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The Benefits of Speech Therapy

What to expect, frequently asked questions.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help you with speech, language, and swallowing. They provide speech therapy to children and adults who may have speech or language disorders.

People with certain medical conditions may also benefit from speech therapy. Medical conditions that may cause speech or swallowing impairment include traumatic brain injury , stroke (brain damage due to a blood vessel blockage or bleed), and dementia (decline in memory and thinking functions).

This article looks at the various uses for speech therapy, what to expect during a session, and the techniques involved in this type of therapy. 

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Speech therapy can help with a variety of conditions.

Speech Disorders

Speech therapy may help with speech disorders like:

• Stuttering : Stuttering may involve repeating parts of words, prolonging words, or struggling to get out certain words. You may be more likely to have a stutter if you have a family history of stuttering.
• Apraxia : This motor speech disorder makes it difficult to move the tongue and lips to make sounds required for speech. In some cases, people with apraxia cannot speak at all. Causes for this disorder include brain tumors, dementia, stroke, and any other condition that causes brain injury.
• Voice : Voice disorders can be temporary or permanent and make it hard to speak. Chronic voice disorders include chronic cough, vocal fold paralysis, vocal polyps (growths on the vocal cords), and spasmodic dysphonia (vocal cord spasms).
• Dysarthria : People with this speech disorder have muscle weakness that makes it difficult to talk. They may slur or mumble their words. Dysarthria can happen due to brain injury or chronic degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease .

Language Disorders

A language disorder ( aphasia ) is a condition that makes it difficult for a person to read, write, speak, or understand speech or other modes of communication. 

Someone with this type of disorder may struggle to:

• Use incorrect words for things
• Say complete sentences 
• Understand what other people say
• Understand jokes
• Read or spell 

Brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, and degenerative disorders that affect cognitive function can all cause aphasia.

Feeding and Swallowing Disorders

Feeding and swallowing disorders can occur in both children and adults. A feeding disorder involves trouble with eating, sucking, drinking from a cup, or chewing. The specific term for swallowing disorders is dysphagia . Children or adults with dysphagia have trouble swallowing food or drink. 

Problems swallowing or feeding may or may not be related to a medical condition. Conditions that may cause a swallowing or feeding disorder include:

• Cleft palate or cleft lip
• Asthma and other breathing issues
• Heart disease
• Premature birth
• Nervous system disorders
• Reflux 
• Muscle weakness 
• Sensory issues
• Autism  
• Behavior problems
• Certain medications

Speech therapy begins with an evaluation to assess your difficulties and whether any structural issues contribute to your speech, language, feeding, or swallowing problems. An evaluation may involve a standardized test to help determine what you most need help with. Informal conversations may also help figure out your needs. 

A speech-language pathologist will then work with you to help improve your ability to speak, converse, or swallow. This may involve:

• Educating you on how to do certain things like articulating or pronouncing sounds
• Teaching you language skills
• Providing you with educational materials
• Giving you exercises to help strengthen your muscles 
• Giving you exercises that help you breathe better
• Participation in group therapy sessions 

You should also expect to practice the skills and exercises you learn in speech therapy sessions at home. Your speech-language pathologist may provide you with workbooks, worksheets, or virtual apps for at-home practice.

Speech Therapy for Adults

Depending on the reason you’re seeking out speech therapy, a speech-language pathologist may:

• Help you learn to move your muscles correctly to make sounds if you have apraxia or dysarthria
• Teach you how to use your breath to speak louder if you have dysarthria
• Help you learn to manage stuttering by teaching you to lower stress levels in certain situations
• Help you strengthen your mouth muscles to make it easier to swallow and eat if you have a feeding or swallowing disorder due to a brain injury or disease

Speech Therapy for Children

A speech-language pathologist’s approach will depend on the child. When working with a child who has a feeding or swallowing disorder, they might focus on:

• Strengthening the muscles of the mouth
• Helping the child with chewing
• Encouraging the child to try new food and drink
• Changing food texture to make it easier to swallow food 
• Helping with sensory issues related to food

Other skills a speech-language pathologist may work on with a child include:

• Language complexity : For example, they might teach words like "and" and "or" to connect ideas within sentences.
• Conversation skills : This may include role-playing to help the child with socialization and improve their read of social cues. 
• Vocabulary : They may use games or storytelling to help build the child’s vocabulary. 
• Phonological awareness : This recognition of the sounds that make up words is an important skill for reading. The SLP may work on helping the child identify sounds and rhymes in words to build this skill.

Healthcare professionals will also test your child’s hearing to see if hearing loss may be contributing to language and speech issues.

If you or your child is getting speech therapy from a qualified speech-language pathologist, you might wonder how likely it is that you’ll see improvement in speech, language, or feeding. 

Results will depend on the individual. It’s also essential to follow the exercises, tips, and strategies provided by the speech-language professional. Regular visits and keeping up with practice activities and exercises make it more likely to see an improvement in yourself or your child. 

A speech-language pathologist works with children or adults who have speech, language, or feeding and swallowing disorders. Typically the first session will involve an evaluation to determine the areas that are causing you the most problems. 

From there, they may teach you exercises and strategies to improve your speech, language, or ability to swallow and eat. 

A Word From Verywell

Think you or your child would benefit from speech therapy? Get in touch with your primary healthcare provider and ask for a recommendation. You can also use the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA)  Find a Certified SLP Tool . 

Not all children develop at the same rate, but if your child has issues understanding language, doesn’t use gestures, or doesn’t seem to be learning new words, you might consider having them evaluated by a speech therapist. 

While this may depend on the individual and the cause of speech-related problems, research suggests that speech and language therapy can significantly improve speech and language issues.

One example of a typical speech therapy technique is articulation therapy. This technique teaches the person to make specific sounds, sometimes by showing them how to move their mouth or tongue.

A language delay is when a child has difficulty in speaking and understanding speech that is unusual for their age.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Stuttering .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Apraxia of speech in adults .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Voice disorders .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dysarthria .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Aphasia .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Feeding and swallowing disorders in children .

Brainline. Speech therapy .

Understood for All. What is speech therapy .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Languages and speech disorders in children .

Broomfield J, Dodd B. Is speech and language therapy effective for children with primary speech and language impairment? Report of a randomized control trial . Int J Lang Commun Disord . 2011;46(6):628-640. doi:10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00039.x

Nemours Children's Health. Speech-language therapy .

By Steph Coelho Steph Coelho is a freelance health and wellness writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working on content related to health, wellness, mental health, chronic illness, fitness, sexual wellness, and health-related tech.She's written extensively about chronic conditions, telehealth, aging, CBD, and mental health. Her work has appeared in Insider, Healthline, WebMD, Greatist, Medical News Today, and more.

Speech Therapy for Children: What are the Benefits?

Ellen seder, what is speech therapy.

Speech therapy consists of techniques and activities aimed at improving overall communication by addressing speech delays and disorders in expressive/receptive language , articulation, oral motor dysfunction, apraxia of speech , social language, fluency (stuttering) , feeding and swallowing, and cognitive skills.

At NAPA Center, we provide pediatric speech therapy for children of all ages. Our trained speech language pathologists, or speech therapists, work closely with your toddler or child to assess their ability to speak and understand others properly before creating customized therapy sessions based on each kid’s specific speech and language goals.

Why Would My Child Need Speech Therapy?

Children are treated for different speech disorders, stuttering, problems pronouncing words, trouble with pitch, volume or quality of speech, and having a limited understanding of words and their meaning. Some children have problems putting words together or use language in an inappropriate way. Others have memory and attention disorders. Some children have problems swallowing, chewing, coughing and refusing food . Additionally, speech therapy may be necessary for a child who has experienced speech impairment due to an illness or injury. There are a variety of reasons why a child may need speech therapy. If you notice that your child is not on par with their peers or developmental milestones for their age, ongoing or intensive speech therapy sessions may be beneficial to your child.

What are the Benefits of Speech Therapy for Children?

Speech therapy has many benefits for children, including:

• Improving communication so they will be able to express thoughts and feelings
• Enabling them to speak so that others will understand what they are saying
• Preparing them for school so that they can keep up with other children in learning
• Improves vocal quality
• Increases self-esteem and independence

1. Helps with Communication

Providing children without a voice a way to communicate through unaided and/or aided communication (e.g. no tech communication books, low and mid tech communication devices, high tech communication devices and/or communication apps). Speech and language therapy is not just about speech; it also includes language. Many people have a misconception that speech therapy is just about the speech but it is so much more than that.

2.  Helps with Social Skills

Appropriate pragmatic/social skills are a key component to interacting with others in their community and life. When you have limited, or have no functional speech, pragmatic language skills are often significantly delayed and disordered. Social skills can be targeted with the use of video modeling, role playing, specific therapy apps, social stories and other various strategies and tools. The use of aided communication with these strategies to work on improving these social skills is an important aspect of speech therapy.

3. Hel ps with Reading

Speech delay can cause problems listening, reading and writing. Reading and literacy skills can significantly aid in communication. When you can spell, you can communicate freely. Teaching these essential skills can be the key to better communication with others.

