Glottal Fry And Uptalk
Not to be confused with clinical voice disorders, glottal fry and uptalk are characteristics of everyday speech. Glottal fry results from the vocal folds being hyper-relaxed and is often perceived as low, noisy, and grumbly. While it is natural in speech as we run out of air before were done talking, it can be perceived in professional environments as being disengaged or apathetic, when it is the overwhelming quality of someones speech. At the other end of the spectrum is uptalk or Valley girl speech, where the pitch rises at the end of every sentence. This is often joked about in the media and sounds to the listener like the person speaking is asking A LOT of questions. Again, not a voice disorder, but it can be perceived by many to represent insecurity or uncertainty when used in excess amounts. A speech therapist is trained in vocal production and pitch patterns in speech that can be used to curb these habits if you find they are leading to chronic vocal fatigue, strain, or affecting peoples perceptions of you and your communication.
Reasons To See A Speech
If you or a loved one experience any of the following problems, it might be a good idea to seek out a speech-language pathologist.
Difficulty Communicating After an Injury or Illness
Speech therapy can help some people regain the ability to express wants and needs, build relationships, carry out daily tasks, and succeed in school or at work.
Difficulty Eating After an Injury or Illness
Swallowing therapy can strengthen the muscles used in eating, help adults relearn swallowing coordination, and teach ways to reduce the risk of aspiration .
Feeding Issues in Infants and Children
Babies and toddlers with swallowing disorders may have a pattern of fussiness at mealtimes, avoiding certain food textures or temperatures , congestion or vomiting after eating, or gagging during meals. Feeding therapy can teach chewing, sipping, and swallowing, overcome sensory aversions, and help children learn to eat independently and enjoy mealtimes.
Delayed Speech Development
If youâre concerned that your child might not be speaking or understanding speech at a level appropriate for their age, talk with your childâs doctor. They can refer you to a speech-language pathologist if your child needs to be evaluated. If a child does have a speech or language disorder, getting therapy early can help.
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What Do Kids Need In Speech Therapy
Children need to practice saying words to identify letters, numbers, and symbols. But they also need to practice saying words in context. And they also need to practice understanding what other people are saying. These skills can help them build better relationships with other people. For example, if your child is learning to speak and you dont understand what they are saying, they can ask a parent or caregiver to tell the story. This can help your child get a bigger picture of whats happening in the world around them and help you understand them better.
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What Training Is Required To Be A Speech Therapist
In order to become a speech-language pathologist, one must hold a masters degree from a program that is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. These programs include comprehensive classes about the assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders and at least 375 hours of clinical experience. Once they have graduated from their program they must complete a one-year medical training period with a minimum of 1,260 hours working under the supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist. Finally, the candidate must pass an extensive exam in order to become certified as a speech-language pathologist.
Where To Get Occupational Therapy
OTs offer services in a variety of settings, including:
- Private practice
- Care facilities
OT may be recommended as part of an established treatment plan for an injury or condition or following a hospital stay. You can also find an OT for yourself or your child by:
- Talking to your healthcare provider or another healthcare professional
- Asking for referrals from the school nurse or guidance counselor
- Contacting a local hospital or rehabilitation center
- Contacting your states occupational therapy association
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How Long Does Speech Therapy Take
There is no set time limit for speech therapy as therapy duration will be different for each person. While some children in therapy working on fixing their lisp will take 1-2 years, other children with a severe form of childhood apraxia of speech will need therapy for many, many years.
Prognosis and how long someone will be receiving speech therapy services is dependent on a number of factors including, but not limited to:
- Frequency and duration of speech therapy.
- Family support and assistance with at-home therapy homework.
- Prognosis of any medical conditions contributing to the speech or language disorder.
What Does An Assessment Look Like
Many factors can interfere with a childs ability to speak, including physiological difficulties, hearing problems, cognitive and neurological challenges, and genetic disorders.
The therapist will use an evidence-based approach to assess your childs areas of need, some may include:
- Caregiver interview
- Standardized Assessment
- Consultation with other care providers
From there, the therapist will provide recommendations, discuss goals and a treatment plan. The treatment plan can include direct treatment by the therapist, home activities and, in some cases, treatment by another discipline .
Speech-language pathologists can work with a child in the clinic, virtually, in home or when appropriate in school.
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How Is It Done Or Administered
A speech therapist usually meets one-on-one with a patient about once a week. The speech therapist may do any of these treatments:
- Teach new ways of breathing and speaking to use the voice better
- Teach exercises for using the lips, tongue, and other muscles in the mouth and throat
- Help with learning new words, especially for children or those who have lost language because of a stroke or brain injury
- Help with organizing thoughts or improving memory
- Teach how to use . These are ways to communicate besides speaking. Some examples are finger spelling, picture communication, or speech devices.
