by mooncraft

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2008

What is speech therapy? Speech therapy is actually a form of treatment for almost children who are usually have some speech or language disorder. What is speech disorder mean? It is actually some kind of problem that encountered almost children presented with difficulty in ability to produce actual production of the sound.

There is several kind of speech disorder based on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):

1. Articulation disorders usually include difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly to the point that other people cannot understand what is being said.

2. Fluency disorders include problems such as stuttering, the condition in which the flow of speech is interrupted by abnormal stoppages, repetitions, or prolonging sounds and syllables.

3. Resonance or voice disorders include problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what's being said. These types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for the child when speaking.

4. Dysphagia/oral feeding disorders, including difficulties with eating and swallowing.

Speech therapists who are professional educated in the human communication study and its disorder. Based on some assessment of the speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills of children and adults, they will identify the types of communication problems and the best way to treat them. They are usually will treat the problems in part of articulation; dysfluency; oral-motor, speech, voice, receptive and expressive language disorders.

Generally, they will work with a child face to face, in a small group, or directly in a classroom to overcome difficulties that involved with a specific disorder. Speech therapist usually will use some kind of strategy to make it more working. There are:

Therapist will arrange a session called language intervention activities. In this activity, therapist will communicate and interact with them trough playing and talking. Therapist usually will use some ways in order to attract them to get involved in this activity such as books, picture or objects that will help their communication skill.

Therapist also will have a class called articulation therapy. Here, there are several form of exercise that help them to learn how to articulate by involving them with correct sounds during playing.

Actually, parental involvement is extremely important to the success of their child's progress in speech therapy. For the children who complete the program quickest and with the most lasting results are who is actually parents have been involved. For instance, it is important to the parents to help their child do the activities that the therapist suggests at home just to ensure they are continue progress. The process of overcoming a speech disorder may take some time and effort; hence, it is important that all family members should be patient and understanding with the child.

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