4. Enhances Alternative Communication Methods

Work on other communication strategies to aid communication such as gestures, sign language, approximations, vocalizations, and/or other means of communication. As humans, we communicate with a total communication approach . We communicate via speech, facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, writing, typing and many other forms of communication.

Teaching on how to communicate in other ways in addition to a formal means of aided communication (e.g. use the sign for “bathroom”, “eat” and “drink”, tap on a person’s shoulder to get their attention, etc). Also, if a child has specific sounds that are being used consistently, make them meaningful. For example, if a child can say “ha,” use that for “help”. For the approximation, “ba” you might use that for “book” if that is important to that specific individual.

5. Reduces Communication Frustrations

Speech therapy helps children improve communication skills with other children and adults. It focuses on improving speech muscles through special exercises. Speech exercises involve repeating sounds and imitating the speech therapist.

What Does a Speech Therapy Session Look Like?

Sound exercises are an important part of speech therapy. The therapist often goes over letter sounds and words. The therapist shows the child how to say the word or make the sound. They may even demonstrate how to move the tongue when pronouncing certain words.

Speech therapy involves oral feeding and swallow therapy at times. The therapist might massage the face and perform tongue, lip, and jaw exercises to strengthen the jaw. They introduce food at different temperatures and textures to increase the child’s awareness of differences in sensation. This therapy is for children with swallowing difficulties. At NAPA Center, we provide speech therapy sessions customized to your child’s needs. We love speech therapy!

Looking for Some Fun Speech Activities and Resources? Check Out These Blogs!

• 5 Tips to Help Your Toddler’s Speech, Language, and Communication Development
• The Difference Between Receptive and Expressive Language
• Speech Therapy Toys Our Therapists Love
• Summertime Speech and Language Activities
• 5 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Social Thinking Skills 

About NAPA Center

NAPA Center is a world-renowned pediatric therapy clinic, offering speech therapy for children of all ages in traditional or intensive settings. With multiple clinic locations worldwide, NAPA is committed to helping children lead their happiest, healthiest lives. At NAPA, we take an individualized approach to therapy because we understand that each child is unique with very specific needs. For this reason, no two therapeutic programs are alike. If your child needs our services, we will work closely with you to select the best therapies for them, creating a customized program specific to your child’s needs and your family’s goals. Let your child’s journey begin today by contacting us  to learn more.

NAPA SLP Overview

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What Is Speech Therapy?

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Speech therapy is a form of healthcare that helps improve communication and speech. It can also help improve swallowing function and other behaviors related to feeding.

About one in 12 children in the United States has a speech or swallowing disorder. Disorders are most common in young children, but many adults have a related condition. For example, about one million adults in the United States have aphasia (difficulty expressing or comprehending written and verbal language).

Speech therapists (STs) or speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess and treat people of all ages. They use various techniques to help people with challenges related to speech production, language comprehension, hearing, voice quality, fluency, and swallowing. 

What Does Speech Therapy Treat?

Speech therapy treats various disorders involving hearing, speech, language, literacy, social communication, voice quality, executive functioning (for example, memory and problem-solving), feeding, and swallowing.

Specific speech disorders include:

• Articulation disorders: Difficulty pronouncing words or sounds such as the “s” sound (for example, saying “thun” rather than “sun”). This can occur during childhood language development or with structural problems like tongue-tie. A tongue tie is when a small band of skin connects the tip of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. It is congenital, meaning it's present at birth.
• Dysarthria: Slow, slurred, or unclear speech. This occurs with oral (mouth) muscle control decline due to neurological conditions (related to the brain or nervous system), such as multiple sclerosis (MS) —a condition that occurs when the immune system attacks myelin, the covering wrapped around nerve cells.
• Apraxia: Knowing what you want to say but having difficulty producing the correct sounds or words. Apraxia can cause slow, error-prone speech or the need to intentionally move your tongue and lips in order to produce sounds and words. Apraxia can be present at birth, but it can also occur as a result of brain injuries, brain tumors , or a stroke .
• Fluency disorders: Speech flow disruptions like stuttering. Stuttering is experiencing interruptions in speech and repeating sounds, syllables, or words. Researchers are still exploring possible causes of dysfluency, but they seem to include genetics, developmental components, neurological factors (how the brain processes), and brain injury. Many children outgrow fluency disorders, but they can persist into adulthood.
• Voice disorders: Vocal cord spasming (choppy voice), hoarseness, pitch problems, or voice fatigue are examples of voice disorders. This can result from infection, overusing the vocal cords, or neurological disorders. 

Language or communication disorders include:

• Aphasia : Aphasia is a language disorder in which you have difficulty expressing or comprehending written and verbal language. Receptive aphasia is difficulty understanding written or verbal words. Expressive aphasia is difficulty communicating thoughts and ideas with language components like vocabulary, grammar, and sentence formation. Aphasia can occur with childhood development, language impairment, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brain injury, or neurological disorders.
• Pragmatic language disorder: This relates to social communication. Signs include misunderstanding social cues like eye contact, body language, and personal space. It can occur during childhood development or with underlying neurodivergence (brain variation), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) , a brain development condition that affects how a person perceives and socializes with other people.
• Accent or tone: While this is not a disorder, speech therapists can also work with people who wish to modify their accent or an unusual speech rhythm, pitch, or tone. For example, a high-pitched, sing-song, or robotic tone can occur with ASD.
• Executive functioning: Executive functioning challenges include difficulty with memory, planning, organization, problem-solving, and attention. This can occur due to brain injuries or conditions like ASD and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) , a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention (being distracted), hyperactivity (feeling restless), and impulsivity (making hasty decisions).
• Auditory processing disorder: This is a neurological condition that makes it difficult to make sense of sounds. 

Feeding and swallowing disorders affect how you suck, chew, and swallow food and drinks. Difficulty swallowing is also known as dysphagia , which can result in choking during meals—and lung infections if food or liquid enters the airways.  It can occur with structural abnormalities, muscular weakness, or neurological conditions like a stroke.  

How Does Speech Therapy Work?

Speech therapy involves techniques like language practice, pronunciation exercises, voice therapy, and swallowing exercises. It begins with a thorough assessment, including observation of communication strategies, challenges, and frustrations.

Speech therapy for infants, toddlers, and children involves fun and engaging activities like play, language exercises, reading, picture cards, and modeling correct sounds. This helps make learning more enjoyable.  

Parents or caregivers often attend sessions and learn ways to support children at home. The ST or SLP will tailor the treatment plan to the child’s developmental stage. Early recognition and intervention (treatment) can help improve outcomes.

With adults, the ST or SLP will begin with an assessment to identify specific challenges. They will then create a specific care plan that addresses underlying concerns such as:

• Medical conditions
• Accent modification
• Voice challenges
• Pronunciation
• Conversational language
• Problem-solving
• Memory exercises

What To Expect During Speech Therapy

Speech therapy can occur in a class, small group, online, or one-on-one. Speech therapists typically assign exercises to practice at home in order to reinforce what you learn. Activities might include:

• Vocal warm-ups like humming 
• Tongue twisters to improve articulation
• Breaking words into syllables to improve clarity
• Contrasting word exercises—for example, "ship" versus "sheep"
• “Pausing” practice (for stuttering)
• Repetition after listening to a native speaker 
• Repetition exercises for sounds like “s” 
• Speech rate control—for example, by tapping hands to a beat
• Pitch exercises
• Breathing and posture exercises

Receptive language exercises include:

• Memory or problem-solving exercises
• Reading comprehension (similar to a book report)
• Speech supplementation (written, gestural, voice amplifier, speech-generating devices)
• Word association
• Communication partner exercises, such as practicing eye contact and active listening

Exercises for swallowing and feeding include:

• Diet modification (pureed to solid foods)
• Oral muscle strengthening (like tongue “push-ups”)
• Swallowing exercises

Benefits of Speech Therapy

One of the main goals of speech therapy is to enhance a person’s ability to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions effectively. This can lead to a greater sense of self-expression, meaningful interactions with others, and less frustration. Other benefits include:

• Greater self-confidence: Gaining more control over language and communication can increase confidence and boost self-esteem. As a result, you might be more willing and excited to engage in social activities. 
• Improved academic or professional performance: Clear speech and language can lead to enhanced skills in comprehension, reading, and writing. This can support academic success. Better articulation, language, and presentation abilities can help with career development.
• Greater independence: Speech therapy can lead to greater self-reliance, especially if you have severe communication challenges. For example, augmented and alternative communication (AAC) methods , such as speech-generating devices (SGDs), can allow you to express yourself more independently.

How Successful Is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy's “success” depends on your goals. The meaning of success can vary based on your underlying communication or medical condition and its severity, as well as your motivation and commitment to therapy, the therapist's expertise, and your support systems. The time it takes to reach your goals also varies based on underlying factors like these.

For example, you may define success as improved pronunciation, or you may work towards more effective communication, more skilled accent modification, or swallowing without choking. If you stutter, your goal might be improved fluency or feeling more comfortable communicating openly with a stutter. For most people, what’s most important is to set realistic expectations and recognize that any improvement in communication is a success.

