Speech therapy is the branch of science that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders. It is a discipline that serves people of all ages. Speech therapy is a profession that combines different areas, such as linguistics, psychology, biology and medicine.
In America, the Spanish Association of Speech Therapy, Phoniatrics and Audiology (AELFA-IF) is one of the main organisations of speech therapists in Spain. This association offers resources, ongoing training and support to professionals.
Areas of intervention in speech therapy
Speech therapists can work in a wide variety of settings, such as hospitals, private clinics, schools, nursing homes and early childhood centres, among others. Areas of intervention include:
- Speech disorders: this group of disorders encompasses difficulties in producing speech sounds, such as stuttering, dysarthria and articulatory disorders.
- Language disorders: this group of disorders encompasses difficulties in the comprehension and production of language, both written and oral. Within language disorders, we can distinguish expressive disorders, i.e. those that consist of difficulties in expressing oneself, and receptive disorders, which are characterised by difficulties in understanding the message.
- Social communication disorders: these are disorders that involve difficulties at the pragmatic level, i.e. with the use of language. They usually occur in social communication and are characterised by difficulties in communication skills. Communication skills are understood as those skills that are put into action and allow for an effective exchange between two or more people.
- Within these skills we can distinguish: the ability to communicate assertively, the ability to communicate a specific message, the understanding of non-verbal language, the ability to develop active listening, etc. People with social communication disorders show difficulties in using these skills effectively.
- Voice disorders: these are pathologies that involve vocal difficulties. This group includes problems such as aphonia (absence of voice) or dysphonia. These disorders are characterised by an impairment of the quality, tone and volume of the voice.
- Swallowing disorders: these disorders are commonly known as dysphagia and affect a person's ability to swallow. They may be caused by neurological disease, injury or surgery.
Speech therapy as evaluation
As mentioned above, speech therapy also encompasses the area of assessment. This is a multi-stage process. Speech therapists use techniques and tools to assess speech, language, communication and swallowing. Assessment can be carried out through standardised or non-standardised tests.
The first step in an assessment is an initial interview, in which detailed information about the patient’s development is collected. It is important to know the patient’s medical history and family history. In addition, it is very important to know about possible speech and language difficulties.
After this first step, assessment takes place. This may be through standardised tests, with specific tests that compare the individual’s performance in a given area with the norms established for their age group, or through non-standardised tests, which include observation of the user in their daily life or in specific activities to assess specific aspects.
This assessment allows the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of individuals, which enables the setting of specific goals for therapeutic intervention.
With the information extracted from the assessment, the speech therapist establishes intervention objectives. These goals can be short, medium or long term and allow the user’s progress to be monitored.
- Articulation disorders: the exercises that are implemented in therapy to treat these difficulties are focused on learning the way and place of articulation of sounds, to improve the emission of sounds, as well as exercises to improve the clarity of speech.
- Language disorders: Exercises to target language disorders are aimed at improving language comprehension and production. They may also focus on improving pragmatic and social skills.
- Voice disorders: to treat vocal difficulties, users learn techniques to improve breathing and phonation. These exercises improve their vocal quality.
- Swallowing disorders: THE intervention in this group of disorders is aimed at the user learning strategies to improve swallowing safety and efficiency. Exercises to work on the tone of the facial muscles, changes in diet and learning safe swallowing techniques can be found.
Recent advances in speech therapy
Speech therapy intervention is a dynamic process, i.e. it is subject to change, as each person has specific needs. It will be up to the professional who takes the individual to make these adjustments to the initial plan. This will be done on the basis of how he/she sees the individual in the sessions.
Speech therapy is a fairly new science. Moreover, it is a field that is continually evolving, which is why research within speech therapy is so important. Some of the recent advances are:
- Neuroplasticity: this is research into how the brain can reorganise its connections and form new connections in response to therapy.
- Genetics: research within genetics allows for the exploration of the transmission of different disorders and the observation of whether genetic inheritance influences the transmission of these disorders to offspring, as well as the likelihood of their occurrence.
- Evidence-based intervention: research allows for the development of new therapeutic practices. This allows speech therapists to implement these new techniques in their intervention, with the advantage of ensuring that they are effective and efficient treatments.
As a general conclusion, speech therapy is a profession that treats disorders related to speech, language, communication and swallowing through individualised intervention. The goals of the intervention are established on the basis of an exhaustive assessment carried out by the professional. The speech therapist has a very important role in improving the quality of life of individuals in need and seeks to develop skills and tools that enable people to communicate effectively.
It is an area in which research plays an important role in incorporating new techniques into interventions, ensuring their effectiveness.
Some sites that provide up-to-date information on speech therapy are:
Written by:
Mariló Martínez
Sinews MTI
Psychology, Psychiatry and Speech Therapy