Speech Therapy

What is Speech-Language Therapy?

Speech-language therapy is the treatment for children with speech and/or language disorders. It is the corrective or rehabilitative treatment of physical and/or cognitive deficits/disorders resulting in difficulty with verbal communication. This includes both speech (articulation, intonation, rate, intensity) and language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, both receptive and expressive language, including reading and writing).Depending on the nature and severity of the disorder, common treatments may include Exercises, instructive or repetitive practice and drilling, and the use of assistive technology aids and introduction of strategies to facilitate Functional communication. Speech therapy may also include the use of Sign language and the use of picture symbols or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) .

What are the Causes of Speech & Language Disorders?

Some of the causes are related to hearing loss, cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders, severe head injury, stroke, viral disease, mental retardation, certain drugs, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, vocal abuse or misuse, and inadequate speech and language models; frequently, however, the cause is unknown.

What are the Signs of a Speech or Language Disorder?

A disorder might be suspected when a person's speech or language is markedly different from that of others of the same age, sex, or ethnic group; when a person's speech and/or language is difficult to understand; when a person is overly concerned about his or her own speech; or when a person frequently avoids communicating with others.

Are Speech & Language Disorders Serious?

Yes. The ability to communicate is our most human characteristic. Human communication is essential to learning, working, and social interaction. Impaired communication can affect every aspect of a person's life.

Who is qualified to help People with Speech or Language Disorders?

Speech-language pathologists, in India widely called as Speech therapists - assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders .Speech therapists can address speech and language issues as they occur, and they may also provide preventative care which is designed to stop such disorders before they start. Speech therapists can also address emotioncal discomfort caused by slurred speech or difficulty speaking after a stroke, helping patients feels more confident. They also work to find activities to strengthen your child in areas of weakness. For mechanics, this might involve exercises to strengthen the tongue and lips, such as blowing on whistles or licking up Cheerios. For language, this might involve games to stimulate word retrieval, comprehension or conversation.

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 stuttering; people with voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language; those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent; and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving disorders. They also work with people who have swallowing difficulties.

Speech-language pathologists develop an individualized plan of care, tailored to each patient's needs. For individuals with little or no speech capability, speech-language pathologists may select augmentative or alternative communication methods, including automated devices and sign language, and teach their use. They teach patients how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills to communicate more effectively. They also teach individuals how to strengthen muscles or use compensatory strategies to swallow without choking or inhaling food or liquid. Speech-language pathologists help patients develop, or recover, reliable communication and swallowing skills so patients can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles.

Speech-language pathologists keep records on the initial evaluation, progress, and discharge of clients. This helps pinpoint problems, tracks client progress, and justifies the cost of treatment when applying for reimbursement. They counsel individuals and their families concerning communication disorders and how to cope with the stress and misunderstanding that often accompany them. They also work with family members to recognize and change behavior patterns that impede communication and treatment and show them communication-enhancing techniques to use at home.

Clients and patients requiring Speech and Language Services

A child who has not said his / her first meaningful word by the age of 18 months is delayed in speech and language acquisition. Some children may have said their first words by 18 months but subsequently the development may not have kept pace. Language delay is also associated with hearing impairment, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism etc. Some times a child who has shown normal speech / language development may regress. Such a situation also warrants immediate attention of a speech language pathologist.

When client is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice, then he or she has a speech disorder. Difficulties pronouncing sounds, or articulation disorders, and stuttering are examples of speech disorders. When client has trouble in understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings completely (expressive language), then he or she has a language disorder. A stroke can result in aphasia, or a language disorder. Both children and adults can have speech and language disorders. They can occur as a result of a medical problem or have no known cause.

Clients having voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice.

Clients having problems with speech rhythm and fluency, such as stuttering.

Clients having cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem solving disorders.

Speech, language, and swallowing difficulties can result from a variety of causes including developmental delays or disorders, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, hearing loss, stroke, brain injury or deterioration, or emotional problems. Problems can be congenital, developmental, or acquired.

Speech -language pathologists work with clients and patients who can present a wide range of issues. They work with clients having speech and language disorders.

Autism

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) &Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

Mental retardation (cognitive difficulties).

Multiple impairment.

Learning Difficulties including Dyslexia, Specific Language Impairment (SLI), Auditory Processing Disorder

Childhood aphasia.

Aphasia.

Hearing impairment.

Speech problems in children with repaired cleft lip & palate

Objectives of Lahari Rehabilitation Center:

Vision:

To enable individuals with speech and hearing problems to walk hand in hand with the rest of society, as individuals who are able to articulate their needs and feelings, exercise their rights and rise above their different abilities.

Mission:

To be recognized as a centre for excellence in evaluation, diagnosis and rehabilitation of the Speech/language & Hearing impaired

To ensure early diagnosis, timely intervention and effective management of all speech/language and hearing problems

To raise public awareness on various aspects of Speech & Hearing disorders. To lobby for non-discrimination and better opportunities for the Speech & Hearing impaired.

Services in Speech Language Pathology

Lahari rehabilitation center has a battery of tests to diagnose speech and language disorders. It also uses computer software to analyze and treat different aspects of speech and voice.

The following are the some of the different Standardized test materials which we use for assessment of speech and language Disorder in our clinic

  • Receptive expressive emergent language scale (REELS).
  • Language assessment tool (LAT)
  • 3 Dimentional language assessment tool (3DLAT)
  • Childhood autism rating scale (CARS)
  • Autistic behavioural composite check list profile (ABCCP)
  • Western aphasic battery (WAB)
  • Apraxic battery for adults (ABA)
  • Linguistic profile test (LPT)
  • Voice handicap index (VHI)
Diagnostic Services available in our clinic:

Speech-Language pathologists diagnose different Speech and Language disorders based on Detailed Case history, Client performance on various tests, and inputs from Audiologists, Psychologists, ENT surgeons and Neurologists.

State of art equipment for objective evaluation of various parameters of Voice and Speech:

Department of Speech Language Pathology is well-equipped to assess the following, in both children and adults:
  • Voice
  • Articulation & Phonology
  • Fluency
  • Language
  • Detailed assessments done of an individual's pitch, loudness and quality of voice
  • Variety of sophisticated software programs/ assessment tools are also used.
Articulation & Phonology:

  • Articulation and phonological disorders commonly manifest as unclear speech and pronunciation problems
  • Assessments are done using articulation tests available in Telugu,English and various Indian languages
  • Our clinic also provides detailed assessment of fluency disorders, more commonly known as "stammering"/ "stuttering".
Apart from these, clinical services are also provided for speech disorders such as
  • Dysarthria
  • Developmental Apraxia
Assessment and intervention are provided for language impairments associated with the following disorders

  • Hearing impairment
  • Mental Retardation
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Cerebral Palsy
  • Stroke & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Neurological Disorders
Speech Therapy for the following Disorders are provided at Lahari Rehabilitation Center.

  • Misarticulation of sounds / unclear speech. Eg. " Thar for car, Labbit for Rabbit "
  • Stammering
  • Voice Problems
  • Hoarseness / Breathiness
  • Loss of Voice (Aphonia)
  • Puberphonia (Feminine voice in men)
  • Loss of speech or difficulty in speaking after a stroke / head injury.
  • Communication problems in children/adults associated with
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Developmental Delay
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Autism
  • Cleft palate
  • Learning Difficulty
Apart from these, the Institute also provides Home training programs
  • Demonstration therapy
  • Hands on Training for mothers

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