How To Find a Speech Therapist

A qualified speech therapist or speech-language pathologist holds a master's degree in speech-language pathology and state licensure to practice in your area. You can find speech therapists in settings like:

• Home health agencies
• Rehabilitation centers
• Private practice
• Telehealth (online)

You can also ask for recommendations from healthcare providers or school personnel who may know local speech therapists. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) also offers an online directory of certified speech therapies to help you locate someone in your area.

Check with your health insurance provider to see if they cover speech therapy. They can provide you with information about your co-payments and deductibles. If your insurance doesn't cover the cost, the clinic or speech therapist may offer payment plans. Some children may also qualify for:

• Individualized education programs (IEPs) that cover speech therapy costs as a service from the school district
• Early intervention (EI) or Preschool on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) programs for infants and toddlers for little or no cost to families
• State and federal programs, like Medicaid
• Financial assistance programs from non-profit and advocate organizations

A Quick Review

Speech therapy is a specialized healthcare field in which trained professionals help improve speech, language, hearing, swallowing, and feeding for people of all ages. Speech therapists (STs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) thoroughly assess and develop specific treatment plans for a wide range of conditions including difficulty communicating or processing language, stuttering, and voice disorders.

Speech therapy takes place in locations like schools, hospitals, and private practice. It can be one-on-one or in a group setting. Success depends on underlying factors such as the severity of the condition. It also depends on personal goals and your definition of success—which can vary widely from person to person.

Many people who have speech therapy experience powerful benefits that affect them in nearly every aspect of life, including greater self-confidence and self-reliance.

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American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Who are speech-language pathologists, and what do they do? .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Stuttering .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Stuttering .

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Krekeler BN, Weycker JM, Connor NP. Effects of tongue exercise frequency on tongue muscle biology and swallowing physiology in a rat Model . Dysphagia . 2020; 35 (6):918. doi:10.1007/s00455-020-10105-2

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Speech and language developmental milestones .

National Institute of Health Clinical Center. Speech and language pathology .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dysarthria in adult

Brady MC, Kelly H, Godwin J, Enderby P, Campbell P. Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke . The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . 2016 (6). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000425.pub4

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Scope of practice in speech-language pathology .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Help finding a professional .

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Speech-Language Therapy

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What Is Speech-Language Therapy?

Speech-language therapy is the treatment for most kids with speech and/or language disorders.

What Are Speech Disorders?

A speech disorder refers to a problem with making sounds. Speech disorders include:

• Articulation disorders: These are problems with making sounds in syllables, or saying words incorrectly to the point that listeners can't understand what's being said.
• Fluency disorders: These include problems such as stuttering , in which the flow of speech is interrupted by unusual stops, partial-word repetitions ("b-b-boy"), or prolonging sounds and syllables (sssssnake).
• Resonance or voice disorders: These are problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what's being said. These types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for a child when speaking.

What Are Language Disorders?

A language disorder refers to a problem understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas. Language disorders can be either receptive or expressive:

• Receptive disorders are problems with understanding or processing language.
• Expressive disorders are problems with putting words together, having a limited vocabulary, or being unable to use language in a socially appropriate way.
• Cognitive-communication disorders are problems with communication skills that involve memory, attention, perception, organization, regulation, and problem solving.

What Are Feeding Disorders?

Dysphagia/oral feeding disorders are disorders in the way someone eats or drinks. They include problems with chewing and swallowing, coughing, gagging, and refusing foods.

Who Gives Speech-Language Therapy?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), often called speech therapists , are educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. SLPs assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral/feeding/swallowing skills. This lets them identify a problem and the best way to treat it.

• at least a master's degree
• state certification/licensure in the field
• a certificate of clinical competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

An ASHA-certified SLP has passed a national exam and completed an ASHA-accredited supervised clinical fellowship.

Sometimes, speech assistants help give speech-language services. They usually have a 2-year associate's or 4-year bachelor's degree, and are supervised by an SLP.

What Do SLPs Do?

In speech-language therapy, an SLP works with a child one-on-one, in a small group, or in a classroom to overcome problems.

Therapists use a variety of strategies, including:

• Language intervention activities: The SLP will interact with a child by playing and talking, using pictures, books, objects, or ongoing events to stimulate language development. The therapist may model correct vocabulary and grammar, and use repetition exercises to build language skills.
• Articulation therapy: Articulation, or sound production, exercises involve having the therapist model correct sounds and syllables in words and sentences for a child, often during play activities. The level of play is age-appropriate and related to the child's specific needs. The SLP will show the child how to make certain sounds, such as the "r" sound, and may show how to move the tongue to make specific sounds.
• Oral-motor/feeding and swallowing therapy: The SLP may use a variety of oral exercises — including facial massage and various tongue, lip, and jaw exercises — to strengthen the muscles of the mouth for eating, drinking, and swallowing. The SLP may also introduce different food textures and temperatures to increase a child's oral awareness during eating and swallowing.

Why Do Some Kids Need Speech-Language Therapy?

Kids might need speech-language therapy for many reasons, including:

• hearing impairments
• cognitive (intellectual, thinking) or other developmental delays
• weak oral muscles
• chronic hoarseness
• cleft lip or cleft palate
• motor planning problems
• articulation problems
• fluency disorders
• respiratory problems (breathing disorders)
• feeding and swallowing disorders
• traumatic brain injury

Therapy should begin as soon as possible. Children who start therapy early (before they're 5 years old) tend to have better results than those who begin later.

This doesn't mean that older kids won't do well in therapy. Their progress might be slower, though, because they have learned patterns that need to be changed.

How Do I Find a Speech-Language Therapist?

To find a specialist, ask your child's doctor or teacher for a referral, check local directories online, or search on ASHA's website . State associations for speech-language pathology and audiology also keep listings of licensed and certified therapists.

Your child's SLP should be licensed in your state and have experience working with kids and your child's specific disorder.

How Can Parents Help?

Parents are key to the success of a child's progress in speech or language therapy. Kids who finish the program quickest and with the longest-lasting results are those whose parents were involved.

Ask the therapist what you can do. For instance, you can help your child do the at-home activities that the SLP suggests. This ensures the continued progress and carry-over of new skills.

Overcoming a speech or language disorder can take time and effort. So it's important that all family members be patient and understanding with the child.

Why Does My Child Need Speech Therapy?

Why does my child need speech therapy? Many parents ask this question.

It might help to know that professionals have development norms guide to check if a child’s progress is still within target.

If they notice that your child is behind in some areas, they will suggest working with a speech therapist.

What Is Speech Therapy?

1. articulation disorder, 2. fluency disorder, 3. resonance or voice disorders, 1. problems with the mouth, 2. autism spectrum disorder, 3. hearing loss, 4. intellectual disabilities, 5. lack of stimulation, 6. neurological problems, 7. speech and language disorders, how can speech therapy help.

Speech therapy is the evaluation and treatment of speech disorders and communication problems.

Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, typically perform sessions using strategies to improve communication.

A speech therapist chooses the kind of technique that is appropriate to your child’s speech disorder.

What Are Speech Disorders?

It is incredible how fast children grow, from helpless individuals to running toddlers in a heartbeat.

The same can be said for speech.

However, when a child encounters problems creating speech sounds to communicate effectively, he may have a speech disorder .

Here are some of the most common types of speech disorders:

An articulation disorder is the failure to make specific word sounds appropriate.

A child experiencing this may add, distort, drop, or swap word sounds.

Fluency disorders usually disturb the flow, rhythm, and speed of speech.

Cluttering and stuttering are typical fluency disorders.

If your child has stuttering issues, he may have blocked or interrupted speech, difficulty getting out a sound, or may repeat parts of a word.

On the other hand, a child with cluttering issues usually merges words or may speak very fast.

Resonance or voice disorders happen when the vibrations in charge of voice quality change because of blockage or obstruction.

Resonance problems also happen when the velopharyngeal valve does not close correctly.

Generally, resonance or voice disorders are related to cleft palate, swollen tonsils, or other neurological diseases.

What Are the Signs of a Speech Delay?

No one knows their children better than parents. Some even understand their kids even if they don’t say anything.

Parents will also know if there is something wrong with their children even before a professional confirms it.

Although children go through similar speech and language development stages, they don’t go through the same phase at the same time.

Here are a few guidelines for you to check:

At this age, your child should be able to use gestures to communicate or express themselves, such as waving goodbye or pointing.

Children at 18 months should be able to use vocalization more to communicate with others rather than simply gesturing.

They should know how to imitate sounds and understand verbal requests at this stage.

By two years old, most children can create words and phrases instantly, copy speech and actions, and follow simple instructions.

In addition to repeating different words and sounds, they can also communicate their needs and wants through oral language.

Most of the time, parents and caregivers can understand at least 50 percent of what these terrible twos are saying.

Generally, two-year-old kids can utter two- to three-word sentences from their more or less 50-word vocabulary.

What Causes Speech Delays?

Speech delays in kids may be due to different reasons. Sometimes, it may even involve multiple factors.

Here are some of the most common ones:

Children with problems with their mouth, palate, or tongue may cause speech delay issues .

One example is the condition called tongue-tie, where the tongue is attached to the mouth’s floor.

This problem makes it hard for the child to make specific sounds, specifically D, L, R, S, T, Z, and th.

Children in the autism spectrum usually have speech and language problems.

