| Speech is the production of sounds for the | | | | him or her. Other tests for a child can include |
| purpose of communication. It involves the use of | | | | showing the child toys and pictures and asking |
| the lips, tongue, teeth, palate, vocal cords, and | | | | questions to evaluate the child's responses. There |
| lungs. Speech language pathology deals with | | | | may possibly be more than one assessment |
| problems with communication and conditions that | | | | appointment for a child depending on the |
| make it difficult for a person to swallow. When | | | | complexity of the problem. |
| one engages in speech pathology therapy, they | | | | After the assessment, the Speech Language |
| will learn techniques and exercises to improve | | | | Therapist will tell you what he or she |
| verbal communication. | | | | recommends as a course of treatment. This can |
| The following outlines what one can expect when | | | | include a therapeutic treatment plan, or a referral |
| attending a speech pathologist appointment: | | | | to a specialist such as a hearing specialist. Regular |
| The first step is for a Speech Pathologist to | | | | therapy can be a weekly session. A therapy |
| acquire an assessment of the patient. This will | | | | program will be implemented that focuses on the |
| include taking a patient's medical history to get an | | | | patient's problem. The purpose of therapy is to |
| accurate account of the nature of the speech | | | | improve communication. There may also be |
| problem. The speech pathologist will also observe | | | | at-home therapy exercises one can use when not |
| the patient to get a sense of the problem. There | | | | at a therapy session. The therapist will record the |
| may also be some simple tests given to the | | | | patient's progress and make adjustments where |
| patient. The assessment appointment can take | | | | necessary. The scheduled appointments are |
| anywhere from 1 - 2 takes hours. If it is a child | | | | usually once a week for an hour. |
| that is being assessed, the parents will be actively | | | | Speech language therapy is the treatment of a |
| involved in the assessment process. | | | | speech disorder such as problems with the |
| Depending on the communication or swallowing | | | | production of sounds, understanding others when |
| problem, tests can include: repeating sounds and | | | | they communicate, or problems putting words |
| sentences for recording, taking an x-ray of the | | | | together properly when one communicates. In |
| side of the palate, using a scope with a light to | | | | Canada and the United States, a Master's |
| enter the nostril for visual assessment. | | | | university degree level is the accepted standard |
| Once the assessment has been completed, the | | | | of education. Many speech language therapists |
| speech language pathologist will write a report | | | | work in such areas as child language, learning |
| based on the findings of the assessment. If | | | | disabilities, developmental delays, autism, |
| required, the report can be given to other health | | | | enunciation, fluency, voice, swallowing, dementia, |
| professionals, parents, and teachers. | | | | strokes, and brain injury. Assessment of the |
| With a child, speech language assessment can | | | | patient is essential to recovery. Speech |
| involve playing with the child and asking parents a | | | | Pathologists play an important role in helping |
| number of questions. The speech pathologist will | | | | patients overcome their speech language |
| assess how the child behaves and interacts with | | | | problems. |