A speech pathologist is a highly skilled professional who specializes in diagnosing and correcting issues with speech. These issues can be caused by a developmental delay, autism, a stroke, an injury, hearing impairment, or another issue entirely. Speech pathologists work with adults and children to help improve their ability to communicate, helping them to be understood more clearly and lowering their frustration. This can help these individuals function better in work, school, and home life situations.
Speech pathologists help with many issues, including but not limited to the following.
Delayed Speech
Your pediatrician may refer you to a speech pathologist if your child's speech is delayed. This may include failure to meet appropriate developmental milestones, the inability to pronounce specific sounds, or not learning new words at a rate that's appropriate for their age. A speech pathologist can help evaluate the child's speech and development, then work with them to improve their speech habits. They may also provide you with exercises to practice with your child at home to help them learn age-appropriate speech habits.
Stuttering
Stuttering may be caused by a physical or psychological issue. Both children and adults can have issues with stuttering, and both can be treated by working with a speech pathologist. These talented professionals can help the individual learn various techniques to improve the rhythm and cadence of their speech. Over time, this can improve or eliminate the stutter.
Stroke
After a stroke, it's common to have issues with speech. A speech pathologist can help you determine what elements of speech have been affected, then work with the patient to fix issues with fluency, articulation, and resonance to improve overall speech clarity and coherence. This can dramatically improve the patient's ability to communicate and to be understood, boosting self-confidence and lowering frustration.
Autism
Autism affects an individual's speech in a variety of ways. These individual autistic traits can vary from person to person, and range from imperceptible to disabling. A speech pathologist can help an autistic person learn new skills so that they are better able to fit into social, educational, and professional situations where social interaction is expected. These skills can be developed over time and worked into daily routines naturally.
If you or someone in your family has issues with speech, reach out to a local speech pathologist today to schedule an evaluation. They can help you develop a treatment plan to treat these symptoms and develop essential verbal skills.
For more information, contact a clinic like Eastern Carolina Ear Nose & Throat-Head.