You may also notice other signs, such as:

• Impaired social interaction
• Impaired non-verbal and verbal communication
• Repeating phrases
• Repetitive behaviors
• Speech and language regression

Sometimes, speech and language delays are the only noticeable sign of hearing loss, making it hard to diagnose straight away.

If you notice your child not responding when you name an object unless you use gestures, he may have problems with his hearing.

It is hard to form words if you only hear distorted speech or cannot hear anything at all.

Intellectual disability or cognitive issues are another reason why children suffer from speech delay disorder.

The child’s environment has a significant role in his speech and language development.

It is hard for the child to learn how to speak if no one is talking to him.

Specific scenarios like abuse, lack of verbal stimulation, and neglect can hinder a child’s development.

Some neurological disorders affect muscles essential for speech, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and traumatic brain injury.

Speech and language delays are similar yet different types of communication disorders.

Children with speech delay problems have difficulty speaking many words but can understand and communicate non-verbally.

On the other hand, children who can speak a few words but are having a hard time articulating them may be suffering from language delay.

Some of these disorders may concern brain function, indicating a learning disability.

Premature birth is another cause of an overall developmental delay.

Your child’s ability to express himself is essential to his future success.

Speech therapy helps improve your child’s skills in communicating more effectively.

It also enhances his ability to comprehend and express his ideas, feelings, and thoughts.

The child will enhance his ability to solve problems independently as he expresses more intelligible speech.

These improvements will increase his independence as he acquires greater self-esteem.

You can be sure of a better quality of life as your child develops practical social skills from his speech therapy sessions.

There’s a wide range of developmental milestones, and each child develops according to his unique timetable.

If this statement is true, then why does my child need speech therapy?

You will hear this question from parents who do not see anything wrong with their children.

As you learn what speech and language development are, you will be better at observing your kids for any signs that might indicate a problem.

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What are the benefits of Speech-Language Therapy?

There are many benefits of Speech-Language Therapy. It helps individuals with communication difficulties improve their skills so that they are able to communicate more effectively. Speech- Language Therapy can improve the following in children and adults: pronouncing speech sounds correctly, social skills, cognition, reading and writing, and language (communicating wants and needs).

Overall, the goal of speech-language therapy is to increase self-esteem and independence by improving the ability to communicate whether it is producing speech sounds more clear, speaking more fluently, or being able to understand and express one's feelings and thoughts. Individuals of all ages can benefit from speech language therapy. A toddler who has a language delay would benefit from speech-language therapy by learning new vocabulary just through language stimulating play. A school-aged child who has difficulty producing speech sounds would benefit from speech-language therapy by learning appropriate placement of articulators (lips, tongue). A child with Autism would benefit from speech-language pathology by learning appropriate social skills and much more.

An article on WebMD titled "Benefits of Speech Therapy For Autism" states the following: Speech therapy can improve overall communication. This makes it possible for people with autism to improve their ability to form relationships and function in day-to-day life. Specific goals of speech therapy include helping the individual with autism:

• Articulate words well
• Communicate both verbally and nonverbally
• Comprehend verbal and nonverbal communication, understanding others' intentions in a range of settings
• Initiate communication without prompting from others
• Know the appropriate time and place to communicate something; for example, when to say "good morning"
• Develop conversational skills · Exchange ideas
• Communicate in ways to develop relationships
• Enjoy communicating, playing, and interacting with peers
• Learn self-regulation https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/benefits-speech-therapy-autism

Want to know how a Speech Therapist can Help?

Post navigation, you may also like, what is occupational therapy.

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Where to find an occupational therapists for your child.

• Why is speech therapy important?

It helps people develop skills such as comprehension, clarity, voice, fluency, and sound production. Speech therapy can treat speech disorders in children or speech disorders in adults caused by stroke, brain injury, or other conditions.

Speech therapy

Speech exercises involve repeating sounds and imitating the speech therapist. Speech therapy can treat a wide variety of speech and language delays and disorders in children and adults. With early intervention, speech therapy can improve communication and increase self-confidence. The goals of speech therapy include improving pronunciation, strengthening the muscles used in speech, and learning to speak properly.

Some speech disorders begin in childhood and improve with age, while others continue into adulthood and require long-term treatment and maintenance. Speech therapy for young children has been shown to be most successful when started at an early age and practiced at home with the involvement of a parent or caregiver. Many people have the misconception that speech therapy is only about speech, but it's much more than that. For your child, speech therapy can be done in a classroom or small group, or individually, depending on the speech disorder.

People with speech disorders have difficulty producing speech sounds, saying words clearly, or speaking fluently. These include articulation therapy, language intervention activities, and others, depending on the type of speech or language disorder. If you notice that your child is not up to par with his peers or does not have developmental milestones for his age, intensive or ongoing speech therapy sessions may be beneficial for your child. The therapist can massage the face and perform exercises with the tongue, lips, and jaw to strengthen it.

As a speech-language pathologist, I often teach my patients how to communicate in other ways besides a formal means of assisted communication (e.g., children receive treatment for different speech disorders, stuttering, problems with pronouncing words, problems with tone, volume, or quality of speech, and have a limited understanding of words and their meaning). There are several speech therapy techniques for each of the areas described above; the ones considered depend on the particular disorder. The NAPA Center is a world-renowned pediatric therapy clinic that provides speech therapy for children of all ages in traditional or intensive settings. Disorder is abnormally fast speech that causes pronunciation to be imprecise or omits sounds or parts of words.

For the conditions listed above, prescription speech therapy is usually covered by statutory health insurers (other than a fixed amount that you have to pay yourself, known as a copay).

• What is speech therapy target?

• Achieving Communication Goals with Speech Therapy

• Do deaf people need speech therapy?

• The Benefits of Speech Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide
• How Long Does Speech Therapy Last? A Comprehensive Guide to Maximizing Success
• Speech Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Treating Speech Disorders
• Who Can Benefit from Speech Therapy Treatment?
• Speech Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Different Types and Benefits
• What are the Goals and Benefits of Speech Therapy?
• Speech Therapy Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide
• How Long Does Speech Therapy Last? An Expert's Guide to Understanding Treatment Duration
• What to Expect During a Speech Therapy Session: A Guide for Patients and Families
• The Benefits of Speech and Language Therapy Explained

The Difference Between Speech Therapists and Language Pathologists

• What Are the Costs of Speech Therapy? A Comprehensive Guide

5 Conditions That Can Be Improved With Speech Therapy: An Expert's Guide

• Can I Do Speech Therapy at Home Without a Therapist?
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• What Do Speech Pathologists Do? A Comprehensive Guide
• How Long Does it Take to See Results from Speech Therapy?
• The Benefits of Speech Therapy: What is it Good For?
• Speech Therapy Games for Preschoolers: Fun Activities to Do at Home
• Speech Therapy: Treating Communication Disorders
• 10 Essential Qualities for a Successful Speech Therapist
• Common Speech Disorders: An Expert's Guide
• When is the Right Time to Start Speech Therapy for Your Child?
• The Similarities and Differences Between Speech Therapy and Speech Pathology: An Expert's Perspective
• Understanding the Four Major Speech Disorders: Causes, Treatments, and Early Intervention
• What are best practices for speech therapy?
• When should you start speech therapy for stuttering?
• How effective is speech therapy for speech delay?
• Can an slp diagnose hearing loss?
• What field of science is speech pathology?
• What is the best major for speech pathology?
• Do speech pathologists make a lot of money?
• Is becoming speech pathologist hard?
• Can an slp make a diagnosis?
• What are the characteristics of a speech and language pathologist?
• What are the disadvantages of being a speech pathologist?
• How does speech therapy work for deaf people?
• What are some examples of speech therapy?
• Is speech therapy for adults effective?
• How long should speech therapy last?
• How do i prepare for speech therapy?
• How long does it take for voice therapy to work?
• What do they do in kids speech therapy?
• What is done during speech therapy?
• How can i make articulation therapy more fun?
• What type of therapy is good for adhd?
• What is speech therapy like for a 2 year old?
• What is meant by speech and language therapy?
• What are speech disorders in children?
• How can i make speech therapy more fun?
• What are speech activities?
• Do speech pathologists go to medical school?
• What should i expect from a speech assessment?
• How do you determine speech and language delay?
• What is included in speech therapy?
• What disorders do speech pathologist treat?
• What does a speech pathologist do for hearing loss?
• What are five things you can do to encourage speech and language development?
• How long should a child attend speech therapy?
• What type of therapy is best for autism?
• Can an slp diagnose apraxia?
• What do speech therapists look for?
• What is speech therapy app?
• Where are speech pathologist most needed?
• When should you seek a speech pathologist?
• Does autism need speech therapy?
• How can parents help with speech therapy?
• Are there different types of speech therapy?
• Can slp diagnose adhd?
• Can slp diagnose language disorder?
• What activities are used in speech therapy?
• What is the best treatment for high functioning autism?
• What are the goals of a speech therapist?
• What gpa do you need to get into slp grad school?
• What is the highest degree for speech pathology?

Is there a difference between a speech therapist and a speech pathologist?

