Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsList of TypesFor Late TalkersFor ApraxiaFor StutteringFor AphasiaFor SwallowingFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

List of Types

For Late Talkers

For Apraxia

For Stuttering

For Aphasia

For Swallowing

Frequently Asked Questions

Speech therapyis not one thing. There are different types of speech therapy, each of which involves approaches and techniques that are specific to the issue that needs addressing. That could be related to speech itself—e.g., therapy for people who stutter—or it could relate to problems with memory swallowing, and more.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP), often just called a speech therapist, will perform assessments to determine which type(s) of speech therapy is right for you.

This article reviews the different types of speech therapy and the various disorders each one can be used to treat.

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A speech therapist helping one of her patients

What to Expect From Speech Therapy

A speech-language pathologist can use different types of speech therapy to help people with problems related to:

In addition to different speech therapy techniques, SLPs may also provide auditory habilitation & auditory rehabilitation for people with hearing problems or disorders.

Some SLPs specialize in other services including professional voice development, accent or dialect modification,transgender voice therapy, business communication modification, and voice hygiene.

Expressive Aphasia: What to Know About Communication Disorders

Speech Therapy for Late Talkers

A common speech therapy method is used to help children who have reached the expected age for speech development but havenot started talking.

For some children, other types of communication, such as sign language or picture cards, might be introduced. Speech therapists may also refer your child for further evaluation, such as hearing tests if necessary.

Types of Speech Therapy for Toddlers

Speech Therapy for Kids With Apraxia

Certain speech therapy techniques are helpful for kids with apraxia.

If your child isdiagnosed with apraxia, they will probably need speech therapy on a one-on-one basis several times per week.This therapy will likely consist of intensively practicing their speech. The therapist will try to help your child understand auditory feedback as well as visual or tactile cues.

One way a therapist might do this is to have your child look at themselves in a mirror while speaking, or record them speaking and then playing it back. Many children enjoy this.

Since successful treatment for apraxia involves a lot of time and commitment, your therapist may give you assignments to practice with your child at home.

Types of Speech Therapy for Kids With Autism

Speech Therapy for Stuttering

Speech therapy techniques can be applied to help treat stuttering.

Stutteringis a problem that typically develops during childhood but can develop during adulthood as well.Stuttering is usually considered a type of behavioral problem. Speech therapists will try to teach your child who stutters behavioral modification techniques that in turn may help control their stuttering.

A common method that may be used on your child is to teach them to control the rate of speech since speaking too quickly can make stuttering worse for some people. Practicing speech in a slower, more fluent manner can be helpful.It can also be helpful to monitor breathing.

Even after treatment, people who stutter may require follow-up sessions with their speech therapist to keep the problem from recurring.

Speech Therapy to Improve Articulation When Speaking

Speech Therapy for Aphasia

Some speech therapy methods help people withaphasia. Speech therapy assessments can also help determine if someone has the condition.

Aphasiais a condition that causes difficulty speaking as a result of some sort of damage to the brain. The condition can also consist of difficulty listening, reading, and writing. Aphasia happens to many adults after they have experienced astroke.

Speech Therapy for MS Speech Problems

Speech Therapy for Swallowing Difficulty

Speech therapy techniques can also be used to help people who are not able to swallow when they eat or drink.

A speech therapist may also make recommendations about the consistency of food. For infants, a speech therapist may assist in coordinating her suck-swallow-breath pattern. As previously mentioned these are only some of the things that a speech therapist might do. There are many other conditions and methods used to evaluate those in need.

Can Speech Therapy Help With Swallowing Problems?

Summary

There are different types of speech therapy that can be used to treat various disorders affecting speech, hearing, and swallowing. Children and adults with speech delays, apraxia, swallowing problems, and certain medical conditions may benefit from working with a speech therapist.

Frequently Asked QuestionsA speech therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats speech issues and communication problems, as well as swallowing disorders. They provide various services, from teaching articulation and clear speaking to helping strengthen muscles used to talk and swallow.The four types of articulation disorders are substitution, omission, distortion, and addition. Speech-language pathologists use the acronym SODA to remember them.

A speech therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats speech issues and communication problems, as well as swallowing disorders. They provide various services, from teaching articulation and clear speaking to helping strengthen muscles used to talk and swallow.

The four types of articulation disorders are substitution, omission, distortion, and addition. Speech-language pathologists use the acronym SODA to remember them.

Speech Therapy for Landau-Kleffner Syndrome

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Childhood apraxia of speech.Chang S, Synnestvedt A, Ostuni J, Ludlow C.Similarities in speech and white matter characteristics in idiopathic developmental stuttering and adult-onset stuttering.J Neurolinguistics. 2010;23(5):455-469. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2008.11.004American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Stuttering.American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology.Articulation disorder.Additional ReadingAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Scope of practice in speech-language pathology.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Feeding and swallowing disorders in children.

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Childhood apraxia of speech.Chang S, Synnestvedt A, Ostuni J, Ludlow C.Similarities in speech and white matter characteristics in idiopathic developmental stuttering and adult-onset stuttering.J Neurolinguistics. 2010;23(5):455-469. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2008.11.004American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Stuttering.American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology.Articulation disorder.Additional ReadingAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Scope of practice in speech-language pathology.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Feeding and swallowing disorders in children.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Childhood apraxia of speech.Chang S, Synnestvedt A, Ostuni J, Ludlow C.Similarities in speech and white matter characteristics in idiopathic developmental stuttering and adult-onset stuttering.J Neurolinguistics. 2010;23(5):455-469. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2008.11.004American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Stuttering.American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology.Articulation disorder.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Childhood apraxia of speech.

Chang S, Synnestvedt A, Ostuni J, Ludlow C.Similarities in speech and white matter characteristics in idiopathic developmental stuttering and adult-onset stuttering.J Neurolinguistics. 2010;23(5):455-469. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2008.11.004

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Stuttering.

American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology.Articulation disorder.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Scope of practice in speech-language pathology.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Feeding and swallowing disorders in children.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Scope of practice in speech-language pathology.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Feeding and swallowing disorders in children.

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