SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY
When those of us in Speech and Language Therapy use the word “speech,” we are referring to the motor movements and the function of the mechanism (parts of our body) we use to speak. Speech is the ability to move the muscles in the the mouth and surrounding areas in the shapes that make the sounds we need, and then combining them, in the correct order, smoothly, to form our words and sentences. Most of us speak effortlessly, every day, so it can be easy to overlook how complex the movements for speech actually are. There are three main components of speech: 1) Articulation The ability to form speech sounds accurately (e.g. using the “s” sound at the beginning of the word “sun” instead of incorrectly saying “thun”). 2) Voice Producing sound by using our breath and vocal folds. This can encompass appropriate volume, projection and resonance, or hoarseness and loss of voice. 3) Fluency The flow of our speech when speaking quickly; joining sounds, words and phrases in a smooth rhythm without atypical interruption. Speech is a fine motor skill involving slight, graceful and delicate movements of muscles from our diaphragm up to our lips. It requires support from our core, controlled breath, and fluid, coordinated movement, with all parts working together, in unison. In order to do that, we rely on our brain to send the correct signals to all of these parts, telling them what to do and when to do it. Not only is communication between our brain and our muscles essential, but it’s also necessary for us to be able to listen to ourselves and discriminate between the sounds we're making.
CONCERNS IN SPEECH DEVELOPMENT :
oncerns in the function of this intricate system can arise from a variety of factors. For example, if your child or loved one is difficult to understand, it may be the result of his or her inability to produce speech sounds correctly, which points to potential concerns with the Articulation part of speech. If you notice interruptions in the flow of speech (e.g. repeated words or syllables, long pauses, or an inability to get words out in the midst of speaking), these could be indicative of a Fluency or Stuttering concern. If your child is not speaking at all, there may be great benefit to consulting a Speech Language Pathologist to determine if the lack of Speech is due to difficulty with learning how to produce speech sounds or if it is rooted in the understanding and use of Language. Many developmental diagnoses such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy can also affect an individual’s ability to speak or the quality of their speech. Speech concerns can also arise as the result of traumatic brain injury, stroke, or disorders of the nervous system as Parkinson’s Disease and ALS. It is important to note that concerns with the quality and ability of speech can range from mild to severe. Even mild forms of speech concerns can benefit greatly from Speech Therapy. Do you, a family member, or significant other have concerns with any of the following:
HOW CAN WE HELP?
If you have concerns about your child’s speech one of our Registered Speech Language Pathologists (S-LP) can perform an Assessment to determine the specific areas of difficulty and how best to support your child. Once an S-LP has set goals for your child, one of our team of Registered S-LPs or Communicative Disorders Assistants (CDAs) can work with your child to strengthen their ability to communicate effectively. S-LPs and CDAs are trained in a wide variety of strategies to help our clients overcome barriers to Speech and Communication. Whether challenges with speech is the result of a child incorrectly pronouncing words, an individual struggling with a Stutter or difficulty with moving the muscles of the speech mechanism due to a diagnosed disorder, a Speech-Language Pathologist (S-LP) or Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) can help.