Language Therapy

The language therapy area was founded with the purpose of providing a better life quality to patients who have difficulty or alteration in the spoken and written language, emphasizing that language is the primary means that the human being has to communicate.

JUSTIFICATION

It is of vital importance for children, teens, and parents to acquire knowledge about the various speech and language problems that the child may have, thereby being able to provide necessary support, and knowing at what point they should see a speech therapist. The willingness of parents to support their children with language problems is essential for optimal progress.

DESCRIPTION

Speech and language therapy is the treatment selected for most children, teens, and adults with this problem. Speech disabilities refer to problems with the production of sounds, while language learning problems refer to difficulties with combining words to express ideas.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

• The main objective of speech and language therapy is to establish or reestablish undeveloped or interrupted linguistic communication in patients beginning with early childhood intervention.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• Evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech and language deficiencies in children, teens, and adults.
• Promote the comprehensive development of the person with communication problems.
• Encourage the participation of parents as active partners in their children’s therapy.
• Provide psychoeducational training to parents for all matters related to speech and language problems.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS

• Articulation disorders: Difficulty in producing sounds in syllables, and pronouncing words incorrectly such that other people cannot understand what the person is saying.
• Speech fluency disorders with problems such as stuttering: A condition in which speech is interrupted by abnormal pauses, repetitions, or prolonged sounds and syllables.
• Resonance or voice disorders: Includes problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice, distracting listeners from what is being said. Moreover, these types of disorders may also cause pain to the child or make him or her feel uncomfortable when speaking.
• Oral dysphagia/feeding disorders: Includes difficulty eating or swallowing.

Language disorders may be receptive or expressive:

• Receptive disorders: Difficulties understanding or processing language
• Expressive disorders: Difficulties in combining words, a limited vocabulary, or an inability to use language in a socially appropriate manner.

Traits of people with speech and language problems

• They do not understand the meaning of the words they hear, and their responses are therefore inadequate.
• They do not have a broad vocabulary to properly express themselves.

They are not able to organize their ideas, which are therefore expressed in a disorganized fashion. 
They have difficulty articulating the sounds of a language, words, phrases, and sentences. 

Alterations in speech and language

1. In the rhythm of speech and the speed of the conversation (dysrhythmia, stuttering). 
2. In the articulation of speech (dysarthria and dyslalia).
3. In language development, which is classified as mild, moderate, and severe.

Therapies

• Language intervention activities: Interaction with the patient will take place by playing and talking with him or her, using materials such as: pictures, books, objects, or current events to stimulate language development. Moreover, the therapist can also pronounce the words correctly as an example and use repetition exercises to build speech and language mechanisms.

• Articulation therapy. This is based on the correct pronunciation of sounds and syllables by the therapist, usually during play activities. Additionally, the physical therapist will show the child how to pronounce certain

• sounds, such as the “r” sound, and how to move the tongue to produce sounds.

• Oral-motor therapy for feeding. A variety of exercises are used, including facial massages and movements to exercise the tongue, lips, and jaw, in order to strengthen mouth muscles. Different food textures and temperatures are also worked with in order to increase the child’s oral care while eating and swallowing.