• What skills are needed to be a speech pathologist?
• How can you encourage speech and language development?
• Can a child outgrow speech delay?
• When should you seek speech therapy?
• How do speech therapists get fun for adults?
• Why is speech therapy important for dementia?
• What is one of the most important things a speech pathologist does?
• What qualities make a good speech therapist?
• How long does speech sample take?
• Is speech pathology part of the medical field?
• How long should a speech evaluation be?
• Is it normal for a 4 year old to need speech therapy?
• What would you do speech therapy activities?
• What do they test in speech therapy?
• What is the highest paid speech pathologist?
• How do slps treat language disorders?
• What can a parent do if a child has trouble speaking?
• How is apraxia diagnosed?

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Why is Speech Therapy Important for School-Age Children?

Written By Alicia Patillo, M.S.,CCC-SLP

Oftentimes, people think of speech therapy as something children need when they are just learning to speak or communicate. Yet, speech therapy encompasses the development of important parts of language and communication used throughout a child’s development, including school-age children.

Speech therapy at ACCESS for young, schoolage clients focuses on early reading skills and reading comprehension skills, building vocabulary knowledge, sentence development, decreasing stuttering, producing sounds correctly, social skills, and even feeding skills. Students who attend ACCESS greatly benefit from speech therapy, depending on their areas of needs, to help them both academically and to build lasting friendships with peers. Did you know that students with neurotypical vocabulary development require up to 17 exposures to a word before they can independently use that word? Students with a language disorder require two to three times that exposure!

For students at the ACCESS Academy, speech therapy is an integral part of ACCESS’s unique curriculum. ACCESS uses a model of “pre-teach, teach, review” to maximize a student’s potential. Students learn vocabulary and facts in speech therapy prior to learning information in the classroom, providing them with the repetition and engagement necessary to build their knowledge. Students also participate in weekly taste tests and whole group pragmatic language groups to enhance their knowledge and experiences. The classroom pragmatic language group focuses on a monthly character word to teach appropriate social interactions among peers and in the community.

Classroom expectations for any student would include showing respect, trying one’s best, listening and following directions, and participating in classroom discussions. Through therapy, we break these down into functional steps to help students achieve their greatest potential in the classroom setting. In addition to learning functional vocabulary to participate in classroom discussions, students learn appropriate ways to provide this information to others. Students practice listening skills by accessing previously taught information from therapy, raising their hand to indicate they know an answer, waiting to be called upon, and then using functional language to clearly explain their response.

Many students from area schools also attend ACCESS for outpatient therapy. Individualized speech therapy allows direct teaching of very specific areas of needs so these students can reach their full potential at their area school. ACCESS outpatient therapy is unique in that we can provide individualized tasks to address a student’s difficulties, provide ample opportunities for practice, and carry over skills from the school setting into more natural settings. Many times, students receive speech therapy within their school to address their needs. However, parents choose to also utilize ACCESS outpatient therapy services for additional support, practice, and guidance on how to best serve the need of their student.

In my 13 years of practicing speech therapy, I have learned that building a student’s selfconfidence is the single most important step to making progress. The reason I love being a speech therapist is the opportunity to lead students to know they can do anything they choose, and then teach them the building blocks and steps to achieve their goals. Whether it means they dream to be a teacher when they grow up, make lasting friendships now, or experience success instead of failure, I get to be a part of helping them experience a full life.

The most gratifying part of my job is watching students confidently believe in themselves and know that they can accomplish hard things. Sometimes, an 8-year-old is not ready to think about what happens after they finish school. However, they are ready to think about how they can be a good friend to others or succeed at school. These are steps to achieving much bigger goals. ACCESS parents have reached out many times to share how their student is confidently using new skills and the sense of pride their student receives from these accomplishments. It is an honor to get to encourage them to dream of big things for their life.

The Importance of Early Intervention Speech Therapy

Children learn new skills at their own pace. This can be applied whether it be learning how to walk, run or talk. Sometimes, parents may notice that their child is a little behind in terms of development. When it comes to speech and language skills, it is common that you might compare your child to someone else’s. It is important to keep in mind, however, that every child develops differently.

There are many reasons why a child might have a speech delay. It could be due to a hearing problem, an issue with the tongue or mouth, or it could be a sign of a more serious condition. In this post, we will be discussing how to spot early signs of speech delay! We will also talk about how important early speech intervention is to your child’s speech and language development.

In this article we will discuss:

What are the early signs of speech delay?

What is the importance of early intervention, early intervention for speech therapy, when to start speech therapy for early intervention, the benefits of early intervention.

It is hard to generalize when it comes to the early signs of speech delay because every child is different. However, there are some common patterns that parents can look out for. It is important to look out for skills that should have been developed by a certain age.

There are non-verbal and prerequisite skills children need to learn before they start talking. Non-verbal skills are usually the first to develop. This means that a child would be able to do things such as make eye contact, follow an object with their eyes, or turn their head when they hear a noise. These skills usually develop by the time a child is 6 months old. Prerequisite skills are the skills that a child needs to learn before they can start producing words. This includes:

Joint attention – this skill is when a child is able to share their attention with another person. For example, a baby might look at a book and then look up at their parent to show that they want to share the experience.

Imitation – this is when a child is able to copy the actions of another person.

Making inferences – this is when a child is able to understand what another person is thinking or feeling. These skills usually develop by the time a child is 12 months

Eye contact – this is when a child looks at another person’s face when they are talking.

Play skills – this is when a child plays alone or with other children their age.

Considering early speech intervention for your child?

Aside from prerequisite skills, children have speech and language milestones to achieve in order to start talking. To spot early signs of speech delay, these milestones should be taken into consideration:

By the end of 3 months :

Your child should smile at you

He/she starts to make cooing sounds such as “ga ga”

When spoken to, they might get quiet or smile

Your child may seem as though they recognize a parent’s voice

He/she makes different crying sounds for different needs

By the end of 6 months:

Your child starts to make gurgling sounds

He/she can be able to make other sounds

They use their voice to show pleasure/displeasure

Your child will look in the direction of sounds

He/she will respond to changes in tone of voice from an adult

They pay attention to sounds made by objects/toys/music

By the end of 12 months:

They attempt to imitate speech sounds

He/she says simple words like “dada,” “mama”

Your child responds to simple directions, such as “Come here”

They recognize common items, like “doggie”

He/she looks in the direction of sounds

By the end of 18 months:

He/she knows and recognizes the names of known people, objects, and body parts

They can follow simple directions such as “Give me the bottle”

Your child can produce or say 10 words

By the end of 24 months:

He/she uses simple 2-word phrases like “more juice”

They can ask one or two-word questions like “Go bye-bye?”

Your child can follow simple questions and understand simple questions

He/ she can produce or say about 50 or more words

Speech is understood by parents/primary caregivers at least half of the time

Speech skills continue to develop and blossom as a child grows. However, if you feel like your child is not meeting these milestones, it is important to seek help from a speech-language pathologist or your child’s doctor.

If you feel like your child might have a speech delay, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Early intervention is key in helping your child’s speech and language development. The earlier a child gets help, the more likely they are to catch up to their peers. Early intervention includes speech therapy, early interventionalist, or even a developmental pediatrician.

There are many benefits of early intervention. Some of these benefits include:

Improved communication skills

Developed social skills

Improved academic performance

Reduced need for special education services

If you think your child might have a speech delay, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. A speech-language pathologist can assess your child and provide you with recommendations on how to best help your child’s development.

Speech delay can help address any speech delays or disorders your child might have. It is important to seek help as soon as possible to maximize the success of therapy.

The earlier the better! If you think your child has a speech delay , it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Early intervention is key in helping your child’s speech and language development. The earlier a child gets help, the more likely they are to catch up to their peers.

Study shows that speech and language skills develop like a ladder. As a child grows, they build upon the skills they have acquired. So if a child has a speech delay, they might miss out on developing more complex communication skills. This is actually the reason why children need speech therapy for early intervention.

Early intervention reduces the severity of a child’s disorder

Studies have shown that the earlier a child receives therapy, the better their outcome is likely to be. The goal of speech therapy for early intervention is to turn a child with a severe communication disorder into a child who can communicate his wants and needs.

Early intervention improves communication skills

Children who receive speech therapy for early intervention can improve their communication skills. They might learn how to use gestures, body language, and facial expressions to communicate.

Some children with speech delay might also receive augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. These devices can help a child who is nonverbal or has trouble speaking communicate their needs.

Early intervention minimizes frustration for both the child and the family

Most of the time, children get frustrated because they do not know how to express their wants and needs. This can be very frustrating for both the child and the family.

Speech therapy can help minimize this frustration by teaching the child how to communicate their wants and needs. This can help reduce stress for both the child and the family.

Early intervention can increase the success of treatment

The earlier a child starts speech therapy, the more likely they are to be successful in treatment. This is because early intervention can help reduce the severity of a child’s disorder. It can also help improve communication skills and minimize frustration for both the child and the family.

Other Benefits

For disorders such as Cerebral palsy, speech therapy and early intervention can be very helpful. For cerebral palsy and other related disorders, a child can learn early on how to compensate for their delay as well as learn strategies to overcome it.

