How does speech therapy work?
Speech therapy begins with a diagnosis of physical or mental dysfunction in regards to speech and communication which, following this assessment, the patient undergoes training in breathing, speech diction, and general speaking habits. The range of speech therapy incorporates people of all ages and includes treatment for people with difficulties in reading and writing, and also disorders of eating and swallowing. While stuttering and mental retardation are the main forms of speech impediment, there are some abnormalities, such as a cleft palate or stroke, that can be corrected to various degrees before a speech therapist’s work begins. Other forms of initial disability can include attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism, cerebral palsy, tourettes syndrome, hearing impairment, learning disability, schizophrenia, and vocal cord injury.
