Who is helped by a speech and language therapist??
Both adults and children can have communication difficulties with
Ø Understanding and processing of what others are saying
Ø Listening and attention
Ø Putting words together in sentences, in line with developmental milestones
Ø Articulation/Phonology – i.e.: the production of individual sounds and the processes used to make them
Ø Phonological Awareness –i.e.: the early reading skills of rhyming, segmenting, blending etc which are developmental (but can be part of a diagnosis of dyslexia)
Ø Social Skills – i.e. pragmatic difficulties, such as eye contact, turn taking, listening,
Ø Stammering/Stuttering
Some of these difficulties can be caused by medical and developmental conditions such as:
Ø Brain Injury – stroke, head injury, Cerebral Palsy
Ø Autistic spectrum disorders
Ø Cleft lip and Palate
Ø Developmental Learning Difficulties
Ø Developmental delays/disorder
Ø Syndromes, such as Down’s Syndrome, Angelman’s Syndrome etc
Ø Intermittent or profound hearing loss e.g. Otitis media (glue ear)
Ø Progressive Neurological disorders – e.g. Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis
Ø Oral and Verbal dyspraxia – motor co-ordination of the mouth, tongue, lips and palate
Ø Voice disorders including vocal nodules, vocal abuse, thyroidectomy
Speech and Language therapists also work closely with babies, children and adults who are experiencing swallowing and feeding difficulties.