and highly experienced experts, this community-based organization allows people to regain control over their daily lives and make life better for their afflicted loved ones. With the new addition of an occupational therapist to their Team, they will give even better and broader services to their patients.

SpeakLivePlay.com is a community based organization in Los Angeles that offers speech and language therapy, cognitive, swallowing/feeding disorders that arise from injury, neurological conditions, brain abnormalities, and medical conditions like stroke.

Here, you can access occupational and speech therapy services for children and adults as well as tons of information on the nature of communicative disabilities and how to manage them.