Where Are Services Provided
Speech therapy can take place in a variety of settings:
- Private clinic setting
- At school, through an Individualized Education Program
- At home, as part of an Early Intervention program for children under 3
- In the community, to practice new skills in a natural environment
Services can be provided one-on-one, or in a group setting depending on what skill is being practiced.
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What Is An Slp
Speech-language pathologists , or speech therapists, are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. They hold at least a masters degree and state certification in their field, and a certificate of clinical competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association .
Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as articulation disorder or stuttering people with voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice those with problems understanding and producing language and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory and problem solving disorders. They also work with people who have swallowing and/or chewing difficulties.
Who Can Benefit From Speech Therapy
Speech-language difficulties can show up in many forms. Speech-related difficulties can include concerns about not speaking at all, stuttering, pronunciation or voice. Language-related difficulties can include concerns about vocabulary, grammar, comprehension discourse and social-emotional expression. Children of all abilities are welcome to access services at CSS.
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How Can Parents Benefit From Speech Therapy
Its easy to benefit from speech therapy if you are a parent. Many of the techniques and tools used by speech therapists are especially helpful when working with young children. After all, its human nature for kids to forget things, mainly if theyve been forgotten by other kids. So having a way to remind your child of what happened during certain events in your life can help them remember what happened and respond appropriately. Additionally, doing speech therapy can improve your childs self-esteem. You can identify and appreciate what your child feels by increasing their self-awareness. This can also help your child feel more confident in themself.
Does Virtual Speech Therapy Work
There are lots of things that we thought we had to be in person for: doctor appointments, job interviews, even weddings. Technology has made it possible for us to do these things digitally. Speech therapy is one of those things that can now take place over the screen. In this article well cover the ins and outs of virtual speech therapy and why its so effective.
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What Are Some Speech Therapy Techniques I Can Try At Home
Kids and adults alike can practice speech therapy techniques at home. Your healthcare provider can recommend exercises for your specific condition. Some general techniques for children and adults include:
Speech therapy techniques for children
Activities to try with your child at home:
Speech therapy techniques for adults
Adults with speech disorders can also benefit from at-home exercises. You can try:
- Tongue exercises. Stick your tongue out, hold for two seconds, then bring it back in. Repeat this process several times. You can also try this same exercise, but move your tongue to each corner of your mouth for two seconds. Finally, move your tongue up and down in the same fashion. These exercises help train your tongue to move in coordinated patterns.
- Smiling. Simply smiling in front of a mirror can help improve motor skills. Smile. Relax. Smile again. Repeat this process several times.
- Puckering your lips. Try puckering your lips, then relaxing. Repeat this several times. This can help you control the movement of your mouth.
- Reading out loud. If your speech disorder prevents you from moving your mouth and tongue properly, reading out loud can be excellent practice. Start out with a few small sentences and work your way up from there.
- Playing word games. Studies have shown that memory games, word searches and crossword puzzles can help maintain cognitive function and improve thinking skills.
What Is Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is an assessment done and a subsequent treatment of speech disorders and communication complications. Speech therapy is done by speech-language pathologists, typically referred to as speech therapists. Speech therapy includes techniques that are used to improve the communication of patients, and they include language intervention activities, articulation therapy, and several other techniques that will depend on the category of language or speech, or disorder.
There are several reasons why speech therapy is required. For some, theyve had speech impairments from childhood, for some others, they may have developed during the adult years as a result of illness or injuries.
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Augmentative And Alternative Communication
We all use AAC when we make facial expressions or gestures, use symbols or pictures, or write . When SLPs are working with children, our number one goal is always communication. Sometimes, a child may have such a severe delay/disorder, that traditional oral speech is not possible or is not practical. In these circumstances, an SLP may work with a child and his family to come up with an AAC system to use instead of, or along side of, speech.
It is very important to note, that these AAC methods are not always used to replace speech. In many circumstances, AAC is used as a bridge to speech. Children can use the AAC methods to communicate while still working on developing speech skills . You can learn more about AAC on ASHAs site.
How Do You Know If Your 2
Now that weve discussed the reasons a toddler may need speech therapy, lets focus on signs that your 2-year-old could benefit. To do this, we need to know what is typical development.
