Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathology is also called speech therapy. It is a profession concerned with the evaluation and treatment of speech and language problems that interfere with the process of communication.  Experts in this field are called speech-language pathologists.  They work with both children and adults.  

Causes of speech defects

There are five main types of speech defects:

• Articulation problems, such as the inability to produce certain sounds

• Stuttering, cluttering (rapid, slurred speech), and other fluency problems

• Voice disorders, including problems of pitch, voice quality, and volume

• Delayed speech, characterized by a child's slow language development

• Aphasia, the partial or total loss of the ability to speak or understand language.   

Some speech defects result from a physical condition, or from severe emotional disturbance. Patients receive therapy at various clinics.

History of speech therapy

In order to improve communication people have studied speech and speech problems for more than 2,000 years. Between 1700's and 1800's little progress occurred. During the 1700's, speech specialists worked mostly with the deaf. Stutterers were also given special attention and Speech therapy became a profession in the early 1900's .It was closely associated with education, psychology, speech as well as the medical profession. 

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