Early intervention help the child reach their fullest potential

Early intervention can help a child reach their fullest potential. The earlier a child gets help, the more likely they are to catch up to their peers. Speech therapy for early intervention can also help reduce the severity of a child’s disorder and improve communication skills.

ECI therapy near me - If you think your child might have a speech delay, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better Speech now.

About the Author

Mikee Larrazabal

I am a Speech-Language Pathologist with 14 years of experience working with children and adults who have communication difficulties. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science at Cebu Doctors' University and have been helping people overcome their communication challenges ever since.

I have worked with individuals of different ages, including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, adults and seniors. I'm passionate about speech therapy and take great satisfaction in helping people overcome their communication challenges and improve their lives through better communication skills. In my spare time I like reading books, going hiking in nature and taking care of my dog Locas.

• Speech Delay Therapy
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I'm not an English native speaker and I wanted to improve my speech. Better Speech onboarding process is AWESOME, I met with different people before being matched with an AMAZING Therapist, Christina. My assigned therapist created a safe place for me to be vulnerable and made all the sessions fun and helpful. Thanks to her, I received great feedback from my clients.

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​ Better Speech is a great program that is easy to use from home and anywhere online. Shannon was amazing at engaging our shy son - and building on their relationship each session! Her commitment to knowing him improved his confidence to speak and practice more. Truly appreciate her dedication. She cares for her clients.

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​ Better Speech is an excellent opportunity to improve your speech in the convenience of your home with flexible scheduling options. Our therapist Miss Lynda was nothing short of amazing! We have greatly appreciated and enjoyed the time spent together in speech therapy. Her kind, engaging and entertaining spirit has been well received. She will surely be missed.

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This service is so easy, i signed up, got a therapist and got to set up an appointment right away that worked with my schedule. so glad to see that services like speech therapy are finally catching up to the rest of the convenience age! therapy is great, i can't believe how many good tips, exercises and methods in just the first session. really recommend it!

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Understanding the Importance of Speech Therapy

Monday, May 22, 2023

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month , a time dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges people face with communication disorders and the solutions that can transform their lives. At the heart of these solutions is speech therapy , a critical service in the lives of those who need it.

Speech Therapy

Speech disorders can manifest in various ways , from stammering and stuttering to difficulties with voice pitch, volume, and quality. Language disorders can make it hard to understand others or express thoughts and feelings. Swallowing disorders , on the other hand, can make eating and drinking a challenge. These disorders can significant negative impacts on quality of life, restricting the ability to communicate, socialize, and live independently.

At Norman Regional , speech therapists work closely with patients of all ages, from children struggling with language development to adults recovering from strokes or other neurological conditions. The primary goal of their work is to help patients communicate effectively and eat safely. The team uses a combination of traditional and innovative techniques to help patients overcome their challenges.

Some of our services include:

• Pediatric feeding disorders: such as feeding aversions and failure to thrive
• Developmental delays: delayed speech or language development of infants and children
• Speech/language disorders: including articulation impairments, phonological disorders
• Dysphagia: difficulty chewing or swallowing   
• Motor speech disorders (dysarthria/ apraxia): slurred speech or difficulty producing clear speech
• Aphasia: difficulty communicating after a stroke or neurological event
• Cognitive impairments: difficulty with memory, attention and/or problem solving
• Fluency: pediatric or adult stuttering
• Voice disorders: hoarse vocal quality, vocal nodules or polyps
• Parkinson’s Voice Project SPEAK OUT!® and The Loud Crowd®

The Speech Therapy Patient Journey

Each therapeutic journey at Norman Regional begins with a comprehensive evaluation. The speech-language pathologists assess the patient's speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills. This assessment forms the foundation for a personalized treatment plan designed to meet the individual needs and goals of each patient. It’s important to mention that Norman Regional speech language pathologists work hard to provide a welcoming, inclusive and judgement-free environment for patients.

Speech therapists are skilled in various interventions, including articulation therapy to improve speech sound production, language intervention activities to enhance comprehension and expression, and voice therapy to address problems with pitch, volume, or quality of voice. For patients with swallowing disorders, the therapists offer dysphagia therapy, which includes exercises and strategies to improve swallowing function.

One of the unique aspects of the speech therapy services at Norman Regional is the use of their specific assistive technology. For patients who struggle with severe communication disorders, therapists may recommend devices such as speech-generating devices or apps that convert text to speech. These innovative tools can significantly enhance communication capabilities and provide a lifeline to those who struggle to express themselves verbally. For example, speech therapists at Norman Regional working with gender-affirming voice therapy patients utilize an app called Voice Tools . This technology measures the frequency of the patient’s voice during conversation, which therapists can compare to the average frequency ranges of a feminine (145-275 hertz), masculine (80-165 hertz) and androgynous (145-185 hertz) voice. You can hear these frequencies yourself using an online keyboard.

The keyboard above represents the average masculine, androgynous and feminine voice frequences and their associated note values.

However, the work of a speech therapist at Norman Regional goes beyond direct patient care. They also play a critical role in educating families and caregivers about how they can support their loved ones in their therapeutic journey. This holistic approach ensures that patients continue to progress even outside the therapy sessions.

It's essential to highlight that early intervention is key when dealing with speech and hearing disorders. If you suspect that you or a loved one might be struggling, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Remember, there's no need to navigate these challenges alone. The team at Norman Regional is here to provide the support, resources, and care you need to overcome these obstacles.

Speech therapy is not just about improving speech and swallowing; it's about enhancing people's lives. We understand this and are committed to providing comprehensive and empathetic speech and language care to patients.

During Better Speech and Hearing Month, let's spread awareness, encourage early intervention, and celebrate the transformative power of speech therapy. After all, everyone deserves the ability to communicate freely and live their lives to the fullest.

Norman Regional offers speech therapy services at three locations. If you or someone you know could benefit from these services, you can call to schedule an appointment. No referral necessary:

Norman Regional Moore 700 S. Telephone Rd. Moore, OK 73160 ( 405) 793-9355

Norman Regional Nine 2000 Ann Branden Blvd. Norman, OK 73071 ( 405) 253-1850

Physical Performance Center 724 24th Ave. N.W., Suite 100 Norman, OK 73069 ( 405) 447-1571

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The perspectives of speech–language pathologists: Providing teletherapy to patients with speech, language and swallowing difficulties during a COVID-19 context

Zahraa tar-mahomed.

1 Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Kelly-Ann Kater

Associated data.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, K.K., upon reasonable request.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a huge impact on every facet of life. This directly included the delivery of health care from allied health professionals such as speech–language pathologists (SLPs) in South Africa. Research has shown that there is limited research done locally on the impact of COVID-19 relating to stroke care. Consequently, this results in a lack of research on the provision of speech, language and swallowing intervention using teletherapy after a stroke from an SLP point of view.

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of SLPs with regard to their use of teletherapy in a COVID-19 context when providing speech, language and swallowing intervention for patients after a stroke.

This study made use of a qualitative approach. An electronic questionnaire was sent to SLPs inviting them to participate in the study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants and thematic content analysis was used to analyse the open-ended qualitative questions.

The findings show that SLPs experienced a variety of facilitators and barriers to using teletherapy. Additionally, issues of access differ across the private and public sector SLPs for both the clients and the SLPs.

The current study provided research in the field of teletherapy, which is relatively new in the South African context. The study, whilst small in scale, provided some insight into the changes experienced from the shift to teletherapy.

Introduction

Speech–language pathologists (SLPs) play an integral role in the screening, assessment, management and rehabilitation of stroke survivors who present with dysphagia, communication and/or cognitive-linguistic impairments. Early diagnosis and referral to an SLP is critical, as is intensive intervention as soon as the patient is able to participate. This helps to ensure better patient outcomes (Dilworth, 2008 ). With the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the shift to teletherapy being relatively new in the South African context, it is important to understand the various barriers and facilitators to health care that may affect the service delivery of SLPs.

South Africa had its first COVID-19 case on 06 March 2020, and on 27 March 2020, the government instituted a nationwide level 5 lockdown. Restrictions on movement during the level 5 lockdown specifically required individuals to remain in their place of residence, with the exceptions of those performing an essential service, obtaining essential goods or services, collecting a social grant or pension or seeking emergency, life-saving or chronic medical attention (Siedner et al., 2020 ). As hospitals struggled with an increase in caseloads, many health care professionals took on additional roles and outpatient services were either suspended or delivered via teletherapy (Adams, Seedat, Coutts, & Kater, 2021 ).

Based on the research done on telerehabilitation, it was found that it has the ability to change the delivery of health care beyond stroke to other neurological conditions (Tenforde et al., 2020 ). This may be different in the South African context, where factors such as socio-economic status, culture, education and so on need to be considered. Research shows that there are various barriers to the implementation of telerehabilitation in the public sector and telerehabilitation in general in South Africa (Mars, 2011 ). This is because telerehabilitation requires information and communication technologies, their associated infrastructure and electricity. In the context of South Africa, technology problems such as unreliable electricity supply and low bandwidth are barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine (Cilliers & Flowerday, 2014 ). Telemedicine in Africa is approximately 10 years behind the developed world (Mars, 2011 ).