Its important to remember that all children are different and follow their own developmental timeline. Just because your child isnt displaying certain behaviors doesn’t mean they wont eventually catch up. However, if you do notice your child isnt hitting milestones appropriate for their age, you should consider talking with your doctor or seeking an evaluation from a certified speech therapist.
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How Does Speech Therapy Work For 2
When it comes to your 2-year-olds speech and language development, a common question is, Whats normal? Is your toddler simply a late talker, or should you be thinking about speech therapy?It can be hard to tell whether toddlers are reaching age-appropriate milestones, if professional help from a speech therapist is needed, and when to get started. Although there is no simple formula for determining exactly when a child should start speech therapy, 2-year-olds can benefit greatly from working with a speech therapist!In this article, well explain how speech therapy can help young toddlers, how to know if your child needs therapy, how to find a speech therapist, and what sessions with a toddler might look like.
Occupational Therapy Vs Speech Therapy: Uses Benefits
Occupational therapy and speech therapy both fall into the category of rehabilitation therapy. Though there is some overlap, each is a distinct field with a specific purpose.
The goal of OT is to help a person who is injured, ill, or disabled do things that are important to them and to work on solutions to problems that interfere with their ability to do so. Occupational therapists may help with areas such as self-care, school or work, leisure activities, and more.
ST focuses specifically on challenges with communication and/or feeding/swallowing.
Read on to learn more about OT and ST and how they intersect.
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Gender Spectrum Communication Training
As society continues to progress towards transgender and non-binary inclusion, more individuals are feeling free to live their gender identity. As a result, the need is growing for safe and supportive services that respect and help facilitate an individual’s authentic gender expression if and wherever they fall on the gender spectrum. This might involve working on pitch of voice, voice projection, use of language, non-verbal communication, or any other aspect of a persons communication that they feel is not an authentic representation of their Self.
Speech Therapy In Toronto
Speech disorders are all too common and can be corrected more easily if detected early. It is very common that these challenges with speaking clearly or even reading are noticed first at school and require the attention of a professional speech therapist. Speech therapy can be done at our clinic or often times in home and can be very effective if sessions are held on a regular schedule. Speech Therapy Works is a professional speech therapy company that provides a wide range of speech therapy services in Toronto and the surrounding areas. We will help you with every aspect of the process including evaluation, diagnosis, counselling and treatment.
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Who Needs Speech Therapy
Speech therapists help a wide variety of clients from birth to old age. Individuals who might benefit from speech therapy include the following.
- Infants. Speech therapy helps infants and babies with feeding, speech development, and early communication skills.
- Toddlers and Preschoolers. Toddlers and preschoolers receive speech therapy to treat speech delays and disorders and enhance language development .
- Children and Adolescents. Speech therapy can help children with a variety of disorders, including speech sound disorders, language delays, stuttering, voice disorders, auditory processing, verbal expression, and much more.
- Adults. Adults can be treated in therapy for the same delays and disorders as those seen in adolescents, as well as for aphasia, dysarthria, memory, cognition, accent reduction, swallowing, and gender-affirming voice therapy.
- Elderly. Speech therapy can be very beneficial for seniors. Therapy may work on improving functional communication skills, safe swallowing techniques, and memory and problem-solving skills.
Whats The Best Age To Start Speech Therapy
The best age to start speech therapy depends on your child and what speech and language milestones they might be meeting or missing. But if youre concerned that your child needs speech therapy, the earlier you can start the process, the better! Because early intervention has been shown to make a HUGE impact on childrens skills and abilities.
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How Can I Help My Child During Therapy
Were SO glad you asked! As we mentioned above, your child will see the biggest improvements when you partner up with your SLP and work on speech therapy goals at home. But dont worry, we dont expect you to just know what to do! Well spend a good amount of your childs sessions teaching you tips, tricks, and tools. Sessions are typically 30-60 minutes long, but we pack a LOT into those minutes, so youll have plenty to work on with your child at home.
How Do I Know If Speech Therapy Is Necessary
If your healthcare provider suspects that you or your child has a speech disorder, theyll recommend some initial screenings. These tests will help determine the underlying cause. For example, if your child has trouble communicating, your healthcare provider will find out if its due to a speech disorder or a hearing problem. If your child passes the hearing test, then your healthcare provider will likely refer them to a speech-language pathologist.
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What Is An Articulation Disorder
An articulation disorder is the persistent difficulty pronouncing specific sounds. For example, someone with an articulation disorder may omit sounds . They may also substitute sounds , distort sounds , or add extra sounds to words. If a child is suspected to have an articulation disorder, it is best to seek the support of a speech therapist tight away. Learn more about articulation disorders and how speech therapy can help by scheduling your free introductory call today!