What is a Speech therapy and what does a SLP do?

Speech-language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency. Speech therapy focuses on receptive (understanding what is said) and expressive (being able to speak so that others can understand) communication. It may include the use of sign language, augmentative communication devices or other assistive technology. The SLP may also be involved with the child’s feeding program.

Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly; those with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering; people with voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice; those with problems understanding and producing language; those who wish to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent; and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving disorders. A speech therapist must hold at least a Master’s Degree and uphold a National license as well as a State license.