Research suggests that the service delivery of allied health care to rural or remote communities displays a huge problem in many countries (Lincoln, Hines, Fairweather, Ramsden, & Martinovich, 2014 ). In a developing country like South Africa, this is even more prevalent (Maphumulo & Bhengu, 2019 ). Telerehabilitation may overcome patient anxieties and is seen as being more cost effective and safe (Eron, 2010 ). Telerehabilitation avoids the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), reduces the risk for the stroke team, allows a reasonable stroke evaluation and avoids unnecessary interfacility transfers (Markus & Brainin, 2020 ).

The role of the SLP in providing therapy for stroke patients is well known in terms of face-to-face intervention; however, the lines become blurred when it comes to managing the consequences of stroke using teletherapy in a context like South Africa during COVID-19. There is research that has been done on stroke care using telerehabilitation that is not specific to the COVID-19 and the South African context but which can be applied. A study done by Tchero, Tabue-Teguo, Lannuzel and Rusch ( 2018 ) illustrates that telerehabilitation can be a suitable alternative to usual rehabilitation care in poststroke patients, especially in remote or underserved areas.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South African Government decreed all health workers (which include rehabilitation services) part of essential services (South African Speech–Language and Hearing Association [SASLHA], 2020 ). The South African Speech–Language and Hearing Association consequently stated that the profession of speech–language pathology is an essential service with emphasis on the fact that communicating and eating are basic human rights. This has led to an increase in terms of the use of teletherapy in South Africa since COVID-19 and was found to have huge benefits to many patients with communication, hearing and swallowing disabilities (Adams et al., 2021 ; SASLHA, 2020 ).

The aim of stroke rehabilitation is to reduce the disabilities and enable the patient to return to the community. However, with the implementation of the lockdown restrictions and the subsequent cessation of face-to-face therapeutic interventions, South African SLPs had to find ways to maintain essential services.

The impairments associated with a stroke exhibit a wide diversity of clinical signs and symptoms. Disability, which is multifactorial in its determination, varies according to the degree of neurological recovery, the site of the lesion, the patient’s premorbid status and the environmental support systems (Teasell & Hussein, 2016 ). In addition to the physical impairments caused by stroke, many individuals may experience changes in their cognitive, communication and swallowing abilities (Dragga, 2015 ). Dysphagia and communication impairment are common consequences of stroke. Stroke survivors with either or both of these impairments are likely to have poorer long-term outcomes than those who do not have them (Dilworth, 2008 ).

Speech–language pathologists are trained to evaluate and treat disorders such as communication disorders, swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) and cognitive disorders that are a consequence of stroke. They are an integral part of the rehabilitation team (Dragga, 2015 ). They also play a role in counselling both patients and their family members. Additionally, they play an important role as part of a multidisciplinary team and may need to consult with other professionals to improve patient outcomes (Desrosiers et al., 2002 ). The communication deficits associated with stroke are diverse; they can be described as affecting one or more of these areas: language, motor speech, swallowing and/or cognitive communication. An assessment is conducted to identify how these areas are affected post stroke. This is achieved by gaining a full picture of the patients’ life before the injury through a case history. A thorough assessment is then conducted and a therapy programme is devised for the patient (Dilworth, 2008 ). Communication disorders in adults can have a significant effect on their quality of life and that of their families. Speech–language pathologists face several challenges in providing assessment and treatment services to such people. Challenges include facilitating equitable access to services and providing appropriate management within a changing social and economic context (Theodoros, 2008 ).

The aim of stroke rehabilitation is to reduce the disabilities and enable the patient to return to the community. This is achieved by joint efforts of physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, SLPs, nurses, social workers and psychologists (Nair & Taly, 2002 ). Rehabilitation of a person who had a stroke begins as soon as any impairment is perceived and comprises traditional exercise programmes as well as neuropsychological approaches with the primary aim of restoring patient mobility. It also deals with issues related to dysphagia, which is where the SLP comes in (Nair & Taly, 2002 ).

Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on SLPs has a three-fold purpose: to re-evaluate service provision, to reassess service delivery platforms and to identify the need for support to SLPs during a time of crisis. Given the uncertainty around the development, acceptance and roll-out of a vaccine for COVID-19, the country as a whole needed to ensure that the impact on future health service provision was minimised. Therefore, South Africa needed to find ways to create surge capacity to treat COVID-19 patients whilst maintaining essential services (Adams et al., 2021 ). It is well known that South Africa’s health care provision in private and public is rife with inequalities, but in some ways, COVID-19 may have levelled the playing fields regarding resource allocation of health care services because of the above (Labuschaigne, 2020 ). Despite the increase in use of teletherapy in South Africa since COVID-19, there are certain disadvantages and advantages that accompany this new practice (Mars, 2011 ).

This study aimed to look at the shift from face-to-face therapy to teletherapy and the various concerns that come with it for SLPs treating speech, language or swallowing disorders after a stroke. It was important to conduct this research in the South African context as it allowed one to explore the barriers and facilitators to teletherapy from the perspective of the SLPs, especially as South Africa is such a diverse nation and there are other factors that come into play, such as cultural and language differences that may impact the experiences of the SLPs in using teletherapy (Adams et al., 2021 ).

The aims of the study were to describe the facilitators and barriers of providing speech, language and swallowing intervention via teletherapy, as well as to describe the access of South African SLPs in providing teletherapy for a person who had a stroke. A qualitative design was used.

The researcher aimed to have a sample size of 20–30 participants (Peytchev, 2013 ). Selecting a larger sample size would have provided a better representation of the population targeted in the study (Peytchev, 2013 ). However, it proved difficult to obtain an adequate number of responses, as it could not be guaranteed that every individual invited to participate in the study would respond. Because of the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, where aspects such as survey fatigue become prominent, only 12 participants were obtained. The demographics of the participants are illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

Number of participants per province.

Participants’ years of experience.

Despite the questionnaire being circulated to SLPs in all provinces, only SLPs from Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape participated in this study. This could be because the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have considerably higher practitioner per 10 000 population ratios than the North West and Northern Cape (Pillay, Tiwari, Kathard, & Chikte, 2020 ).

Furthermore, 75% of these participants practise in the private sector, whereas only 25% practise in the public sector. This links to previous research where it was found that nationally, only 22% of SLPs are employed in the public sector (Pillay et al., 2020 ).

Data collection occurred by means of a self-administered questionnaire ( Appendix 1 ) which was circulated via Google forms. The questions on the self-administered questionnaire aligned with the overall research question, as well as the objectives of the study. The questionnaire was developed by the researcher and was made up of 22 questions, which were a combination of closed-ended and open-ended questions. A pilot study was conducted whereby the length of the questionnaire and appropriateness of the questions in relation to the aims were determined. The questionnaire began with demographic questions and later probed the advantages and disadvantages in terms of the provision of SLP services with regard to stroke intervention using teletherapy. Once data were collected and responses were transcribed, the data were then analysed using thematic content analysis (Clarke, Braun, & Hayfield, 2015 ).

Ethical considerations

Following ethical approval from the Institutional Review at a large Gauteng public university (reference number: STA_2020_32), participants were recruited via purposive sampling. All participants had to be registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and working with stroke patients. Participants were contacted and invited to participate in the study through electronic mail and links on social media as well as via SASHLA in order to reach as many SLPs as possible. Speech–language pathologists from both the public and private sector were invited to participate in the study.

Results and discussion

The aim of this study was to provide a description of the experience of SLPs who provided teletherapy to stroke survivors in a COVID-19 context. Findings from this study suggest that SLPs perceived the delivery of teletherapy to be feasible and worthwhile, despite facing some challenges with technology and connectivity.

Facilitators and advantages of providing speech, language and swallowing intervention via teletherapy

Participants mentioned that the following were facilitators and advantages to providing teletherapy: easier access to patients given the lockdown levels, a decreased risk of exposure to COVID-19 and reduced financial strain in terms of travel and hospital costs on the patient and family. The limited risk of exposure for SLPs was highlighted as a key advantage to the introduction of teletherapy, as sessions were being held remotely. In addition, the use of teletherapy reduced the need for PPE, thus saving on costs for the patient and family as well as the SLP:

‘Less risk to patient in terms of potentially contracting infection such as [ COVID-19 ].’ (Participant 4)

Improved family involvement in the rehabilitation process was noted, and research further highlights that teletherapy allows for fewer constraints on time, as sessions can be planned around the household schedule, and limits the time taken to travel, thus enabling more members of the family to participate. Furthermore, it allows the therapist to see the family in their living space, which is their most natural environment (Burgoyne & Cohn, 2020 ). This was seen by participants as family members were forced to take more responsibility and participate as facilitators in the therapeutic environment:

‘Very positive! All have participated, asked questions, reviewed sessionals and did extra. I’m so happy with how the caregivers are helping.’ (Participant 1) ‘Very involved and assist greatly. It has made the integration of caregivers into therapy much easier. It has been very very useful and beneficial.’ (Participant 3)

Barriers and disadvantages of providing speech, language, swallowing intervention via teletherapy

In the context of South Africa, technology problems such as unreliable electricity supply and low bandwidth were identified as barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine (Cilliers & Flowerday, 2014 ). This is seen clearly in the experiences of the SLPs, where load-shedding and connection difficulties were seen as barriers to service delivery. Research suggests that high Internet speed affects the quality of the consultation and can positively influence patients’ acceptance of and satisfaction with teletherapy (Almathami, Win, & Vlahu-Gjorgievska, 2020 ).

