What is Speech Pathology?
Speech pathology is a branch of health science that studies and treats disorders related to speech and communication. Speech pathology is also called “speech-language pathology” or
“speech therapy”.
Speech pathology essentially involves identification, evaluation, treatment and prevention of a variety of speech, language, voice and communication problems in children and adults. It also deals with the rehabilitation of patients with speech disorders.
What Disorders does Speech Pathology Deal with?
Speech pathology deals with and resolves several speech-related conditions such as:
- Articulation disorder: Inability to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently.
- Resonance disorder: Blockage or obstruction of regular airflow in the nasal or oral cavities. The condition alters the vibrations responsible for voice quality.
- Fluency disorder: Affects the flow, speed and rhythm of speech (stuttering and cluttering).
- Cognitive-communication disorder: Difficulty in organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving.
- Receptive disorder: Trouble in understanding and processing what others say.
- Expressive disorder: Difficulty in conveying or expressing information, or sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings.
- Dysarthria: Slow or slurred speech due to a weakness or inability to control the muscles used for speech.
- Social communication disorder: Trouble with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication.
Additionally, speech pathology offers auditory habilitation & auditory rehabilitation — the recovery techniques associated with speech, hearing and language disorders.
Role of Speech Pathology in Speech Disorders
Post-diagnosis, speech pathology helps to design and develop a comprehensive speech therapy program that meets the needs of each patient taking into consideration:
- The patient’s age, preferences and activities of daily life
- Type and severity of the speech disorder
- Other underlying medical conditions
Speech pathology helps with early diagnosis, intervention and treatment, improves communication, boosts self-confidence, increases social interaction and ensures a better life.
Who is Specialized in Speech Pathology?
Speech pathology is performed by healthcare professionals known as speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or speech therapists.
SLPs work with a complete range of human communication. They diagnose, evaluate and treat speech, language and communication disorders in individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly. They work at:
- Hospitals
- Private practices
- Physicians' offices
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Long-term and residential health care facilities