Speech-language pathology

Speech-language pathology is like going to a doctor who helps you with your talking and understanding skills. Just like your body needs help when it gets sick or injured, your mouth, throat and brain can also need special help when you have trouble speaking or understanding what people are saying.

The person who helps you with this is called a speech-language pathologist or a speech therapist. They know all about how we use words to communicate, and how our tongue, lips, and vocal cords work together to make different sounds.

When you go to see a speech therapist, they will first talk to you and your family to learn about any problems you might be having with speaking or understanding. They might ask you to say some words or make different sounds, and they will listen to how you sound and how clear you are when you speak.

They might also ask you to do some fun activities, like playing with toys, reading books, or looking at pictures. All of these activities help the speech therapist figure out what you need to work on to become a better communicator.

Once the speech therapist has a better understanding of your needs, they will create a special plan to help you improve your speech and language skills. This might involve practicing certain sounds or words, learning sign language or other communication methods, or doing exercises to strengthen your mouth and throat muscles.

By working with a speech-language pathologist, you can become a more confident and effective communicator, which can help you in all areas of your life – from school, to work, to friendships and beyond!