It is known that contextual relevance is important in health care, especially when it comes to establishing infrastructure and rolling out technology to promote health services. In a context like South Africa, where social determinants of health have contributed both to the inequitable distribution of health resources and access and to failure in redressing the injustices of the past, careful consideration must be taken to ensure that these service delivery models are both feasible and sustainable (Govender & Mars, 2018 ). Based on the participants’ responses below on the disadvantages, it is seen that teletherapy might not always be feasible in the context of South Africa where there are financial constraints, which can be further exacerbated by the need for data, technological devices and abilities for teletherapy:

‘Cost of data, patients are already struggling to pay for bare necessities. Lack of access to technology.’ (Participant 7)

Furthermore, the SLPs felt like therapy was less personal and like there was a lack of rapport-building, which is important to consider as an SLP as clinician–client relationships may influence SLP treatment success (Ebert, 2017 ). These were considered disadvantages for the SLPs, as seen below:

‘There is a restriction in the naturalness of the interaction and somehow you do not connect as easily with the individual.’ (Participant 4)

Research shows that it is difficult for both clients and therapists to enter a therapy mindset when using teletherapy at home, as there is a sequence that typically precedes and follows face-to-face therapy that does not take place with teletherapy for clients (Burgoyne & Cohn, 2020 ). This allows for distractions in the environment that were experienced by the SLPs in this study, as seen by Participant 4: ‘…noises and disturbances from people at home where my computer is’. Positive intervention for language-based disorders such as aphasia and cognitive-linguistic disorders was able to be conducted via teletherapy. Three factors were identified as important for their management: (1) family involvement, (2) good planning and (3) adaptation to resources, as seen below:

‘Require very good planning so that patient can have the right resources – use what they have at home.’ (Participant 2) ‘Much the same as face to face – just at times adaptations to therapy materials need to be made.’ (Participant 6)

The similarities between signs of aspiration as well as the symptomatology of COVID-19 highlighted the need for dysphagia service provision from admission until discharge and rehabilitation (SASLHA, 2020 ). Thus, making the provision of dysphagia services is vital; however, this seems to have been greatly affected because of the shift to teletherapy, as most of the SLPs were unable to do this via teletherapy. Participant 10 noted, ‘I am not doing any dysphagia treatment via teletherapy’.

Access to teletherapy

In order to provide and receive teletherapy, one needs to have access to both devices and data. When looking at the client’s ability to access teletherapy services and the SLP’s ability to provide teletherapy services, one can expect major discrepancies given the South African context. A stark division was noted between the public and private sectors, which places emphasis on the country’s social divide. However, this must be interpreted with caution, as there were only three SLP participants who worked in the public sector.

Literature suggests that challenges experienced in the public sector are well documented and include poorly maintained facilities and reduced access to resources (Young, 2016 ). This directly links to the experience of the participants working in the public sector, as they have poor access to resources such as devices and data, as seen below:

‘I have to use my own money to acquire data and are not reimbursed by the government.’ (Participant 11) ‘Very limited resources available in the government sector. So, I do not have access to devices.’ (Participant 12)

Private health care is very different to public health care in South Africa in that it is at an advantage in terms of better facilities and availability of adequate resources (Young, 2016 ). This again directly links to the experiences of the SLPs working in the private sector, as they have better access to resources such as access to devices and data, as seen below:

‘Access to data is not a concern for me.’ (Participant 4) ‘I have a work laptop and can access appropriate platforms for telehealth. At work, there is great internet connection.’ (Participant 8)

Similar trends were noted with regard to the patients being seen for teletherapy. Participants reported that patients had poor access to devices across both private and public sectors:

‘I’ve done therapy over a WhatsApp voice call and even through a neighbour’s phone.’ (Participant 1) ‘The community I service are very poor and cannot afford to acquire devices or data to do online therapy.’ (Participant 12)

In terms of access to data, it was found that clients from the public sector had limited access whilst the majority of those in the private sector had access. This is backed up by the responses where a participant working in the private sector stated that ‘[c]lients have Wi-Fi which help in terms of having good connection for the duration of the session’ (Participant 8), in contrast to a participant working in the public sector who stated that ‘[l]ow income equals no money to buy data. It is a challenge’ (Participant 12).

Factors such as socio-economic status, culture, education and income, as well as access to information and communication technologies, their associated infrastructure and a stable electricity supply need to be taken into account. The technology gap between the public and private sectors is a main factor that impacted the service provision of many SLPs. In addition, issues such as unreliable electricity supply as well as cost of data and access to Wi-Fi are identified as barriers to the successful implementation of teletherapy (Cilliers & Flowerday, 2014 ). Research suggests that high Internet speed affects the quality of the consultation and can positively influence patients’ acceptance of and satisfaction with teletherapy (Almathami et al., 2020 ).

Geographic location is known to cause inconsistencies in accessing therapeutic services, as it has implications in terms of time and money on the patient. The implementation of teletherapy has shown to eliminate the need to travel long distances, and treatment can be instantaneous. Additionally, families responded positively when asked about their willingness to participate in future telehealth visits.

The treatment of apraxia and dysarthria were identified to be dependent on severity of the disorder, particularly in the private sector:

‘The approach mainly stays the same depending on the severity of the apraxia or dysarthria. The patients I see do well with visual and phonemic cueing. Surprisingly, this is easier over telehealth.’ (Participant 8)

The same treatment was more challenging in the public sector because of teletherapy being done telephonically rather than via video conferencing platforms. Participant 12 stated, ‘This is challenging as the patient cannot see your mouth over the telephone when trying to model the strategies, techniques, etc.’ This links back to the stark contrast seen in the public and private sectors in South Africa in terms of access to resources (Young, 2016 ).

From the above responses, it can be seen that the shift to teletherapy has had to become the new normal for practicing SLPs in South Africa because of COVID-19; however, it is met with great challenges that need to be addressed in order to ensure adequate access and equity of service provision.

The study provided general insights into the transition from face-to-face therapy to teletherapy and the experiences of SLPs in this regard for stroke care. It further highlighted how practices in speech–language pathology have changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, results from this study can inform practices with regard to management of stroke-related speech, language and swallowing difficulties using teletherapy in South Africa and thus develop guidelines on this new practice.

Despite the small sample size, results of this study provide important insights into SLPs’ experiences with regard to the use of teletherapy for rehabilitation post stroke. Speech–language pathologists who engaged in teletherapy reported on a variety of advantages and facilitators as well as disadvantages and barriers to service provision. Speech–language pathologists in the private sector had different experiences in terms of access to data and devices compared to SLPs in the public sector, and the overall SLP experiences differed. Essentially, it is seen that teletherapy, whilst challenging at times, can provide surprising benefits such as improved family involvement. We do not yet understand how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact our lives in the long term; however, given the importance of providing therapy services to patients after a stroke, it is important to establish best practices to ensure that clients’ needs are being met in both the private and public sectors.

Acknowledgements

Competing interests.

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Authors’ contributions

Z.T.-M. conceptualised the research project and carried out the research. Both Z.T.-M. and K.K. discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.

Funding information

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Data availability

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliated agency of the authors.

Appendix 1: Questionnaire

• KwaZulu-Natal
• Western Cape
• Eastern Cape
• Northern Cape
• 1–5 years
• 5–10 years
• More than 10 years
• Approximately how many stroke patients do you see in a 6-month period?
• Are you currently making use of or have you previously made use of teletherapy in providing services for speech, language and swallowing difficulties for patients after a stroke?
• What do you think are some of the advantages of teletherapy?
• What do you think are some of the disadvantages of teletherapy?
• What are your experiences using teletherapy in terms of patient participation?
• What are your experiences with patient outcomes using teletherapy in terms of teletherapy vs. face-to-face?
• What are your experiences with your clients in terms of access to devices and being able to use these devices?
• What are your personal experiences in terms of access to devices and being able to use these devices?
• What are your experiences with your clients in terms of access to data?
• What are your personal experiences in terms of access to data?
• What are your experiences with caregivers and their involvement in the teletherapy process?
• What are your experiences with managing dysphagia, and how has this changed now that you have changed to teletherapy?
• What are your experiences with managing aphasia, and how has this changed now that you have changed to teletherapy?
• What are your experiences with managing motor speech disorders (dysarthria and apraxia), and how has this changed now that you have changed to teletherapy?
• What are your experiences with managing a cognitive-linguistic deficit, and how has this changed now that you have changed to teletherapy?
• What are your experiences in terms of the multidisciplinary team and being able to include aspects of co-treatment, now that you are making use of teletherapy?
• What are your experiences with counselling the patient and their family post stroke using teletherapy?
• What were your main successes with teletherapy?
• What were your main challenges with teletherapy?

How to cite this article: Tar-Mahomed, Z., & Kater, K. (2022). The perspectives of speech–language pathologists: Providing teletherapy to patients with speech, language and swallowing difficulties during a COVID-19 context. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 69 (2), a902. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.902

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