Why Speech Therapy is More Than Just “Speech” Therapy
Speech-Language Pathologist: “Good morning, Mr. Johnson. I am here to conduct your speech therapy evaluation.”
Mr. Johnson: “Speech therapy? But I don’t have any trouble talking.”
The above interaction is quite common between patients and therapists in any medical setting, such as hospitals, clinics, and skilled nursing facilities. The frank response is not taken offensively, though. Instead, it presents an opportunity to educate others on all the things a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can treat. "Speech-Language Pathologist" is the formal title for someone who has received a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and is licensed in their state by the State Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Examiners. SLPs often hold their Certificate of Clinical Competence (their “CCC’s”) through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as well. All of the SLPs at West Texas Therapy are licensed by the State of Texas and hold their CCC-SLP through ASHA.
Let’s go back to Mr. Johnson, who is having a speech therapy evaluation for something unrelated to his speech… My reply to his statement would be that Speech-Language Pathologists (also known informally as Speech Therapists) evaluate, diagnose, and treat a variety of conditions in the areas of speech, language, fluency, cognition, swallowing, and voice. These areas are distinct from one another in the field of speech therapy.
- Speech refers to the way your sounds come together to form words. Problems with speech can include slurred speech (dysarthria), difficulty being understood (unintelligible speech), or distorted speech (e.g., a lisp). Articulation is often assessed when someone has trouble with their speech.
- Language describes receptive and expressive communication. Receptive language refers to the meaning you comprehend when reading or listening to others speak, while expressive language refers to how you express thoughts through speaking and writing. A deficit in language could be diagnosed as aphasia (commonly seen after a stroke) or a Specific Language Impairment.
- Fluency disorders are more commonly known as stuttering. Stuttering can cause repetitions in parts of words or difficulty progressing through words when trying to speak. Stuttering can be diagnosed in childhood or acquired later in life due to an event such as a brain injury or stroke.
- Cognition is a group of skills that SLPs assess and treat, including memory, attention (so important!), problem-solving, visuospatial reasoning, and executive functions.
- Swallowing deficits are known as dysphagia or feeding problems. Dysphagia can develop after a stroke or other head injury, after brain, face, neck, or throat surgery, or due to muscle atrophy and weakness. If you notice someone (or yourself) coughing or clearing their throat often while eating and drinking, speech therapy targeting swallowing may be beneficial. Untreated swallowing problems can lead to pneumonia and unintended weight loss.
- Voice disorders relate directly to how your voice sounds. Hoarseness, a raspy voice, or complete loss of voice can be treated by an SLP in conjunction with an Ear, Nose, and Throat physician. A unique but growing area of voice therapy addresses chronic cough and Vocal Cord Dysfunction. Many people live with a chronic cough they cannot explain or resolve.
A patient like the hypothetical Mr. Johnson would likely report trouble in one of the other areas, such as swallowing or cognition, and our speech therapy journey together would begin. The Speech-Language Pathologists at West Texas Therapy have over 50 years of combined experience treating adults and children in Midland and surrounding areas across all aspects of speech therapy.
If you feel like you are experiencing any of the issues I've mentioned, please talk to your physician about a referral to speech therapy. You might find yourself in the office of a Speech Therapist receiving help you didn’t know we could offer!
By Beth LaFarelle, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist at West Texas Therapy