Our Experts Can Help
Speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders can affect children and adults, getting in the way of healthy communication and impacting quality of life. If you or a loved one is experiencing speech/communication problems, it’s important to seek prompt professional care.
At Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, our certified speech pathologists provide individualized support for all ages, helping improve crucial communication skills. Learn more about our speech therapy services and how we can enhance your ability to fully engage with your world.
What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy, or “speech-language therapy,” is a field focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating individuals with disorders that can prevent or disrupt the ability to handle communication functions such as speaking clearly, understanding language, or expressing oneself effectively. The focus is on addressing difficulties and helping you reach your communication goals.
With our decades of experience, Delaware Speech and Hearing Center can address communication issues resulting from a wide range of conditions, including:
- Articulation disorders
- Phonological disorders
- Stuttering
- Voice disorders
- Language disorders
- Aphasia
- Apraxia
- Dysarthria
- Social communication disorders
- Dysphagia
- Hearing loss
- Genetic abnormalities
- Traumatic brain injury
- Childhood speech/language delays
- Cleft lip and palate
- Neurological disorders
How Is Speech Therapy Carried Out?
Like most health care interventions, the process starts with a comprehensive evaluation, with one of our highly trained speech pathologists assessing factors such as speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing skills. The assessment helps identify specific communication difficulties and any underlying, contributing disorder.
Once completed, the detailed assessment informs the treatment plan, which the speech pathologist develops in partnership with the patient and their core goals. Treatment can involve various approaches, from traditional articulation drills to biofeedback technology, specialized apps, virtual-reality immersion, and more.
What Types of Speech Therapy Exercises Are There?
The use and types of exercises in speech therapy depend on the individual needs of the patient, their underlying speech, language, voice, or swallowing-related condition, and other factors. For example:
- Exercises for articulation disorders may target specifically challenging speech sounds and involve repetitive drills and practices to improve muscle coordination and speech-sound accuracy.
- Language-therapy exercises might include activities that expand vocabulary, improve grammar, or enhance comprehension through storytelling, word games, or similar tasks.
- Voice-therapy activities work to enhance vocal quality and may involve techniques such as relaxation exercises or pitch modulation to reduce vocal-chord strain.
- Activities to address dysphagia, a swallowing disorder, may include strengthening the muscles and mechanisms — the tongue, throat, and more — that are involved in chewing and swallowing.
Do You Provide Speech Therapy for Autism?
Yes. Our experienced speech pathologists can address unique communication challenges often associated with autism spectrum disorder. We work closely with individuals to enhance communication skills, helping address difficulties in areas such as language development, social engagement, and speech clarity.
A key focus is improving social communication abilities, helping empower the individual in navigating a complex, interactive world. Depending on the person’s specific needs, our skilled providers can help patients with autism spectrum disorder gain or improve skills such as:
- Initiating and maintaining conversations
- Interpreting facial expressions, gestures, and other nonverbal cues
- Engaging in reciprocal interactions
- Expanding vocabulary and comprehension skills
Speech therapy serves a critical role in improving life for individuals with speech, language, swallowing, or other communication challenges, and we’re here to help you. To schedule a consultation or get your questions answered, don’t wait. Contact our knowledgeable team today!