A child suffering from communication problem needs to visit a speech pathologist for a detailed evaluation. Only a speech pathologist can diagnose the reason for communication disorder and thus in turn devise a treatment plan. The speech pathologist works with a team of other healthcare professionals. The speech therapist uses simple approach thereby boosting confidence levels to treat the problem. Have a look into the working methods of speech pathologist.A speech pathologist is alternatively known as the speech language pathologist. He is a person who is equipped to evaluate and diagnose the exact reason why a patient is suffering from communication disorder. He can effectively treat them to alleviate their communication disabilities. He is also a professional who can suggest people ways and methods by which they can outgrow their communication problems.
Most of the Common Problems of the Patients that They Happen to Treat Are:
- Articulation issues
- Impaired language development
- Slurring and stuttering
- Lisping
These are the common reasons behind speech disorders. But speech pathologists can prove to be of great help to people who are suffering from:
- Swallowing problems
- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Difficulty in learning
These are also conditions that can be effectively treated by a speech pathologist. Since the above mentioned problems also affect the ability to properly speak in an individual, a speech therapy that is particularly suited to their needs can be highly beneficial to overcome their communication problem.
Even a person who has suffered a sudden stroke or a trauma may temporarily find it difficult to speak properly even if they were perfectly normal before the incident. A speech pathologist can suggest exercises and treatment that will help them normalize their communication skills.
Methods That are Used by Speech Pathologists
The methods employed by speech pathologists to treat their patients fall under the category of therapeutic treatment. According to the condition of the patient, his age and problem the speech decides on whether he should opt for a one-on-one therapy, family therapy session or a group therapy.
The Speech Pathologist’s Session Comprises of the Usage of Several Items Like:
- Books
- Toys
- Pictures
- Sound analyzers
- Sign language
- Certain automated devices
- Devices that work on the pronunciation of sounds and letters
Through these devices the speech pathologist helps the patients to get understood more clearly and they also render a huge positive impact on their confidence levels. These devices also help people who do not have any major communication problem as such but visit the speech pathologist to seek help in improving their manner of speech rendition in everyday conversations. The speech therapist employs a treatment schedule that help such people develop or work on their pronunciation techniques, enunciation and accentuation which might be either improper or faulty.
A Speech Pathologist Usually Works with a Healthcare Professional Team Comprising of:
- General physicians
- Nurses
- Psychologists
- Audiologists
- Teachers
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
A Speech Pathologist is Referred to By:
- Doctors and public health nurses
- Medical specialists
- Infant development specialists
- Pre-school and school teachers
What are the Speech Pathologist’s Activities?
- After meeting with their patients the speech pathologists recommend and guide them through a series of required tests and exercises.
- They develop a treatment plan based on the reports and after gathering relevant information from other medical professionals working with the patient.
- They use specialized equipments and alternative communication methods involving computers and sign language to alleviate the patient’s speech difficulty.
- It is also vital for them to attend the treatment team meetings to make certain that the other relative aspects of the patient’s health is managed and progressed in the desired manner.
- They also need to ensure that the professional developmental activities and trainings are updated with the treatment procedure and advise the patient to follow them according to guidelines.
