Speech and Language Therapy

What is speech therapy?

Speech therapy is a type of care that helps people with speech, language, communication, feeding, and swallowing. A speech-language pathologist (SLP), sometimes called a speech therapist, is a licensed professional who helps children with challenges in these areas.  

Speech disorders affect how children make sounds, use their voice, or move their mouth to speak. Language disorders affect how children understand and use words. Feeding and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) affect how children eat, drink, and move food and liquids from their mouth to their stomach. 

These challenges may be caused by medical conditions or differences in development. 

During speech therapy, SLPs use games, practice, and exercises to help your child improve their skills. They may suggest treatments, equipment, devices, or strategies to help your child communicate and support safe eating and swallowing.

How speech therapy can help

Speech therapy can help improve the skills your child uses each day. An SLP can help your child with: 

Communication and speech 

• Making speech sounds clearly 
• Stuttering (trouble with smooth speech) 
• Using their voice (pitch, volume, and tone) 
• Talking and interacting with others 

Language 

• Understanding and using words 
• Finding and remembering words (word-finding problems or aphasia) 
• Building vocabulary and sentences 
• Reading, writing, and spelling 

Motor skills 

• Moving the mouth, lips, and jaw to speak 
• Strengthening facial muscles 
• Moving food in the mouth 

Feeding and swallowing 

• Chewing and swallowing foods and liquids 
• Eating and drinking safely 

Communication tools or devices 

• Using picture boards or speech devices 
• Using alternative communication, such as sign language or gestures   

Finding a speech-language pathologist (SLP)

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a trained health professional who evaluates and treats speech, language, communication, feeding, and swallowing disorders.   

SLPs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, home health programs, and private practice.   

Talk with your care team if you think an SLP could help your child. You can also find an SLP through: 

• Your local hospital  
• Your child’s school 
• Professional groups, such as ASHA ProFind in the United States

Many insurance plans cover the cost of speech and language therapy. Talk to your insurance provider to understand what your insurance will cover and the steps you need to take. 

Questions to ask your care team

• What speech, language, or swallowing challenges does my child have?  
• How will speech therapy help my child at home and at school?  
• How often will my child need therapy, and for how long? 
• What are the goals of therapy, and which skills should we focus on first? 
• How can I support my child at home?  
• Are there tools or devices that could help my child communicate?  
• Will you work with my child’s school or other providers? 
• Does my child need a hearing test or other type of care? 

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