Speech-Language Therapy

WHAT IS SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY?

Speech-language therapy is the treatment of speech and/or language disorders. A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty putting words together to communicate ideas.

Speech-language pathologists are highly-educated professionals who have a minimum of a master’s degree in their field. As in any health-care related profession, S-LPs are required to study anatomy and physiology, but they also study neuroanatomy, genetics, human and language development, linguistics, psychology, acoustics and more, which is why they are qualified to evaluate, diagnose and treat a broad range of delays and disorders.
By assessing the speech, language, cognitive-communication skills of children, speech-language pathologists can identify types of communication problems and the best way to treat them.
SLPs treat problems in the areas of articulation; dysfluency; oral-motor, speech, and voice; and receptive and expressive language disorders.

Speech-Language Pathologists can help with:

Speech delays and disorders including articulation (pronunciation), phonology, and motor speech disorders.
Language delays and disorders, including expression and comprehension in oral and non-verbal contexts.
Fluency disorders, including stuttering.
Voice and resonance disorders.
Swallowing and feeding disorders in adults, children, and infants.
Cognitive-communicative disorders including social communication skills, reasoning, problem solving, and executive functions.
Pre-literacy and literacy skills including phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension, and writing.
Communication and swallowing disorders related to other issues
- For example, hearing impairments, traumatic brain injury, dementia, developmental, intellectual or genetic disorders and neurological impairments.

*From Speech-Language and Audiology Canada

Frequently Asked Questions ABOUT SPEECH THERAPY

What should I expect during my first appointment?

During the first appointment, the SLP will want to make your child feel comfortable and will likely start the session with a play-based activity. Time will be taken to complete relevant paperwork (contract, consent forms, case history, etc.) and discuss the concerns you have about your child. The appointment may be done in the clinic setting or in your home environment. Depending on the concern, the SLP may complete a formal/standardized assessment (same day or in a follow-up appointment) or use informal methods of gathering important information about your child's speech and/or language. Your therapist will also answer any questions you may have. The SLP loves collaborating with families when creating goals. Goals are more fun to work on when they are meaningful and practiced in day-to-day life.

Who does the SLP collaborate with?

Where consent has been given, the SLP often collaborates with other professionals in your child's life. This could include your child's Doctor, Pediatrician, Nurse Practitioner, school teacher (especially in a home-school context), school SLP, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Counsellor/Psychologist, Audiologist, the Assistive Devices team at Sunny Hill - BC Children's Hospital, and/or Behavior Therapist.

What if I'm an adult?

Although this is a Pediatric Clinic, the clinic SLP has multiple years of experience working with adults and seniors in a hospital setting (acute care and rehab). The SLP would be happy to speak with you to discuss your concerns.

Can the SLP treat every speech and/or language concern?

There are some areas of speech-language pathology that the SLP presently does not feel comfortable treating based on limited experience in that particular area. The SLP reserves the right to engage only in the provision of services that are within their professional competence, taking into account present training and experience. The SLP will seek to connect you with a provider that will best address your concerns.

Do I need to stay with my child for the duration of their appointment?

If the client is a child, a parent or caregiver is strongly encouraged to be present throughout the session. If the client is an adult, a spouse or family member is encouraged to attend. Being aware of your child's/loved one's goals and what is being practiced in therapy can help them make progress between sessions.

Why does the SLP want to work with me, the parent, instead of working directly with my child?

Children learn from those closest to them. This learning includes communication skills. Most communication between an adult and child happens in everyday interactions (snack time, bath time, playing at the park, driving in the car, running errands, etc.) The SLP can help you take your everyday routines and suggest strategies to make these experiences more speech and/or language rich, which will help your child grow in their speech and language development. Much of what a child will learn occurs between therapy sessions, not during.